Jaromir Jagr, for better or worse

[Otto-matic]

I love Jagr on the team, you can see the knowledge he's passed onto some of our younger players like Bennett, Gaudreau, Mony. I know he hasn't played much but he'll turn it around and it going to be amazing to watch.

It feels like there’s a split opinion on Jaromir Jagr’s tenure with the Calgary Flames thus far. I feel like I get as much “they’re better without him” feedback as I do “they need him in the lineup”, so I thought I’d dig a little deeper. My opinion has always been the latter, and a closer look at Jagr’s impact makes me feel good about that stance.

Despite his limited action, I’m still convinced Calgary is better with Jagr in the fold than without.

hile the sample size is smaller than we’d all like it to be, a glance at Jagr’s underlying numbers would suggest he’s been effective if not spectacular. Most notably, with a positive shot rate, it’s fair to say Jagr has spent more time in the offensive zone than not, which is what you’d expect with how he’s been deployed.

CF% RANK OZS% RANK
54.0 8TH 66.7 1ST

https://flamesnation.ca/2017/12/13/j...tter-or-worse/

[Boreal]

I agree. I think he's helping Bennett and Jankowski immensely with learning the subtleties of playing the cycle game. The Sedins would dominate the cycle when they were at their peak, but it was never with the brute strength and mass Jagr has.

This is something I think will benefit Jankowski as he grows into using his 'man strength'. It is about applying your physical assets to their greatest capacity. I also think he's helping Johnny with a few things, like confidence, as well. From a mentoring standpoint, I think this is similar to when Fuhr was with the team in the 99/00 season and he helped direct Iginla to shoot more.

[sempuki]

It's invaluable to be told by the GOAT when you're doing right. Lemieux told Spezza he could be great over dinner once and his career took right off next season.

[N-E-B]

Jagr could get 0 points, be last in Corsi, and -100 and it would still be awesome because I can own a Flames jersey with Jagr on the back.

[1qqaaz]

I just hope Jagr plays enough games to break the record

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by nobles_point

I agree. I think he's helping Bennett and Jankowski immensely with learning the subtleties of playing the cycle game. The Sedins would dominate the cycle when they were at their peak, but it was never with the brute strength and mass Jagr has.

This is something I think will benefit Jankowski as he grows into using his 'man strength'. It is about applying your physical assets to their greatest capacity. I also think he's helping Johnny with a few things, like confidence, as well. From a mentoring standpoint, I think this is similar to when Fuhr was with the team in the 99/00 season and he helped direct Iginla to shoot more.

That's the strangest thing I've ever heard...

[Winsor_Pilates]

I don't know stats too well, can someone explain those numbers and their significance?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I don't know stats too well, can someone explain those numbers and their significance?

The ones in the OP? The first is Corsi for percentage, which is the total number of pucks directed at the opponent's net, including shots that don't hit the net because they're blocked or miss. It is used to show which team had the puck more of the time in the other team's end. So the Flames had 54% of shot attempts with Jagr on the ice, while the other team had 46%. That is considered very high, the best players in the league in this area (e.g. Patrice Bergeron usually) are around 55-56%.

OZS% measures how frequently the player starts in the offensive zone compared to the defensive zone. So for every two faceoffs Jagr is on the ice for in the other team's end, he is only on for one in his own end. It shows that Gulutzan is using him in an offensive role and not relying on him to dig the Flames out of defensive situations (which is more a job for Backlund et al. than him).

[Enoch Root]

Especially with no training camp, Jagr was always going to get off to a slow start. That doesn't worry me in the slightest. I always figured that his value would rise with each passing month, and I continue to believe that.

But even if he never gets it going this year, his presence is still invaluable. You can already see the impact he has had on many of the younger players. Trying to evaluate him via possession stats is pointless, IMO - he is the poster boy for intangibles.

And come March, April and May, he will be a force.

