Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff is pitching an interesting idea to an NHL franchise. Suggesting the reintroduction of taxi squads to the NHL might open up a door for clubs to bring back veterans on short-term, part-time contracts, he wonders if there’s a place in the league for legend Jaromir Jagr.
Seravalli writes, “Since we’ve got older, wily veterans potentially making #NHL comebacks on the taxi squad … could one team please sign @68Jagr?” Seravalli adds that Jagr has 19 pts in 28 games this year for the Kladno Knights of the Czech league and adds, “Turns 50 in Feb. Perfect guy to slide into the lineup in a pinch. Loves to practice. Great in the room.”
One has to wonder how many teams would be interested in Jagr for a playoff push and just how teams Jagr might actually consider if the NHL is even remotely on his radar. He’s considered integral to the survival of his current team and the league and has cited his saving the club financially as one of the reasons he even still plays hockey. It’s hard to imagine he would leave the team in jeopardy.
He’s also talked publicly before about the amount of work it takes to keep going at his age and how the game isn’t as easy as it used to be. Making the jump back to the NHL could be a challenge. At the same time, any team that signs him isn’t expecting him to come and produce points on the top line.
In Servalli’s scenario, Jagr becomes more of a veteran you simply want to have around your locker room. There is perhaps no one better with the right work habits and desire to be an impactful player than Jagr in the last 25 years.
It certainly is a long shot and perhaps Seravalli is making a facetious remark, but it’s an interesting idea, nonetheless. There are at least a few NHL teams that would probably consider this an option if it was actually on the table.
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