No, the Boston Bruins should not sign Jaromir Jagr

Some fans have been talking about the possibility of a Boston Bruins return for Jaromir Jagr, but the team should not sign him.

“The Boston Bruins should sign Jaromir Jagr.” No, they should not. The aging star played well enough in 2013 in Boston, but the Bruins are on a different path now.

The 45-year old Jagr is looking for a new NHL team as a free agent after spending last season with the Florida Panthers. The journeyman has spent time in Pittsburgh, Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, New Jersey, and Florida over the course of his long career, and a new team could be added to that list. A return to Boston should not happen.

Jagr has slowed down, though he did play in all 82 Panthers games last season with 46 points.

In 2013, Jagr appeared in 11 games in the regular season for Boston after he was acquired from Dallas. He had 2 goals and 7 assists. He then played in 22 games for the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with 10 assists as the team lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Final.

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While Jagr could be a cheap option, Boston is looking to get younger. You don’t get younger with a 45-year old skating around for you. The Bruins have a ton of talent that simply needs to gain experience this season, and signing Jagr would prohibit that.  Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork, Jakob Farsbacka Karlsson, and Jesse Gabrielle will all be fighting for roster spots this season alongside more established young players like Noel Acciari, David Pastrnak, and Frank Vatrano.

“But the leadership role! Jagr is so perfect!” Well, yes, it would be nice to have Jagr as a veteran in the locker room, but Boston has that role covered. David Backes, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and Zdeno Chare all provide plenty of leadership and veteran presence on the ice and in the locker room for the Bruins.

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I get that it’s August and there isn’t much Bruins news out there, but even the idea of bringing this old man back to Boston is ridiculous. No one should entertain that thought at all.