[djsFlames]

Hathaway has simmered down a bit after the jump of the initial couple games as expected. Eventually you'd probably look to Jagr slotting back in with Bennett and Janko and Hathaway ideally on line 4 but you wonder if that bumps him back down to the farm cause of the numbers game. Or perhaps Familton gets the short straw.

Jagr brings too much experience and knows better than nearly anyone on earth how to generate offense, if not for himself than for his young linemates. If he's 100% healthy then he's still the best option we have on that 3RW.

Remember what Jagr said about it potentially taking him month/s to get back into game shape if he played elsewhere. He came in way ahead of that, whether it be for the games played record I'm not sure, but resting and conditioning him can only do good.

[300 MPH Blues]

Hathaway came up once Versteeg went on IR. He won’t be a victim to tha number game.

[4X4]

You guys are lucky I'm not the GM, because I would have given JJ a 3x3. Even losing a roster spot to a player coach would be worth it for him.

[browna]

It’s a shame for that initial groin injury. That game he scored, he had some borderline dominant shifts later in that game. Next game he got an injury he hasn’t had in his career. Worked through it, but clearly still lingers and that put him out this last spell.

No matter what you’ve done and how long you’ve done it for as an athlete, it’s all about confidence, and he had it after he scored.

Still, you watch him on the ice and you just hope he can get 100% healthy because he’s still very effective at seeing the ice, and using his strength, and body position, and he finds ways to create space and time for others.

That last game he played, he set up, without getting an assist two goals with his play...the work in the corner for one, and the broken stick in the slot that was going to be a delayed penalty but got back to the point and in 5 seconds later.

And I don’t think he’s ever going to lose his hands...my guess is he would’ve been in the shootout last night as #4 or 5 if healthy.

[lazypucker]

The Flames need a powerplay specialist right now with Versteeg being out, why not try Jagr? OK, the guy is slow, but he still has a lot of puck skills and the creativity to be effective on the powerplay, especially that he doesn't need to move around as much.

[Buck Murdock]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

The Flames need a powerplay specialist right now with Versteeg being out, why not try Jagr? OK, the guy is slow, but he still has a lot of puck skills and the creativity to be effective on the powerplay, especially that he doesn't need to move around as much.

I agree give Jeremy Jagger a turn on the PP.

[DeluxeMoustache]

For a guy who speaks to managing injuries, Gully needs to stop bag skating Jagr.

Post Halloween party - bag skate - games missed
Pre-Toronto trip - bag skate - games missed

[Calgary4LIfe]

What I have seen from Jagr makes me want to keep him on the team dressed and stapled to that third line. It seemed absolutely dominant along the boards with him on that line.

I like Hathaway, but I am not sure that Hathaway is an upgrade to Jagr. I think once Jagr returns, he is stapled to that third line, and Hathaway pushes someone else off the 4th line. Hathaway definitely has proved he deserves to stick in the NHL, but Jagr has as well. I don't see why this is even much of a dilemma. That line with Jagr on it seems a lot better at sustaining pressure regularly. Maybe it is my eyes failing me, but it seems more dangerous with him on it.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Jagr could get 0 points, be last in Corsi, and -100 and it would still be awesome because I can own a Flames jersey with Jagr on the back.

This is it right here. We all got to see Jaromir Jagr play for the Calgary Flames. He may even break Howe’s games played record as a Flame, and may even retire as a Flame too. Unreal.

I was in the Dome the night he potted his first goal as a Flame, watching with my Dad. It was in my end of the rink. For me, that alone was worth the million bucks the Flames shelled out to sign him!

[browna]

Save us, Jagr.
Put him on the PP in front of the net starting tomorrow.

Also, found this picture funny on the TSN website, as NHL lists top 25 players of all time with JJ as #23. Most of his legacy is defined by his 2.5 months in Calgary.

[combustiblefuel]

I dont know about putting Jagr back on the 3rd line.

He is great for the cycle but lacks the jam the line currently has.

I think everyone on the 3rd needs tp play a fast physical game the have been playing . The crash and bang style they have going now is working wonders.