Babcock Interview + Jagr to Detroit Rumor

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

For the right price, sure. But I seriously doubt Jagr will be suiting up for Detroit in the fall.

[Guest Crymson]

I love how "locker room cancer" is thrown around these boards quite often. I'm not saying your necessarily wrong, but cite sources where this information is obtained and so on.

Fedorov was a primadonna, too. Maybe not to the extreme, but he was.

Fedorov had a bad attitude at times, and it became an issue at times.

Jagr has a bad attitude, and I don't think anyone really disputes that. Remember when he used to refuse to participate in the shootout at times?

[egroen 384]

I'd do it - I am a fan of one-year deals and $2.5m is awfully cheap nowadays.

Modano situation all over again is about the worst that can happen, and it's not like that crippled the team in any way - but it had a decent chance of working out better.

[martyrme19 73]

Fedorov had a bad attitude at times, and it became an issue at times.

Jagr has a bad attitude, and I don't think anyone really disputes that. Remember when he used to refuse to participate in the shootout at times?

Uh-oh, I found a hole in your argument because, um....I dispute that.

[Guest Crymson]

Uh-oh, I found a hole in your argument because, um....I dispute that.

That's not really what I meant. Has anyone in the hockey world ever--or at least in the last decade--come out and said, "Wow, Jagr is a real team player and a very hard worker!!", or has it pretty much always been the opposite said whenever anyone has spoken up about him?

[dirtydangles 1,328]

can we not go through another modano situation? like seriously, why are we signing old players that nobody wants to short contracts? so they can get injured and not have an impact? I absolutely do not want Jagr anywhere near the team.

[egroen 384]

Behind Datsyuk the Wings really struggle to find good players for shootouts.

Seems silly to pick based on shootout ability, but they unfortunately do decide a lot of games, and the Wings really sucked the last couple of years at them.

I kinda figured Jagr would return to the Pens.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

5 years ago, sure. Today, no.

[Konnan511 1,736]

[St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422]

I think it would be nice for all these player threads on this board to have a poll in each and every one of them. Saying yes or no. Kinda want to see what the majority of the board is thinking. Make it happen mods please...

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

I'd take Jagr over Hudler.

[Casey 145]

I'd take Jagr over Hudler.

As would I. Offer him Hudler's pay!

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

I get a very uneasy feeling in my stomach when I read the words "friend", "Marian" and "recommending" in the same sentence.

[newfy 695]

Jagr was probably the most dominating player in the Worlds. You don't believe it until you see him play. I didn't think he would be in shape anymore, but as he said himself usually it's the loss of pure speed that makes many older players worse.

Players who succeed at an older age usually either have to find a way around it (Lidstrom with his amazing hockey sense) or just somehow maintain it (like Selanne). Jagr's game has never been about speed; he's strong, skilled and relies more on holding on to the puck and making plays that way (I always say Leino is extra lite version of him).

Anyways. He's in shape. You have to see it to believe it. That doesn't mean I want him to the Wings, but I still see him as a +50 point player.

Detroit already has their designated floater in Hudler, Jagr isnt his old self and the wings need to stop signing these old vets to deals like that.

How did Modano work out? Or Chelios when we had to lose Quincey? Jagr doesnt even dominate in the KHL, how would he do in the NHL?

These old guys getting signed by Detroit instead of bringing in young , hungry players is really getting old

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

I would do it at the right price and I think the fact that he would make defenses think more and it would open up space for whoever he plays with. Even at 39 - 40 he would be a decent addition.

Priority? - NO

If he is lingering and we need a depth 3rd ( 2nd liner if injures take over) - YES

[SwedeLundin77 460]

The guy is in his late 30's and has been racking up near a point per game since playing over there. I know it's not as hard as the NHL necessarily, but who's to say he wouldn't be fine playing one season here on the third line and on the powerplay?!? I think it's not a bad decision if the money is right and Hudler gets moved. Hell, even if Huds stays, maybe Jagr can teach him a few things about offense...

[GMRwings1983 8,802]

Too old.

We did this last season with Madonna.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

So Draper and Osgood are "passing the torch" to Jagr? I thought the point was to get younger and better.

I'm not buying this at all. It doesn't strike me as a Ken Holland-like move. I would rather have Scottie Upshall by a wide margin with the Jagr money if the Red Wings go the forward route in free agency.

