Boy that didn't take long, did it?
UPDATE: Deal was confirmed by Jagr's agent Pat Brisson. "Jaromir signed a letter of intent with the Avangard Omsk Hockey team of the Russian CHL on or about 3am EST this morning. I won't comment on the terms of the agreement at this time," he told TSN. "It was a very difficult but personal decision to make in light of the many NHL teams interested in his services. He is grateful to the NHL and especially the Rangers in recent years."
Moscow, Russia (Sports Network) - The Russian hockey team Avangard Omsk announced it has signed former New York Rangers star Jaromir Jagr on Friday.
The team confirmed the deal on its Web site, but did not disclose financial terms. Local and international media are reporting that Jagr will be paid $35 million for two years. There is also reportedly an option for a third season.
Rangers general manager Glen Sather said Thursday the club could no longer wait for Jagr to decide where he wanted to play and signed former Vancouver captain Markus Naslund to replace him.
Jagr, who tallied 25 goals and 46 assists for the Blueshirts last season, also played for Avangard during the NHL's lockout season in 2004-05.
An eight-time NHL All-Star and 1999 Hart Trophy winner as the league's MVP, Jagr has registered 646 goals and 963 assists in 1,273 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Washington and the Rangers.
The Czech Republic native was also a part of two Stanley Cup winners in 1991 and 1992 with the Penguins.
Comments (16)
looks liek Rangers were always the only NHL team for Jagr
Wow, Jagr will be missed, good luck to him! I'm excited to see Naslund in a Rags uniform though, I'm sure he'll work well with Gomez.
Good luck and thanks, Jags.
anisimov, cherepanov, grachev, zherdev, kalinin... the rangers might not have the czech mates anymore, but they certainly have a russian connection...
Good luck to Jags. He will be missed, esp. when it counted most, he always rose to the occasion. I feel Nas will do fabulous and am excited to see him in a Rangers Jersey....looking forward to watching 4 quick scoring lines...my only concern: Our D...we just don't have that one hard hitting fearsome D, and that is a BIG concern for us!!!!!!
Mara resigns for 1.95mill.
Jags treated us all to some great hockey, and you can't blame him with that kind of deal on the table. Wowsers. Lots of money for a guy his age.
Naslund should be great. I'm feeling much better about this offense now, and I think the D will come together. I have a feeling Sather's got another move coming up.
good luck jags and thanks for the 3 years....look at the bright side ranger fans, at least Jagr can mentor and play with Cherepanov so he is ready for NY.
Yea good bye jags. Glad to see him gone,now we can move in the right direction and maybe Renney will have more control of the team now that he doesn't have to bow down to jags. We still need that big mean defenseman. Oh well sather did pretty well for himself. The rosi deal isn't a good one but if the players play like they are suppose to we are in for some fun hockey. Lets open camp now and get started.
Rangers are courting Demitra?
http://www.theinsideronpittsburghsports.com/
I'm hearing the Rangers have continued their pursuit of Pavel Demitra but their offering less than other teams. Well see if his connections to Naslund lead to Demitra signing for a discount.
Just thinking out loud and wonder if there is a "wink, wink" agreement
between the Rangers and Avangard Omsk that we back off Jagr and they allow Cheperanov to come here? i wonder.
The Rangers should have the fastest line in the NHL with
Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev
I'm wondering if Cherepanov can come over 1 year early since "Jagrmeister" went to Omsk
I guess his heart was the Rangers or nothing. :(
I didn't think he would want to go to Edmonton.
Good luck to Jags, love ya forever and always will be a Ranger to me.
I'll tell you what happened with Jagr. Ever since he first met with the GM from OMSK he knew he was gone because nobody in the NHL could offer him that kind of money (12 million per / 7 after taxes). He's been pulling the Rangers chain all along. He does not sound like a guy who is remorseful, he sounds like somebody who finally got his wish. All of this nonsence with him waiting for a sign is just that, he was just waiting until the Rangers didn't have enough cap space or went in a different direction to make him look better and saying that he is not wanted and he is going to Russia. The real reason he went to Russia is because of greed. He doesn't care about the Rangers or any other team in the NHL. All he cares about is how to line his own pockets.
You really can't blame him for doing that, but the least you could expect is a little integrity.
It's no coinsidence that Sather said sy the Naslund press conference, that he told Jagr to call him if it doesn't work out in Russia. Sather is a smart man and sensed that there was no way Jagr was coming back to the NHL after hearing what the Russian League had to offer.
Jagr is just a really smart and rich man who spun the situation to his advantage.
When we signed Zherdev, I was happy, until I went to a Russian League site, and saw he was a Russian Jew player from Omask. Wont be cheering for this money grubbling Kike. Busey-Bewaare.
When I heard we signed Zherdev (JEW) and Naslund, I know Jaromir was gone. Well miss his play, and cute hair too. The Buss is Back BEE WARE.