Jaromir Jagr on future with Devils: 'What's the reason to keep me?'
Jaromir Jagr knows the reality of the situation in New Jersey, and that there is no reason for the Devils not to trade him.
By
Adam Gretz
•
1 min read
At this point it's only a matter of when, and not if, the New Jersey Devils trade Jaromir Jagr.
Even though the now 43-year-old forward has not officially asked for a trade or demanded one publicly, he sure has been dropping some hints that maybe it's time for a change because his current team no longer needs him. At the very least, he definitely has an accurate read on the reality of his -- and the Devils' -- situation in New Jersey.
"If something comes up, I'll be traded," Jagr said on Monday, via Rich Chere of NJ.com. "What's the reason to keep me? I'm not important to this team."
It is a very legitimate question, and even though that is a brutally honest assessment of his role with the current Devils team, it is absolutely right on the money.
Even though he is only a shell of his former self, he would still have some value to a contending team in a depth and power play role.
The Devils at this point are most certainly not a contending team. They have almost no chance to make the playoffs this season (they currently have the third worst record in the Eastern Conference, ahead of only Buffalo and Carolina) and when you combine his age with his contract status (he is a free agent after the season) there really is nothing for the Devils to gain by keeping him, except maybe finishing the season with 30 wins instead of 29 wins.
In 52 games this season with the Devils Jagr has 11 goals to go with 18 assists.
