Your New York Sports Blog

Yesterday we said that the Rangers still had not offered Jagr a contract and now we know that the Rangers will NOT offer Jaromir Jagr, Sean Avery, Brendan Shanahan, Michal Rozsival, and Martin Straka a contract before July 1st. I do not mind getting rid of Shanny, Straka and Rozsival as Shanny has shown his age for a year and a half now, Rozsival is overrated and will get more than he deserves, and Straka is just not effective anymore. Jagr and Avery on the other hand are pretty importatnt to this team. Jagr turned his season around late last season and was the best player and well Avery is Avery that is enough said.

With Sean Avery wanting $3.5+ it is believed the Rangers will not sign him and let him go somewhere else possibly San Jose or Los Angeles and the Rangers will try and sign Darcy Tucker whos contract is supposed to be bought out soon. Another replacement would be newly signed Sweed Andreas Jämtin.

No where does Larry Brooks say that they will not be signed, but by not offering them a contract before July 1st makes it a very strong possibility. Especially Jagr and Avery.

Then there are two major draft trade rumors. The first one is:
New York Rangers trade:
Fedor Tyutin
Brandon Dubinsky
20th pick
51st pick

LA KINGS trade:
Mike Cammaleri
2nd pick in draft (most likely Nikita Filatov)

and the 2nd one
Rangers trade:
Brandon Dubinsky
20th pick

Blues Trade:
4th overall pick

Bookmark this post:

I am hoping and praying that this story is not true. It is well known that Omsk in Russia has coveted Jaromir Jagr and have been trying hard to sign him and bring him over there. Most reports have been saying that the Rangers have been leaning towards bringing him back. Well now we can think otherwise with good reason. It is now June 19th, one day from the draft and one of the greatest players of all-time still has not received a contract from really the only team in America he wants to play for. John Dellapina of the Daily News has recently talked about this same topic over at his blog.

Of course, that hardly answers all the questions. It’s possible that Bardin will meet with Jagr’s European representative. Anything’s possible regarding No. 68, whose status for next season is going from unpredictable to bizarre.
Jagr told me again today that he hasn’t heard anything from Rangers GM Glen Sather since they spoke on the day the team broke up for the season. While such a cat-and-mouse act is long-standing standard operating procedure for Sather, it makes little sense in this case.

Not only can Jagr sign with Omsk-Avangard at any time, there seems to be little to be gained by making him sit and wonder whether the Rangers want him back. His personal experience (see: Washington 2000-2004) is that things don’t go well when he’s playing for a team that doesn’t fully believe in him. And every day that goes by without the Rangers reaching out to him has to make him wonder even more.

If you were wondering about the other big Ranger's free agent Sean Avery he is busy partying at
fashion shows and music festivals with the Olsen twins (who can blame him for that part though?).

Bookmark this post:

When it was announced yesterday the Chicago Blackhawks would face the Detroit Red Wings in an Original Six match up for the Winter Classic, at Wrigley Field. it was not 100% confirmed that this scenario would actually happen. According to John Dellapina there is still an 'outside chance' the game is still at Yankee Stadium and the NHL actually once it there because it will be the last opportunity they have to play a hockey game in the House that Ruth Built.

There are a few problems with the game in New York, however. For one the parking lot is supposed to be demolished a month before the game and the stadium has to 'winterized'. To find out what winterized mean click the above link.

Now the next part is a little alarming to hear. According to Blueshirt Bulletin Anatoly Bardin, GM of Omsk, said that he will be heavily pursue Jaromir Jagr.

"We talked with him today at night. Jagr returns from vacation in New York to the Czech Republic in mid-June -- I will go to the Czech Republic to continue negotiations with Jaromir."--- Anatoly Bardin

Not only is he pursuing Jagr he is pursuing three NHL defensemen who are not from Russia, who he says are top defensemen in the league. Jagr had a good, not great, season last year, but really came on strong in the playoffs. At the time when the Rangers were still in the playoffs Jagr lead all players in points with 15 points. As long as he does not decide to grow that filthy facial hair that I can not even explain I want him on the Rangers for at least another year maybe even two or three more years.

Bookmark this post:

Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports the Rangers and Jaromir Jagr will begin talks soon about signing a contract for at least one more year.

Jaromi"Jaromir Jagrwasn't joking when on breakup day he said his first choice was to play next season for the Rangers. And Glen Sather wasn't kidding, either, those times the last few months when he said he wanted No. 68 back on Broadway in 2008-09. For Slap Shots has learned that Jagr's agent and Sather are expected to commence negotiations this

Captain Jaromir Jagr

week after preliminary discussions in which both sides exchanged words of love, if not vows of 'til death do they part, at least not yet."

I am one fan praying they get a deal done as Jagr really heated towards the end of the season and still shows a passion to win, making him one of the best players in the league.

Bookmark this post:

Newsday:
Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather reiterated yesterday that he would like to re-sign winger Jaromir Jagr over the summer, in part for Jagr to participate in the Rangers' opening regular-season series in the Czech Republic in October.

I'm going to keep this short and sweet. GOOD! He has been working as hard as I have ever seen him and has shown an desire to play and win no matter what. This is a special man keep him until he retires.

Bookmark this post:

NY Daily News:

"And as for trading Jaromir Jagr, don't hold your breath. The market for
him is minimal, and Glen Sather doesn't share the notion that has gained some traction among a certain (vociferous) segment of the hockey world that the Rangers would be better off without Jagr."

I honestly can not see why the Rangers would want to trade Jagr. He is their captain and a proven winner. Even though he started the season slow he has been hustling lately and scoring some goals. Even though he is a free agent after the season he has already said he wants to remain a Ranger for his career.

Bookmark this post:

According to Yahoo, the Detroit Red Wings are interested in acquiring captain right winger Jaromir Jagr from the New York Rangers. The Red Wings had been trying to acquire a top 6 forward before Dan Clearly got injured and now they are in need for a big time scorer. The Wings are interested in other players, but a deal with the Rangers could include wingers Jiri Hudler and Thomas Kopecky.

Bookmark this post: