The fog around Jaromir Jagr's future lifted ever so slightly today, but with the mercurial superstar, you never know.
“First I am going to talk to the Rangers,” Jagr said. “That’s No. 1 option for me. I don’t like to change. I feel very comfortable here, with all the people around this organization who are nice to me. They give me a chance to show everybody I still can play hockey. Everybody doubted me when I was playing in Washington for whatever reason. The Rangers gave me a chance and believed in me... All I have to do is concentrate on hockey.”
Jagr also said, very seriously, that if he stayed healthy, he would play for several more years.
"Look at Chelios playing till 44. Everything is about health, if you stay healthy ypu have a chance to work hard and do what you want. But I don't think I would sign longer than two years, just because of my dad; he asked me to come home in two years."
His father's team is building a new arena, and "he wants me to be there," Jagr said. "My family's always been important, I've got to look at what happened 25 30 years back; because of them I'm here." He then said he was kidding, but no one really believed him.
As for the other world-class forward who is a free agent, 39-year-old Brendan Shanahan, he sounded as if he wasn't ready to hang up the skates.
"I definitely feel today, that at this point, I definitely know that I can still be a productive player in the NHL and certainly somebody who contributes to a team's wins in a variety of ways," Shanahan said. "If I didn't feel confident, I would make my decsion to stop playing today. If I decided to play, this (New York) would be my first choice."
Three Rangers will play in the World Championships: Henrik Lundqvist for Sweden, Brandon Dubinsky for the U.S. and Fedor Tyutin for Russia.
More later...
Comments (26)
Shanahan has no shame whatsoever, he is all about squeezing as much money out of dumb GM/owner as possible.
Will Prucha play for Czech Republic?
Shanny wants more $4 million to be a support player. The guy hasnt been the same since his concussion with Knuble.
Lots of people, including Renney, are saying that the Pens last goal was offsides. Anyone have a link ??????????
Does anyone know a website where I can get a Dubinsky jersey?
Steve - Did you just call Shanny World-Class?
He has a world of class, but it's 2008, not 1998.
Rangers fans are so naive and gullible they believe anything that a hall of famer says.
Those that believed that he always wanted to play in MSG, that he loves New York, that he loves Ranger fans, and everything else about Rangers are fools. That is all PR, the same people that throw Dude a bone to do what he does online. the truth is almost no team wanted aging, slow, non physical Shanahan. Several teams wanted him for less money, Rangers were the highest bidder. He came here for money as did almost every other big name that we sign. But he made you fools believe that you were the "chosen ones" by this living decomposing legend.
But how could Shanahan lie to us, he is a real winner, he has over 600 goals?
Effigy
"Lots of people, including Renney, are saying that the Pens last goal was offsides. Anyone have a link ??????????"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G-EosTPE6U
Make sure you click on the "High Quality" icon. Move the scroll bar up to the 4 minute 50 second mark and watch the overhead picture and then the replay.
It appears that Dupuis is in ahead of the play.
I wouldn't say that it is CONCLUSIVE.....but pretty damn close.
I'll simply say that I have seen closer plays called off.
I guess we can count on Jagr and Shanahan taking up roster spots next year. Throw in Roszival and Backman and were right back to square one. Clueless!!!!!!!!!!!
you guys are ridiculous.
for a little while today, this blog has a nice hour or so, everyone was giving intelligent thoughtful opinions on the free agents we should pursue and what lines we should have, who should play together, that sort of thing
then it goes right back to assinine crap like Alexei Gusarov, Brian Trottier and Sather picking up all three Wards.
It gets frustrating reading posts from very stupid people over and over again.
So History Channel is ridiculous too for reminding us about Hitler and things like that?
yeah bob, that's exactly the same thing
you are one serious freakin arsehole
Sather my lord I bow down to you. Please bring us Ranger fans a Stanley Cup so Dude can say he stuck by his man all this time. While we rip you a new..................
Please stay Jags.
