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Montreal Canadiens: Ales Hemsky Nixes a Potential Jaromir Jagr Signing

By Omar L

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 20: Montreal Canadiens right wing Ales Hemsky (83) and Washington Capitals right wing Brett Connolly (10) skating together during the Washington Capitals versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 20, 2017, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 20: Montreal Canadiens right wing Ales Hemsky (83) and Washington Capitals right wing Brett Connolly (10) skating together during the Washington Capitals versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 20, 2017, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens could use a player like Jaromir Jagr in their line-up, but them already having Ales Hemsky makes that impossible.

#JagrWatch has been an interesting development over the summer. At first it was kind of funny, but it’s September and Jaromir Jagr still doesn’t have a contract. For a long time, there have been many Montreal Canadiens fans who have voiced their desire to have the legend on the team.

Jagr may not have the speed to keep up with the top talent, but he still has the skill and the sense to produce in the NHL. He can set up plays and put goals in himself. Defence was an issue for him in his later years in Florida, but you have to keep in mind that he was playing on the first line.

If you have Jagr playing lower in the line-up, then it could free him up more. However, he was able to put up 16 goals and 30 assists as a 45-year-old. Having Jagr on the team would be great, and not to mention he could add Montreal to his long list of played-for teams.

Unfortunately, that won’t happen. The presence of Ales Hemsky on the team kind of makes that possibility very unlikely. If Jagr was on the Habs, the best place for him to play would be on that Phillip Danault line with Alex Galchenyuk. Danault isn’t as offensively inclined to set up plays, but Jagr definitely could.

That spot is taken though. Hemsky has the same puck distribution ability as Jagr does but at a different scale. He’s also a younger (relatively speaking) and cheaper option. Jagr has been signing one-year deals for the last few years now where his cap hit last season was $4 million (via Capfriendly.com).

Since not many teams are calling, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d accept a $3 million AAV. It’s not as if we should point a finger at Hemsky and say, “this is all your fault why they won’t sign Jagr”. However it’s most definitely a factor.

If the circumstances were different and Marc Bergevin hadn’t already signed Hemsky, Jagr would probably be receiving a phone call or two from him. Management seems happy with whatever they have in the roster so far. It’s too bad, seeing 68 on a Habs seater would be a great experience.

Next: Striking Gold in the 5th Round

Do you think Hemsky was part of the decision not to sign Jagr? Could they sign him anyway? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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