[Rumour] UPD: Jagr confirms Flames have interest in him.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Major Major

But if jagr comes in, it will be as someone who has a spot. Meaning that it is not really possible to take his spot unless he's terrible and even then it would be well into the season before they would opt out of the jagr trial.

All those arguing that kids need to earn their spot and it is bad to have spots held for kids must concede that it is also bad to hand over spots to the jagrs of the world.

There is some risk to this acquisition and it is the type of move that many on this site have railed against for years. But the 'coolness' factor trumps for most, myself included. Just don't think it's right to classify the training camp battle between jankowski and jagr as a fair fight.

If Jagr is brought in, it's because Treliving believes another year of development is required for our prospects that would have otherwise been pushing for a spot.

Honestly, with the roster the Heat are poised to put on the ice (especially if Jankowski is down there for good portions of the season), they may be able to challenge for the Calder Cup. It'd be cool to start developing a winning culture down there.

[Freeway]

Jagr coming in would be for the same reasons they brought in Smith and Hamonic: loading up with proven vets while leaving their kids for mid-season depth.

[sa226]

I see both sides. I want to see guys like Jankowski and Foo play regular roles and succeed. But maybe that's unrealistic?

Even at 45 Jagr can still protect the puck and has elite Hockey sense. But is a 45 year old guy going to put you over the top? The Flames have made it pretty clear that they are approaching "win now" mode. If they think Jagr makes them better, I can't realistically argue that.

Given his skating, hockey sense and size, he could almost be a Hudler replacement. But a less soft Hudler.

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[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't think anyone is saying (or at least, they shouldn't be saying) that Jagr is going to put the Flames on the top. He isn't a 100pt player any longer that can put a team on his back.

What he is a former superstar who has done everything at the NHL level, who still plays a very strong puck possession game that is incredibly useful in today's NHL, who is a fitness freak and who also brings a tonne of leadership.

I think there are a number of qualities about Jagr the human being that can rub off positively on the younger players, and there are a lot of qualities about Jagr the current player that helps make this team a bit better.

He is not going to drastically change anything. What he should do is help this team be a bit better. Imagine if the 2004 Flames were just a bit better, or had that little bit more depth to bring up. It could have changed the fortunes of that series.

People look at the Pens, the Blackhawks, etc., and point to that top talent on the team like Crosby, Kane, etc., but they forget about guys like Cullen. You need those depth guys who have experience to really up their games in the playoffs, and help show the kids the way through the incredibly physical and mental grind that is playoff hockey, right after an 82 game gruelling season.

Nobody is going to think that Jagr is going to put this team on his back and carry them to greatness. What I personally think he will add is solid depth scoring (30-55 pts, depending on situation), show the young guys some tips and tricks of what he does to remain effective on the ice (like a personal skills coach!), and show them how hard they have to work to maintain their NHL careers (there is no better example in today's NHL of this).

I don't see a downside. Injuries are going to happen, and I would rather have Janowski and Foo ready to be recalled than hope for Poirier and Mangiapane to be ready to contribute, or hoping Shinkaruk has changed his game enough where he can be a contributor.

Depth wins cups. The season is a war of attrition. I like that Calgary is a deep team (media guys are nuts to question depth IMO). They need time to develop the top-end talent on the team and have them take another step, but the depth is a really strong part of the team. I don't think it is overkill right now to add a 45 Jaromir Jagr to help support it, and hopefully, one season of Jagr will add to the ongoing culture of this team.

[Poe969]

If you don't think Jagr will put the Flames over the top, you don't the no they're near the top. I honestly think they're 1-2 pieces away and h may be one of those pieces, if not then I think he could help make someone else that one piece by being a mentor.

I think Jagr could put the Flames over the top.

[Timbo]

If Jagr comes here I'm buying a jersey.
However Jagr is just a sentimental pipe dream.
Our GM is too pragmatic to let fan sentimentality sway his development of this club.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Timbo

If Jagr comes here I'm buying a jersey.
However Jagr is just a sentimental pipe dream.
Our GM is too pragmatic to let fan sentimentality sway his development of this club.

I think he's moving ahead quicker than he planned for this team to go for it. My guess is that it probably comes from ownership

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I think he's moving ahead quicker than he planned for this team to go for it. My guess is that it probably comes from ownership

From Eddie Lack's interview post trade, he mentions the team is entering a win now phase.

That degree of organizational and supporter ambition, says Lack, is fine - no, welcomed - by him.

