Unrestricted free agent forward Jaromir Jagr is open to joining the Carolina Hurricanes, according to agent Petr Svoboda as told to Jonathan Stout of Canes Country.
NHL free agency: Jaromir Jagr interested in Hurricanes, says agent
Jaromir Jagr’s agent says the 41-year-old forward is interested in joining the Carolina Hurricanes.
Harry How
Svoboda indicated in the exclusive interview that vice president of hockey operations, Ron Francis, is one of the reasons he is interested in the club. Francis and Jagr were teammates with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1991-98 and won two Stanley Cup championships together over that span (1991, 1992).
Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford stated in a radio interview on Tuesday that Carolina is still courting an “elite” level free agent who is willing to take less money on a one-year contract to play with the team. Rutherford expressed that he needs to move a player before making the prospective signing.
Given the options still available, some have speculated that the player could be Jagr or Mikhail Grabovski. Josh Rimer tweeted on Wednesday evening that the Hurricanes have not spoken to Grabovski or Jagr. In the interview with Stout, Svoboda says Carolina "was" on Jagr's list. Whether that is a turn of phrase or a past-tense desire, remains to be seen. Either way, an agreement requires the interest of two parties. It's still unclear whether Carolina is actually interested in Jagr.
In terms of Jagr’s prospects, previous reports have indicated that three teams have expressed intrigue in the 41-year-old player. Svoboda states that number is inaccurate, via Canes Country:
“A long story short, there are more than three teams. Jaromir wants to be sure of the decision that he makes because he was in Philly, he was in Dallas, then in Boston. He wants to make sure he makes the right decision.”
Jagr played in 45 regular season games in 2013 with the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins. Over that span, he collected 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points while averaging 18:20 of ice time.
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