This weekend saw the unceremonious release of Jaromir Jagr from the Calgary Flames. Sure, The Jagr was 45, soon to be 46. Yep, he was injured for most of this season, creating consternation for himself and management. We can concede that the mullet, where he stored his strength, was not quite fully there. Obviously, there wasn’t a trade partner, nor even a poacher waiting in the midst. Still, with all of that, he should have been given a much better seed off rather than just being transferred to his Kladno team in the Czech Republic.
Dave Lozo has an excellent piece on not only why Jagr matters to hockey and it’s fans. In it he suggests how the league could have handled this better (think ASG) and how he was different from today’s talented automatons.
Jagr was too beautiful for this sanitized, cookie-cutter version of the NHL anyway.
Jagr was our last vestige of 1990s hockey; if the NHL wanted to bring back someone for this year’s All-Star Game who has diminished greatly since 1997, why not go with Jagr instead of Kid Rock? It would have taken forethought and deft coordination—two things the NHL should also consider bringing back—along with willingness on Jagr’s part, but it would have been nice to give everyone a chance to say goodbye to a living legend during All-Star weekend.
…
Jagr was more than just an all-time great; he was an experience. In a league starved for personality to go with talent, Jagr brought both for two decades. The mullet. The salute. The ass. I’d give anything for one of today’s boring NHL superstars to pick one and go with it for a year. Which player wouldn’t instantly become a bigger fan favorite?
Tyler Seguin… with a mullet.
John Tavares… saluting after every goal.
Johnny Gaudreau… with a big ass.
I can’t help but think that we’ll be missing one huge piece of personality on the ice.
It turns out that there’s another from the draft class of 1990 still on the ice.
Now that Jagr is off to Europe, there's only one member of the 1990 draft class on NHL ice.
You'd better believe it's Wes McCauley. 😂 pic.twitter.com/pyGeDlE0EH
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) January 30, 2018
Oh, yes, Wes McCauley was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the eighth round in the 1990 Entry Draft at pick 150, just 6 picks ahead of Peter Bondra. McCauley chose to stay at Michigan State University starting his playing career in 1993. It was a limited career as injuries took their toll. He chose to become a NHL referee like his father, John and hit the NHL ice in 2003.
So, I guess we still have some personality on the ice, just not in most of the players.
(Does anyone else want him to shout Mortal Kombat when announcing a good goal on review?)
Love when my boss emails me and asks me to do stuff I already did yesterday. Makes my day easier.
Patrice named second star of the month for January!
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/959140506939817984
YAY!
https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/959100441069015040
yaaaaaaaaay
WOOT!
Just don’t rush it.
Thanks for the Wes McCauley info. Did not know that he was a 1990 draft pick.
Hockey really is suffering from a lack of players with personality.
Tavares is great, but he’s got as much personality as a wooden door.
That’s why Marchand’s antics at the All-Star Game were so well received (even with the booing). Who displayed personality there? Marchand, Subban, Karlsson and then there were a bunch of cookie-cutter hockey robots.
Jagr will be missed, though I am not convinced he is completely gone yet.
Yes, hockey could use some personalities! Every time a player starts to show some, it’s frowned upon. Gary Bettman’s Corporate Hockey League!
I would love for Jagr to turn up somewhere this spring.
Morning all. In my attempts to fix the last problem I had for renewal season I created another problem for myself.
I think I’ll make a phone call and make it someone else’s problem.
I think I’ll make a phone call and make it someone else’s problem.
You’re headed for upper management!!!
reminds me of the troubleshooting flow chart!
I’m not sure what ‘Shit-Can It’ means, but otherwise that’s fantastic!
Means get rid of it, “shit can” being another term for trash barrel. Or “bins” as you call them in your parts.
Aha – thanks!
I always interpreted “shit can” as another term for toilet. So, shit-canning something was flushing it down a metaphorical crapper. Same intent, different etymology.
Morning, pals!
I hear you. If my boss and cow worker come up to me one more time with “One last question about this spreadsheet” my head will explode.
(I love them, I’m just over renewal season and need it to get out of my life until next year. The popped blood vessel in my eye agrees with me.)
Yes, you take half day and go do stick and puck things.
Enjoy the game. The Blues recent road record isn’t great.
Who needs the gym? Run places, lift heavy things, shun elevators, etc…
I’ll miss Jagr too.
Yeah, you take a half day!
Do I take a half day tomorrow to go to stick and puck in the morning? Hmmmm
I think you know what I think aboot that!
Hey Pals!
I’m sleepy! Late night double headers are wearing me out! Do other people ( on the East Coast ) play at 10:30 pm? Just a 9 pm single tonight.
Hoping to watch some of the Bs – Blues before we go.
Jo has been fed and is heading to work. It might be nap time!!!!
My games are (will be) at 10!