Ryan Wilson: Crosby back to leading the NHL at everything + Jagr gets overdue respect Crosby back to leading the NHL at everything + Jagr gets overdue respect

Those who lived through the last few years of "dying alive" Jagr aren't ignorant - they're free to feel any way they want about him due to his past actions.

I was 25 when he mentally checked out and then forced the trade, and Jagr's petulance, selfishness, inability to co-exist with an un-retired Mario and hissy fits in the media will always supplant everything else he did for Pittsburgh hockey.

I'll never like Jagr. Ever. He's in the Barry Bonds boat for me, a selfish traitor that spit on Pittsburgh and its fans.

I thought the hatred was based on him chosing another team over the pens when he came back from the KHL. Wasn't it the caps?

I thought the hatred was based on him chosing another team over the pens when he came back from the KHL. Wasn't it the caps?
- pensfan024

It was the Flyers. But that wasn't the beginning, that was just a reminder that he's got no special love for Pittsburgh.

Keep going JJ Play until you need a wheelchair to get around You have always been one of my all time favorites.

Those who lived through the last few years of "dying alive" Jagr aren't ignorant - they're free to feel any way they want about him due to his past actions.

I was 25 when he mentally checked out and then forced the trade, and Jagr's petulance, selfishness, inability to co-exist with an un-retired Mario and hissy fits in the media will always supplant everything else he did for Pittsburgh hockey.

I'll never like Jagr. Ever. He's in the Barry Bonds boat for me, a selfish traitor that spit on Pittsburgh and its fans.
- hardnosed

Youre a crusty old curmudgeon, arent you?

Those who lived through the last few years of "dying alive" Jagr aren't ignorant - they're free to feel any way they want about him due to his past actions.

I was 25 when he mentally checked out and then forced the trade, and Jagr's petulance, selfishness, inability to co-exist with an un-retired Mario and hissy fits in the media will always supplant everything else he did for Pittsburgh hockey.

I'll never like Jagr. Ever. He's in the Barry Bonds boat for me, a selfish traitor that spit on Pittsburgh and its fans.
- hardnosed

You are just WRONG about JJ probably the same feeling you have for Trump You just don't get it

Sid is no kid, that's for sure.
He game both ends is quite pure.
His wrister is wicked we can all agree.
Number 87 is something to see!

I will always have mixed feelings about Jagr. On the one hand he is responsible for lots of great Penguins memories of the 90's (I saw his entire Penguins career, as I became a Pens fan in 89, a few years before he entered the league and when I was in fifth grade). He helped them win the Cup in 91 and 92 and was easily the best player in the league in the later 90's. At the same time, I too remember his "dying alive" stuff and the time he cried on the bench and stormed off to the locker room because the coach made him sit a few shifts.

He will never, ever be the leader the Lemieux was or Crosby is and I don't want to see him on the Pens team again and his jersey probably should not be retired here. At the same time, he was one of the best hockey players of all time.

One of his greatest moments was totally humiliating Pierre McGuire:
http://articles.courant.c...ral-manager-paul-holmgren

"On the bench, players said McGuire would taunt the other team, saying he couldn't believe the opposing coach was allowing him certain line matchups. This braggadocio led Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr to mock McGuire in December. McGuire got Jagr for an illegal stick, and after Jagr jumped out of the penalty box, he scored on a breakaway. Although he had scored big goals in two Stanley Cup championships, Jagr called this overtime goal the biggest of his life because he humbled ``that know-it-all.''

I will always have mixed feelings about Jagr. On the one hand he is responsible for lots of great Penguins memories of the 90's (I saw his entire Penguins career, as I became a Pens fan in 89, a few years before he entered the league and when I was in fifth grade). He helped them win the Cup in 91 and 92 and was easily the best player in the league in the later 90's. At the same time, I too remember his "dying alive" stuff and the time he cried on the bench and stormed off to the locker room because the coach made him sit a few shifts.

He will never, ever be the leader the Lemieux was or Crosby is and I don't want to see him on the Pens team again and his jersey probably should not be retired here. At the same time, he was one of the best hockey players of all time.

One of his greatest moments was totally humiliating Pierre McGuire:
http://articles.courant.c...ral-manager-paul-holmgren
- PghPens668771

I disagree that his jersey should not be retired. In all likelihood it probably will be and it should. Jagr still defined a huge era of Penguins hockey and put up some gaudy stats.

That being said, I think its evident he wasn't the classiest nor selfless athlete. I can't really call him a Kovalev since he still putting up great numbers, but sometimes the complete effort just wasn't there. Beyond the dying alive stuff, his tendency to team hop / sign with Philly is pretty selfish. (Didn't he once say if he ever came back to the NHL, he would sign with Edmonton?)

You are just WRONG about JJ probably the same feeling you have for Trump You just don't get it
- holeinone

Whoa....are you saying people who have negative feelings for Trump simply just ' don't get it'?

I disagree that his jersey should not be retired. In all likelihood it probably will be and it should. Jagr still defined a huge era of Penguins hockey and put up some gaudy stats.

That being said, I think its evident he wasn't the classiest nor selfless athlete. I can't really call him a Kovalev since he still putting up great numbers, but sometimes the complete effort just wasn't there. Beyond the dying alive stuff, his tendency to team hop / sign with Philly is pretty selfish. (Didn't he once say if he ever came back to the NHL, he would sign with Edmonton?)
- DeflatedPucks

To play with Hemsky I believe

I disagree that his jersey should not be retired. In all likelihood it probably will be and it should. Jagr still defined a huge era of Penguins hockey and put up some gaudy stats.