Habs inside/out site welcomes lesser lifes like Ranger fans to our site this week for a trivia show with games, guests and prizes, including a trip to the finals for two. WE also have great You Tube videos like "Hitler Loves the Flyers" and "Rangers blow five goal lead". Come watch a REAL team play.
My real purpose on this site is to meet cute boys, and get some e0males. Habs inside/out sent me here to be a negotiator to steal some hotties with tight asses and jocks.
oh man this is hilarious http://youtube.com/watch?v=tfsorLmH-f4
Sign Shanny to a 1 year deal. Make him the captain for real, since he was the defacto captain since he has come to NY anyway. Let Jagr, Malik, Rozie, Straka and Strudwick go. I dont mind if they sign Mara for less money for a short term 2 yr deal. Spend the money and cap space left by the other free agents leaving to bring in a physical d-man, a puck moving d-man and a scoring winger or two. Answers - Wade Redded, Brooks Orpik, Michael Ryder and Ryn Malone.
anybody who wants Shanahan back is either a moron or a Rangers hater.
anybody remember seeing the penguins net come off its morring just before i think malkin's backhand goal in game 5...shouldnt the officials have called it as soon as the net is ajar?
Zipay, how good a friends are Prucha and Jagr? Or are they closer to enemies? If they would be friends I doubt Jagr would let Renney treat Prucha like crap and ruin his career. I think maybe Jag hates Prucha and because of that Prucha was mistreated.
Did anyone see Sid put something in the kings water bottle before the overtime ?
I heard that Avery only had a cramp, but those icelander fan doctors slashed his spleen so he could not play and that is why we didnt win the cup.
Lets sign Hossa and then chant we want the cup next october at our home opener.
Sign Jagr and Shanny!
think it is safe to say that the Rangers will not be re-signing Shanny. A to some of the remainders, Straka is going to Europe, and the Rangers will save money for FA instead of signing Malik, Mara and surprise Avery. The Avery scenario is the most intriquing, his injury streak makes him a VERY high risk, especially the Spleen. Honestly would anyone pay top to 2nd line winger money for a guy with potentally two bad hands and the potential for another spleen injury in a game that is predicated by hard hitting? DOn't think so. While all the yahoos will be screaming I think that Sather made up his mind on Avery after the second hand surgery. Please consider that Spleen injuries may be OK for Baseball, golf, tennis and the likes, but in a psort that requires physical collissions this injury is probably worse then the dreaded concussion. (see Chris Simms). There is clearly a better option for a scoring winger at the 3-4 mil per year that Avery is seeking. AS to his intangibles they are moot as he will not be the same player after this injury (and quite frankly he was MIA in the Pitt series before the injury) so I expect Sather to not even make any offers to Avery other than the CYA public relations negotiating. Sean is gone. The only other interesting player that has a chance to stay is Rozival, and Sather has to take a long look at this one as FA will have at least 2 others.
WWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH (oh, why did the rangers lose?!)
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH (the penguins were offside for EVERY goal they scored!)
WWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH (the refs hate us and so does gary bettman, that's why we lost!)
WWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (tom renney makes me so angry i could spit!)
WWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH (i have a man-crush on shanny and i'll simply die if we don't resign him!)
WWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH (but we were SUPPOSED to win the cup! why didn't we????)
see, looks like msg4ever is working for MSG.
Just when I thought this site finally has good true hockey fans with knowledge, and insight into the game of hockey the clowns with no sense of understanding the game wast our team reading their dumb remarks. However, I am going to just say, Sather has to make better decisions this offseason. Compare to last spring where the Rangers almost came close to over taking the Sabers, we regressed this spring. Especially withthe power play. In fact it was our downfall in the playoffs. The Penguins scored on theirs almost 60% of the time while the Rangers were scoring about 20%. The need of a big hard hitting defenseman is needed and as much as it hurts we must say good bye Goodbye to Jagar, and Starka. I would bring Shannahan back only if he accepts a reduced role or evn as a coach. Sign Avery, I think him and Sather can compromise with a 2yr deal with an otion for a 3rd year. There is more I could write but lets leave it here for now.