[martyrme19 73]

That's not really what I meant. Has anyone in the hockey world ever--or at least in the last decade--come out and said, "Wow, Jagr is a real team player and a very hard worker!!", or has it pretty much always been the opposite said whenever anyone has spoken up about him?

Ive never heard a lot of athletes in the world have someone stand up and say they are a great team player and very hard worker....but I don't automatically assume the opposite is true.

And I think any negative reference is really spawned from the whole return of Mario Lemieux from retirement fiasco and who is the real captain situation in Pitt.

And any logical person has to ultimately conclude that most of that rift was created by the division of fans. Much like if Gordie Howe discovered the fountain of youth in '98 and came back to challenge Yzerman for the C here in Detroit. People would probably pick sides.

I think this forum suffers from bad cases of group mentality and often can't think on their own. Hence a repeat of the unorigional and no longer funny "Do Not Want" pics.

[martyrme19 73]

Oh and another thing this board suffers from is flip flopping. Like America does when they vote for dems long enough to get pissed off to vote for reps again and vice versa.

Year of Dallas Drake:

Ya! Aging vets are great! We won one for Drake, we gotta win one for the next guy!

Year of Mike Modano:

God, I am so sick of Holland signing aging vets that take up precious roster spots for our young emerging talent that already has a bust made for the Hall of Fame. Hall of fame talent like Kyle Quincey, Mattias Ritola, Tomas Fleischman, Tomas Kopecky, Garret Stafford, Mark Cullen, Carl Corazzini, Boyd Devereaux and Jamie Pushor.

Fact is, Holland and the brass have a winning formula that incorporates veteran players. The Red Wings have always won with a solid mix of vets in the lineup. Hence why all other teams' fans ridicule the Red Wings for being "too old". Yet, we've been the most successful team since employing this strategy.

I'm not saying that Holland will for sure be signing Jagr. What I am saying, however, if Holland choses to sign him - I won't doubt the decision for one second. And until then, I won't bother speculating if Holland would be stupid or not to do so based on Jagr's age.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Detroit already has their designated floater in Hudler, Jagr isnt his old self and the wings need to stop signing these old vets to deals like that.

How did Modano work out? Or Chelios when we had to lose Quincey? Jagr doesnt even dominate in the KHL, how would he do in the NHL?

These old guys getting signed by Detroit instead of bringing in young , hungry players is really getting old

Have you even seen Jagr play in the KHL? Did I say Jagr would "dominate the NHL"? Did I say I'd want Jagr on the Wings?

The answer to all those questions is probably the same.

[Guest Hatethedrake!]

I do agree that the Wings need to get younger. I did not like Holland signing Modano. But for some reason, for the right price, I would be ok with signing Jagr. I look at the UFAs this year and there is not much to be excited about. If anything, Jagr would be good for the power play. We are really going to miss Rafalski in those situations. Helm and Abdelkader are going to be playing more important minutes and now Mursak will be on the team full time. So it's not as if all our forwards are Methusaleh. Dats and Z and Mule are not very old. Flip and Cleary are not either. Look at how Selanne is playing for the Ducks. Recchi is 43 and played a key role on the Bruins' 2nd line in the Cup Final. If Jags replaces Hudler than I am fine with it. If Jags comes and Hudler is still on the team then I don't know what to think.

[cjm502 165]

Im willing to bet that if we did not sign Modano last season everyone would be on the Jagr bandwagon.

[LionsAndRedwingsAndPistonsOhMy 3]

If we were in need a winger, sure. If he hadn't been out of the NHL for the last several seasons, sure. If he was a cheap contract, sure.

Nothing fits the bill, IMO. I wouldn't be upset if he were signed, but I certainly wouldn't pursue it.

[SwedeLundin77 460]

If we were in need a winger, sure. If he hadn't been out of the NHL for the last several seasons, sure. If he was a cheap contract, sure.

Nothing fits the bill, IMO. I wouldn't be upset if he were signed, but I certainly wouldn't pursue it.

But we are in need of scoring depth on the wing... Franzen is spotty at times, Holmstrom is good for maybe 20 goals at this point, Cleary is good for 25 goals, Hudler is good for 20 goals (if he plays well), Bertuzzi is good for 15-20 goals.... The point being that we don't have a lot of goals coming out of our wingers, and it would be nice to have that Hossa type scorer on the wing. I'm not saying Jagr is that guy, but to say we don't need depth at the wing position is really false.