"I talked to Brad about that. It was like: 'We want to win. And we want to win now.' Obviously that's something I want to be a part of. I played against most of those guys a lot. It seems like a great group of guys. First and foremost there's a lot of good hockey players there.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I think he's moving ahead quicker than he planned for this team to go for it. My guess is that it probably comes from ownership

I find those who advocate patience often take it too far. We've made the playoffs 2 of the last 3 seasons, and the one we missed, we were held back by rather poor goaltending that resulted in the team's highest goals against since '92-'93. Our high drafts picks from peak suckage are in the NHL, and only one of them is still on his ELC. If now's not the time to go for it, what would you be waiting for?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by SebC

I find those who advocate patience often take it too far. We've made the playoffs 2 of the last 3 seasons, and the one we missed, we were held back by rather poor goaltending that resulted in the team's highest goals against since '92-'93. Our high drafts picks from peak suckage are in the NHL, and only one of them is still on his ELC. If now's not the time to go for it, what would you be waiting for?

I'd maybe be waiting for Andersson, Kylington, Valimaki, or Fox to make the team. Since that's probably not happening and I'd like selfishly for them to make some inroads as soon as possible, go for it works for me as well.

[OzSome]

That 50-players signed limit is starting to get full. Flames just signed that Czech Marek something (i can't remember his last name) who used to played for the NY Rangers with 2-way contract. How many players are under contract with the Flames right now?

[Jacks]

42 according to Capfriendly

[SebC]

Originally Posted by OzSome

That 50-players signed limit is starting to get full. Flames just signed that Czech Marek something (i can't remember his last name) who used to played for the NY Rangers with 2-way contract. How many players are under contract with the Flames right now?

That's quite the way to structure a post... make a claim, provide a small tidbit supporting the claim, then ask a question about information that must be known for the claim to be believed.

Anyways, the answer, according to capfriendly.com, which was the first hit on Google (for "flames contracts"), is 42, as it is for life, the universe, and everything.

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[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by OzSome

That 50-players signed limit is starting to get full. Flames just signed that Czech Marek something (i can't remember his last name) who used to played for the NY Rangers with 2-way contract. How many players are under contract with the Flames right now?

Flames just signed Marek Malik?

[SeanCharles]

It's not really hindering youth if we bring Jagr in:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Feland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett- Jagr
Lazar-Jankowski-Brouwer
Stajan/Hamilton

If another player pushes himself on the roster you move Hamilton down.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

It's not really hindering youth if we bring Jagr in:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Feland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett- Jagr
Lazar-Jankowski-Brouwer
Stajan/Hamilton

If another player pushes himself on the roster you move Hamilton down.

Doubtful Hamilton gets sent down. He's on a league minimum contract and the Flames will need every cent of cap space they can get to play with. $300K is $300K. It isn't as simple as deciding that player A has been outplayed by player B anymore.

My greatest fear with Jagr is he comes in and shows he can't play the tempo the Flames want to play. Then they are stuck with that salary and can't bring in the players that can play in that system. I don't give a rip how much of a fitness freak a guy is, if he can't keep up with the pace of the game he's detrimental to the end goal of the hockey team. The NHL is a speed game now. Having a guy that can't keep up with the pace scares me. We saw how much that hurt the team with Ideman out there the last two seasons. A forward is easier to shield than a defenseman, but the speed problem still remains. The risk is too high IMO.

[cKy]

Originally Posted by OzSome

That 50-players signed limit is starting to get full. Flames just signed that Czech Marek something (i can't remember his last name) who used to played for the NY Rangers with 2-way contract. How many players are under contract with the Flames right now?

If by just you mean on July 1st. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/f...-two-way-deal/

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by New Era

My greatest fear with Jagr is he comes in and shows he can't play the tempo the Flames want to play. Then they are stuck with that salary and can't bring in the players that can play in that system. I don't give a rip how much of a fitness freak a guy is, if he can't keep up with the pace of the game he's detrimental to the end goal of the hockey team. The NHL is a speed game now. Having a guy that can't keep up with the pace scares me. We saw how much that hurt the team with Ideman out there the last two seasons. A forward is easier to shield than a defenseman, but the speed problem still remains. The risk is too high IMO.

And Jagr is not only slow, but he's pretty indifferent about defensive play in general. It's tough to sustain a system when a legendary guy on the roster pretty much opts out because he can't or won't play it.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Spencer Foo, Emile Poirier, Morgan Klimchuk, Daniel Pribyl, Curtis Lazar, none are players who can possibly be harmed by spending more time in the AHL while we have Jaromir Jagr on our powerplay.

Agreed with what you're saying but Lazar can't go to the minors, we'd lose him on waivers. He's pretty much guaranteed to make the NHL team.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

And Jagr is not only slow, but he's pretty indifferent about defensive play in general. It's tough to sustain a system when a legendary guy on the roster pretty much opts out because he can't or won't play it.

None of the underlying stats I've ever looked at have suggested he's poor defensively. Where does this idea come from? Can you provide me with some insight as to why you believe him to be a) unwilling and b) unable to play defensive hockey.