Report: Jagr making significant impact in Calgary

When the Calgary Flames signed 45-year-old legend Jaromir Jagr to a one-year deal, the expectation wasn't just that he provide offense to the team.

With a slew of young players leading the team, bringing on a player of Jagr's experience was an important move to help mature these young stars into elite players.

Jagr began the season on the team's third line, and has put up one assist in three contests so far, but head coach Glen Gulutzan has promoted the Czech to the top line for tonight's tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes. He will form a formidable line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.

The future hall of famer was already spotted mentoring Sam Bennett, a first round pick that Calgary still has high hopes for. Gaudreau and Monahan will greatly benefit from having him on their wing.

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton, an ex-Bruin who had the chance to play with Jagr back in Boston, had many positive things to say about Jagr's impact on the team.

“He’s been great with the young guys,” Hamilton said to NHLPA.com’s Chris Lomon. “We didn’t really know what to expect coming in. He’s been awesome with the young guys, teaching us different things. That’s been great for us. You watch him, learn from him and you ask him questions.

“He’s probably one of the smartest guys in the hockey world. It’s a great tool for the young guys to use.”

The compliments didn't end there.

“Just having played against him in the past, you realize how good he is and some of the things he does. You know why he’s had such an amazing career. He’s tough to get off the puck, tough to defend, he’s a big body and he has that ability to still make big plays. I experienced that in the last couple of practices.”

Jagr's impact on the young players in Florida was unmistakable. Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau are prime examples of his influence on player development.