Jagr joins Stars - 07-03-12

Jaromir Jagr is if nothing else, unpredictable.

The former Penguins captain has signed a one-year contract worth $4.55 million with the Dallas Stars. Jagr, 40, appeared in 73 games last season with the Flyers and scored 54 points (19 goals, 35 goals).

Jagr had flirtations with the Penguins on a possible return last summer when he made his return to the NHL after three seasons in the KHL.

EN Says: Who saw this one coming? And who saw Jagr getting that type of money?

We're not sure why the Stars pulled this move. They went and signed an older guy - left winger Ray Whitney - a few days ago. Why add another?

It'll be interesting to see how Jagr works with the Stars' projected No. 1 and 2 centers, Jamie Benn and Derek Roy since both are left handed. Jagr claimed one of hte reasons he went to the Flyers last season was because their top two centers - Claude Giroux and Daniel Briere - were righthanded.

Perhaps Stars European scout Jiri Hrdina, a friend of Jagr, helps sway him to the Stars? Hrdina served as Jagr's "big brother" with the Penguins during Jagr's first two seasons in the NHL as a teenager.

The Stars did have a the worst power-play in the NHL last season at 13.5 percent so Jagr and Whitney will boost that.

Either way, the money is good for Jagr and that's never anything he's shy from going after.

For the Stars, that's a pretty hefty cap hit for a player who wore out as the season wore on.

Just a bizarre contract for all parties invovled.

(Photo: Post-Gazette Archives)