07-10-2009, 07:57 PM
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#76
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Banned
OVR: 31
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Westchester County, NY
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Re: Getting Back Their Prowl -- A Nashville Predators EHM Dynasty
STRUGGLING PREDS MAKE DESPERATE OFFER
Jaromir Jagr could add a huge surge to a near dead Predators squad.
The Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League have reportedly offered Avangard Omsk's winger Jaromir Jagr a two year contract. The veteran right winger chose to left the NHL at the beginning of this year in favor of the Kontinental Hockey League based in Russia and other Eastern European nations.
The deadly right winger has always been a force to reckon with in the NHL, but reportedly has no comment on the contract offer.
"I'm going to come right out and say it," said Nashville Predators general manager Mikko Lehtinen.
"We're desperate. We've been struggling as of late, and we could really use a superstar force like [Jagr] to give us a little, or a big, push."
The Predators currently stand tied with the St. Louis Blues for the last place in the Western Conference, with a 5-11-1 record. Along with the Blues, they are the 2nd worst team in the NHL as of now, and have been struggling in almost every aspect of the game, particularly goaltending and offense.
The Predators have the absolute worst goals for per game average, with a dismal 2.12. The best goals for per game average in the NHL belongs to the Montreal Canadiens, who have one at 4.28, with the Vancouver Canucks right behind them at 4.00.
The Predators goals against per game average is 3.88, which is 3rd worst in the NHL. They sit just in front of Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders, who have a goals against per game average of 3.89 and 4.50 respectively.
Jaromir Jagr is currently in the NHL's top ten players in career goals, assists, and points, and is often regarded as one of ice hockey's greatest all-time players. He is from the Czech-Republic, and began his career with Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins, until signing the largest NHL contract in the history of the league (at that point in time). He jolted the Capitals to a few playoff appearances, but was eventually traded to the New York Rangers for Anson Carter and an agreement that the Caps would pay about four million dollars per year of Jagr's salary.
Jagr led the Czech Republic national ice hockey team to a gold medal at the 2005 World Hockey Championships, eventually getting elected as a tournament all-star.
Prior to the 2005-06 season, the Rangers made a huge firesale, trading away or releasing many of their highly overpaid older veterans, aside from Jagr. Many hockey experts and critics picked the Rangers to be the worst team in the NHL, yet Jagr heartily disagreed, and promised the team would surprise everyone and make the playoffs.
Through his stellar play, and the emergence of all-star goalie Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers did reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs that year, only to be eliminated by their rivals, the New Jersey Devils. However, the Blueshirts were without Jagr and many other key players due to injuries, and Lundqvist wasn't completely healthy, either.
On October 5th, 2006, Jaromir Jagr was named the 24th captain of the New York Rangers franchise, and he scored his 30th goal of the season against the Montreal Canadiens on April 5, 2007, tying the NHL record of consecutive 30-goal seasons with Mike Gartner at 15 seasons.
On July 3rd, 2008, Jaromir Jagr was informed by Rangers General Manager Glen Sather that the Blueshirts would not be resigning him. Jagr fled to Russia, joining Avangard Omsk of the KHL with a 2-year deal.
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