Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Jagr was hated? Where? Maybe in Edmonton, the only team he never played for.
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Hated may be strong word, but early in his career he did complain a fair bit and was chastised for the taking the glove off and saluting as he did after goals early in his career as it wasn't everyone's cup of tea.
Fans wise maybe that's it, but within teams, he also has had his share of battles.
He battled with coaches continually in Pittsburgh didn't really like being in Lemeuix's shadow for as long as he was, especially when Lemeiux came back from Hodgkins treatment and was then asked to be traded, and was, to the Caps.
Bouncing around teams as he did, he had his way or the highway and that didn't align always with teams and staff. His time in Washington with a big contract 8 year $88M contact was a disaster and he ripped the team a fair bit and traded to the Rangers after 3 years.
Even here, he was injured in November 2017, but wanted to work through the injury himself, while still playing, instead of resting it...and get treated on his own, not through the Flames. That lasted a month but then Treliving had enough and as part of his trifecta of end of 2017 calender year decisions (others being sending Freddie Hamilton to minors, when then Phoenix picked him up because Dougie was complaining Freddie should be playing more, thus removing Dougie's security blanket, and, telling GG he was on thin ice (and the stick throw came a week or so later)) , told Jagr he has to rest or at least use the Flames medical staff now, and that option again was a non starter for Jagr, and was done a few weeks later.
So while the guy is and was a phenomenal talent Jagr is and was a stubborn, stubborn player who has his opinions, voices them, and needed things done a certain and that has rubbed some people the wrong way.