That being said, I think its evident he wasn't the classiest nor selfless athlete. I can't really call him a Kovalev since he still putting up great numbers, but sometimes the complete effort just wasn't there. Beyond the dying alive stuff, his tendency to team hop / sign with Philly is pretty selfish. (Didn't he once say if he ever came back to the NHL, he would sign with Edmonton?)
- DeflatedPucks

I'd compare his situation with Pittsburgh to Lindros with the Flyers. A HOF caliber player had a falling out with the organization and becsme hated by the fan base.

But in the end, as long as he's willing to come back to the family, he should be embraced nd remembered for the special player he was.

Why aren't power play goals considered "actual" goals?

Why aren't power play goals considered "actual" goals?
- jmatchett383

Who says they are not? The only time they dont matter is when recording +/-....for obvious reasons.

I'd compare his situation with Pittsburgh to Lindros with the Flyers. A HOF caliber player had a falling out with the organization and becsme hated by the fan base.

But in the end, as long as he's willing to come back to the family, he should be embraced nd remembered for the special player he was.
- jmatchett383

I don't think he's contrite [yet]. And I certainly don't think he would come back to play for the pens even if does follow through on his wish to play to 50. The fact that he does want to keep playing probably has more to do with 'Jagr looking for whats best for Jagr' than loyalty to a particular team.

Maybe down the road in his 60s, him and pittsburgh will have a reunion

Why aren't power play goals considered "actual" goals?
- jmatchett383

They are. Think he's just pointing out how rare it is to get that level of production from a guy who gets so little PP time. Sheary is tied for 15th in even strength points despite missing 20 games. Some of that is definitely Crosby, but at the same time nobody else has produced like that on his wing. I'm not sure if he can keep it up or not, but guys who score 40 ES points a year are worth 4M in today's market and he has 44 in 51 games. I hope they lock him in for less due to his lack of a track record, but he's been worth more than a 4M wing this year.

Pens are in such a nice position with Sheary and Guentzel exempt. They could choose to protect 4 D and still have Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Sheary, Guentzel plus one other not to mention Sprong as a potential addition.

I never was in the "hate Jagr" club. He was a great player here. Tremendous memories from those days. Everybody knew he would be traded because the team couldn't afford him. Even if he didn't "ask out" he wold have been sold off anyway.

My biggest complaint is the steaming pile of shyt Patrick received in return. Must have been drinking heavily that day.

Sheary = St. Louis-lite.

He should improve too. He's heading into his peak seasons!

Those who lived through the last few years of "dying alive" Jagr aren't ignorant - they're free to feel any way they want about him due to his past actions.

I was 25 when he mentally checked out and then forced the trade, and Jagr's petulance, selfishness, inability to co-exist with an un-retired Mario and hissy fits in the media will always supplant everything else he did for Pittsburgh hockey.

I'll never like Jagr. Ever. He's in the Barry Bonds boat for me, a selfish traitor that spit on Pittsburgh and its fans.
- hardnosed

Jags can play the victim card all he wants, but he brought it on himself. Do I appreciate what JJ has done as a player, I do. Do I think he acted like a child towards the end of his days in Pitts, absolutely. If people want to boo him, they have every right. I would booo his arse too. The Bonds comparison is spot on. Can you imagine the hate Big Ben would get, if he forced the Steelers to trade him and all they got was a 7th round pick and couple special teams player for him. They would be irate.

You are just WRONG about JJ probably the same feeling you have for Trump You just don't get it
- holeinone

So you are saying JJ didn't having anything to do with how he acted at the end of his Pens run?

Jagr is the greatest.

Beyond the dying alive stuff, his tendency to team hop / sign with Philly is pretty selfish. (Didn't he once say if he ever came back to the NHL, he would sign with Edmonton?)
- DeflatedPucks

I don't mind his team hopping so much as his league hopping. He couldn't handle not being the best in the league anymore so he found an easier league to play in. I guess he has come to terms with his age now. He might have even been able to challenge Gretzky for all time points had he played in the NHL those three years.

Also, the fact that he jumped over to the KHL, more than anything else, shows his lack of loyalties and principles. The whole reason he took the number 68 was to commemorate the year of the Prague Spring, when Czechoslovakia attempted to democratize its government, the USSR wouldn't allow it, a rebellion broke out, and the Soviets sent tanks and troops in to put down the rebellion (with a fair amount of bloodshed - nowhere near that of Hungary in 1954 but a lot more than the Eastern Bloc in 89). Jagr's grandfather was arrested and thrown in prison by the communists, where he died. Between this and the fact that he is old enough to remember the last 1.5 decades of the Cold War I would think that Russia would be the last place he would have wanted to play (not just Russia but Omsk - a city in Siberia). I guess they paid him the most and that is all that mattered to him at that point.

jagr had a great career as a pen but in the end was a selfish crybaby was classless and left pitt and spit on the fans. but those who remember for what it actually was are ignorant lol love it

Having Sheary, Guentzal and Sprong around makes me happy for the Penguins wingers. Adding in Kessel and Rust means the next few years should be fun.