Jagr and Plekanec - No Reunion in Montreal
Jagr and Plekanec - No Reunion in Montreal(2012-07-03 22:52 posted by Ken Beaumont)

Well, the saga is over for but one more season. Jaromir Jagr has signed a $4.55 million dollar deal for the 2012-2013 season with the Dallas Stars. Although many Habs fans would have loved to see him paired with country mate Tomas Plekanec, the asking price just seemed too high. Admittedly, he is probably good for 55-65 points - which merits a salary in that range - nevertheless, he does not seem a logical piece for a franchise that is undergoing a mild “rebuild”- if we can use the term.

Don’t get me wrong. I would have loved to see him lace up for the Canadiens next year - and given it would have been a one year deal there would not be an extensive risk involved. The majority of the fan base probably agrees. Still, something tells me that Marc Bergevin is not unwise in avoiding number 68’s services. At the age of 40, he shows signs of wear and calls into question his ability to endure a whole season. Even if he did it last year, his production declined towards the later months of the schedule. He also shone by having the benefit of playing with Claude Giroux who was among the top point producing centers.

The temptation is definitely there to go and get a name like Jagr. But the attraction is one of the past. He is no longer an elite forward even if his reputation may cause one to think he is. He will be a Hall of Famer and was one of the greatest scorers the game has ever seen. Montreal, however, is in no need of acquiring a former superstar in order to fill up a few seats. The Bell Centre is sold out indefinitely for Montreal Canadiens games. With no need to lure in the casual fan, Jagr’s value dwindles and becomes easy to compensate for (who do you think will score more goals this upcoming season: Jagr or Bourque?). Let us hope it is the latter and those of us who were near an instant romance with the once undeniable Jaromir will not be forced to drive a “Jagr” through our hearts.

Who knows? There is always next year...







©2003-2013 HabsWorld. All rights reserved. | Header Design created by Del Johnson (2011)
HW Facebook | HW Twitter | HW Forums | About HW | HW Collaborators Login