Could Jaromír Jagr Become a Leaf?
June 30th, 2008
With the free agent market opening in just a few days, there has been a lot of rumors of who is going where. For me to believe something that I have heard over the TV, radio or the Internet i need allot of sources to have the basically the same story for me to believe it.
I have heard from several sources that Cliff Fletcher is talking to Rangers GM Glen Sather about trading Jaromir Jagr's rights to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It would give the Leafs a chance to possibly unload some of the players that they wanted, such as Bryan MacCabe or Pavel Kubina. In return, the Rangers would get something for Jagr instead of loosing him to the open market.
It is also rumored that Jagr is thinking about retiring or going to play hockey in Russia, but they have died down quite a bit over the last few days.
With potentially three or five Leafs players leaving, you have to think that its going to be a big summer for them in the free agent market. Most of the players that the Leafs sign over the next couple of days most likely will not be big name players. They will all be pieces to the Leafs' puzzle.
Here are some of the rumored players heading to Toronto along with predicted salaries they will make next season.
Ron Hainsey - A solid stay at home defense man, he rarely makes mistakes in his own end. He is also not afraid to get in on the rush. Salary prediction $1.5-$2 million per season.
Jaromir Jagr - Starting to become a good two way player now. He racks up a lot of points, and he plays defence in his own end. Although he is getting old and Jagr only plays when he wants to. Salary Prediction $6-$6.5 million per season.
Dmitri Kalinin - He's defence man that can jump up in the rush and get points as well. He has a strong shot from the point and makes tape-to-tape passes in his own end. He takes a lot of penalties, getting reckless with his stick causing hooking or slashing penalties. Salary Prediction $2-$2.5 million per season.
Pascal Dupuis - One of the fastest wingers in the NHL right now. He's great passer on both ends of the ice, he can also put the puck in the net when given a chance. I don't know how any team wouldn't want him with the way he played in the playoffs. Salary Prediction $2.75-$3 million per season.
Mike Commodore - One of the most useless defence men in the NHL. If the Leafs sign this guy, it would be like taking steps back from rebuilding. Salary prediction $3 million per season.
Marcus Naslund- Once one of the best left wingers in the game, he has slipped quite a lot in the past three seasons. He is a great leader and he makes Vancouver proud. A change of scenery is all he needs to make him one of the NHL's best offensive weapons again. Salary prediction $5-$5.5 million per season.
Mike Ryder- A very gritty right winger, he is like another Darcy tucker, but he doesn't fight as much. Battles hard in the corners and in front of the net. Does not focus on defence ad much as some teams would like him to. Salary prediction $3.5-$4 million per season.
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