Jaromir Jagr traded to Florida Panthers for draft picks
The New Jersey Devils have traded Jaromir Jagr to the Florida Panthers.
By
Adam Gretz
•
1 min read
Jaromir Jagr made it pretty clear in recent weeks that he was ready for the New Jersey Devils to trade him.
On Thursday afternoon, he got his wish.
The Devils sent Jagr to the Florida Panthers for a second-round draft pick and a conditional third-round pick. The second-round pick is in the 2015 draft, while the Devils will have the option of taking either Florida or Minnesota's third-round pick in 2016 (Florida has Minnesota's pick as the result of a previous trade).
In 57 games this season Jagr has 11 goals to go with 18 assists.
It's a pretty stunning move, not only to see Jagr in a Panthers uniform (a team that did not even exist when Jagr made his NHL debut back in 1991), but because it is a pretty clear sign that the team believes it has a shot to make the playoffs. If it didn't believe that, it wouldn't have given up two draft picks for a player that probably will not be back with the team next season. Heading into play on Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks the Panthers sit two points behind the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
At 43 Jagr clearly isn't the player he once was, but he is still great with the puck and one of the best possession players in the NHL and can add a little bit of offense.
He will join a Panthers team that is one of the more interesting clubs in the league. They have a great collection of young talent and are often regarded as a young, up-and-coming team, but they also have a very veteran heavy lineup that now includes Jagr, Willie Mitchell, Dave Bolland, Jussi Jokinen, Tomas Fleischmann, Brian Campbell, Brad Boyes, Scottie Upshall and Tomas Kopecky.
With 716 goals in his career, Jagr is sixth on the NHL's all-time goal-scoring list and fifth with 1,784 total points. Had it not been for three lockouts and a three-year stop in the KHL in his career he would be even higher on both lists. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, five-time scoring champion and one-time MVP winner, Jagr has played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins in his NHL career along with the Devils and now Panthers.
