Jagr

[Posse81]

I'll start this one.

I think we're struck with Jagr, but thats not such a bad thing. I know the cap will make his salary problematic, but he is still a high impact guy who will put people in the seats.

I don't think he'll go to the Rangers, because they are trying to unload salaries as well. We would have to take Lindros as part of a deal and I wouldn't touch him.

I'm more concerned with your defensemen. We might be vulnerable losing Calle and Ken Klee. The kids will have to step up.

[SkinsHokie Fan]

I have heard a rumor for a 3 way trade involving Jagr, Lindros and some Maple leaf talent.

We trade Jagr to the Rangers, who give Lindros to his beloved Maple Leafs and the Caps get Antropov who is a good young center. I would take that trade, unload salary and get a good young player which the Caps may need to start doing. Either try and sign a few more solid vets or blow the whole thing up

[Skeletor The Invincible]

The Post article on the subject, which I'm sure you guys have read.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Jun12.html


Caps' Jagr Is a Low-Yield Stock on Trade Market


By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 13, 2003; Page D01


The Washington Capitals have few options in their pursuit of a trade for high-priced winger Jaromir Jagr, according to NHL sources, and might have to assume another hefty contract if they are to deal the former scoring champion. Several NHL general managers believe the Capitals' best chance for a trade is with the perennially high-spending New York Rangers, who are looking to move several players. But they may not be ideal trading partners, either.

The Capitals would like to receive compensation comparable to what they dealt to get Jagr from Pittsburgh in July 2001, sources said. Washington, which is now trying to scale back payroll in the face of mounting losses and shrinking attendance, gave the Penguins three moderate prospects; the club would like to acquire young prospects or draft picks in a Jagr deal. The Rangers, however, are trying to move $9.3 million center Eric Lindros or $10 million winger Pavel Bure, players the Capitals have no interest in.

"If [Jagr] goes anywhere, I think he goes to the Rangers," one general manager said.

Jagr's contract, which has at least $55 million remaining on it, is the primary obstacle to any trade and severely limits the teams able and willing to acquire him. The Rangers, who annually lead the NHL in payroll, have definite interest in Jagr, NHL sources said, and nearly completed a deal for him before he was sent to Washington. But a trade now could be contingent upon the Capitals assuming a contract in return. Lindros, who earlier this week exercised his $3.3 million contract option, has one year remaining on his deal, and could be bought out for $2.2 million. His frequent clashes with coaches and management, dwindling production and history of concussions are among the reasons the Capitals deem him undesirable.

Making a beneficial deal may be extremely difficult for the Capitals. General Manager George McPhee has scoured the league sampling interest in Jagr, sources said, and trying to gauge what might be available in return. Such exploratory measures are likely to continue leading up to the draft next weekend, and Jagr will surely be a topic of conversation when NHL executives converge in Nashville.

The glut of top players being shopped around is also a deterrent to a Jagr trade; many of those players have production similar to Jagr's -- he has averaged 78 points per season since coming to Washington -- but lower salaries and fewer guaranteed seasons left on their deals. Among those players being shopped, league sources said, are: John LeClair (Philadelphia; he would have to waive a no-trade clause); Jason Arnott, Pierre Turgeon and possibly Richard Matvichuk (Dallas); Radek Bonk (Ottawa); Nikolai Khabibulin (Tampa Bay); Jason Allison and Ziggy Palffy (Los Angeles); Vincent Damphousse (San Jose); Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis); Alexei Yashin (New York Islanders); and Martin Straka (Pittsburgh).

Virtually every team is looking to slash payroll with a possible work stoppage looming in 2004, and a salary cap on the horizon. Furthermore, clubs with smaller payrolls have become quite successful in the playoffs -- while many big spenders have suffered -- leaving owners to push for lower salary structures, thus flooding the market with pricey but talented players.

"The problem for teams like Washington is this is a buyer's market," one general manager said. "There are so many options out there that you can't think these [players] are going to bring a lot in return."

Even traditionally free-spending teams are cutting back. Detroit, which is having a hard enough time getting Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Darren McCarty re-signed, has no interest in Jagr, sources said. Toronto has entered bids for many free agents in the past but is not interested in Jagr and is saving its resources for a run at an impact defenseman, preferably potential unrestricted free agent Derian Hatcher. Hatcher's team, Dallas, is nearly strapped and is trying to clear other salaries to make room to retain him.

Colorado's money is earmarked for a goalie to replace recently retired Patrick Roy, and Khabibulin is their top target. St. Louis cannot maintain its torrid spending pace after years of playoff failure, sources said, and is as eager as Washington to move salaries.

Philadelphia is always something of a wild card with General Manager Bobby Clarke's penchant for making splashy moves, but his ability to assume Jagr's contract would likely hinge on being able to unload LeClair's $9 million contract. Additionally, the Flyers -- with much of their payroll already directed toward offensive players -- have more pressing needs: a goaltender.

The Capitals are also likely to face increasing requests to pay a part of Jagr's salary as a prerequisite to a trade, and sources said the team has no interest in doing so at this point. In the end, however, picking up $1 million to $2 million a season might be their only option, and, with a deal for picks or prospects considered unlikely, taking on the contract of a player like Lindros may become the only option, last resort or not.

There is nothing binding Washington to trade Jagr this summer, and should he get off to a strong start next season more suitors could arise. The team is also trimming payroll in other fashions, gradually integrating younger and cheaper players into the lineup and parting with older and more expensive players.



© 2003 The Washington Post Company

Jagr is still a good player, while not great, I think he is worth more than Lindros at this point in his career.


However.. Pavel Bure...

[panel]

Yea, It seems that were much better off with him.