Jagr in Russia?

[paul99]

Since he played an exhibition game in Moscow 3 weeks ago and let say openly he would like to play in Russia in 2005, newspapers in Russia just get crazy with the idea that Jagr could play in their country next year in.

It may be just a way for Jagr to keep his bargaining power in NA.

[Puck]

Let him play in Russia. Then if he gets hurt, his NHL insurance will not want to pay up and the Russian League will drop him like a hot potato. I say he stays in his bar in Prague in 2004, entertaining the boys and running after the babes in an extended summer leave period. He's too lazy to go play in Moscow for peanuts.

[spence___]

Originally Posted by paul99

It may be just a way for Jagr to keep his bargaining power in NA.

Maybe you can tell me why he'd need any bargaining power? Isn't he signed for another 4 or 5 years?

[Big McLargehuge]

Why would he play in Russia?

In the last strike he played in the Czech Republic...his home land

[paul99]

Originally Posted by spence___

Maybe you can tell me why he'd need any bargaining power? Isn't he signed for another 4 or 5 years?

He did not have a great season last year but he would not be the first player to try to increase his salary in mid-term. Lafleur, Yashin and many other did it.

But I don't said it is the case. I just try to understand why he would like to do so. And I don't pretend he will. It is just mazing the importance of this possibility is taking in russian sports newspapers since a month.

[paul99]

There are other texts today in the russian Sport Express newspaper. One of the texte is titled: « Jagr already began to learn russian » (http://www.sport-express.ru/art.shtml?74771)

In this text the russian correspondant reports a chat ( interview) with Jagr's agent ( Dmitri Goriachkin, from IMG). The agent confirms Jagr is aleady negotiating with two russian teams in case there would be a lockout next year. The agent says that Jagr has a long term agreement with the Caps and will not play for any other team next year unless there is a lockout in NHL.

The Capitals would send him a fruit basket if he actually played in Russia. The Caps want nothing more than to avoid paying his salary. They'd let him walk without a second's hesitation. None.

He's going to make $55 million regardless of what he produces, what effort he puts forth. There is no way he plays anywhere else. Russian teams could not pay a fifth of what he makes here.

And for anyone to claim that a player making $11 million is trying to run up his earnings in this NHL climate ... well, it says something for your credibility.

He might certainly play in Russia if there is no NHL season, but if the NHL is on, he will play for the larger contract. No question.

[ArtVandelei]

Originally Posted by Puck

Let him play in Russia. Then if he gets hurt, his NHL insurance will not want to pay up and the Russian League will drop him like a hot potato. I say he stays in his bar in Prague in 2004, entertaining the boys and running after the babes in an extended summer leave period. He's too lazy to go play in Moscow for peanuts.

If Tverdovsky is paid 2.5 mil per, I'd imagine Abramovich would have no problem paying Jagr 2-3 times that.

Still, you must pay attention to the original poster. 2005, as in the lockout year. Nothing to do with bargaining, or turning back on the nhl deal etc.