Report: Jagr done in Calgary

At 46 years of age, Jaromir Jagr has finally been cut by a team. As reported on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada yesterday evening, Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving is actively trying to trade the future Hall of Famer to another team in the hopes that he can continue his NHL career. Whatever the reason, injury, chemistry or just Father Time finally catching up with the 46-year-old, it’s clear that things haven’t worked out in Calgary.

“The Calgary Flames and Jaromir Jagr are working on an exit,” says Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. “His agent, Petr Svoboda, has been given permission to talk with every team in the league to see if there’s a fit for him, but at this time there isn’t.” 

Friedman’s colleague Chris Johnston followed up on the report adding that, it doesn’t appear that Jagr will play for his native Czech Republic at next month’s Olympic games. “The murmurs are maybe that this is connected to a potential landing spot with the Czech national team, but I’m told that that is not the case,” said Johnston. “He retired from the national team in 2015 on home ice in Prague and the World Championships and is only focused on continuing his NHL career.” 

Jagr has managed just 22 games for the Flames this season, scoring a single goal and seven points along the way. That’s a far cry from the 27 goals and 66 points he put up with the Florida Panthers just two seasons ago. Even last year with a bad Panthers team he managed 16 goals and 46 points. This season, he’s on pace for the worst season of his NHL career… by far. 

So, what’s next for the multi-generational superstar? Will he find another home in the NHL? Will he retire? Return to the KHL or another European league? Time will tell.

Oilers' Chiarelli on the outs?

In the same CBC segment, NHL insider Nick Kypreos reported that big changes could be coming just north of Calgary with the Edmonton Oilers front office. The Flames suffered their 7th four-goal loss on Friday evening and followed that up with another loss to the Chicago Blackhawks this afternoon. To say that things have not gone according to plan is Edmonton is the understatement of the year.

“There’s a feeling that it might be situation that could cost someone their job,” said Kypreos. “I’ve been told that nothing is imminent, but keep in mind that they have four more road games to go before a five day break and many people in that organization still feel that the shoe may still drop between then and next Saturday.”

If this is indeed the case, you have to imagine that GM Peter Chiarelli is feeling the heat. The veteran GM has traded the likes of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Justin Schultz and Nail Yakupov during his tenure and doesn’t have much to show for it. Chiarelli’s key additions, most notably Adam Larsson, Milan Lucic, Ryan Strome and Cam Talbot have all struggled at times this season, and as a result the Oilers are nowhere near a playoff spot. All this after experts had chosen them as a Stanley Cup favorite for 2017-18.

If heads do indeed begin to roll in Edmonton… don’t be surprised if Chiarelli’s is the first to hit the floor.