"They probably don't want me back.... Maybe if is scored 20 goals this playoff I would be back but I fell 20 short!" ~ Jaromir Jagr
Okay so let me get this straight: you fight so passionately to get Jaromir Jagr yet after a playoff season where he notched 10 assists but no goals you announce he will not be returning next year?! I don't really see you logic there. Nevertheless, for Jagr, this 33 game stint with Boston may end up going down as his last hurrah. In less than a year, Jagr will be 42 and has as of now made his NHL debut over 23 years ago meaning that well, a lot has changed since then. Over the past few years, Jagr's intense scoring touch has tailed off as his once acclaimed 12 year streak of more than 30 goals scored back in 2003, with the exception of a 54 goal campaign in 2005 and a 30 goal season a year later Jagr has failed to surpass 25 goals in 4 seasons since the 30 goals streak died. Nevertheless, as the NHL has changed, so has Jagr's role in the league that he is a part of.
In 2 seasons, playing for 3 different teams Jagr has scored just 35 times, (that is 10 less than Tyler Seguin) yet in his games played for the Flyers and Stars it has been his power play scoring and work to set up players for goals that has really become the highlight of his game. 73 games for Philidelphea 8 out of his 19 goals were scored on the power play. One year later in 34 games in Dallas this season he put up 6 of his 14 goals on Dallas power plays. Regardless of that, once Jagr transitioned to a more balanced Boston team, his goal scoring completely tapered off as with the exception of a completely all luck, off -the foot goal in his first game as a Bruin the future hall of famer put just one goal past opposing goaltenders.
After so many years of NHL offensive excellence, 2013 might very well be Jagr's last as a pro hockey player. As great as he is, all good things come to an end, yet nevertheless that same phrase can be applied to yet another Bruin not expected to return next year.
"With the current cap, Peter [Chiarelli] is not going to be able to keep me," Ference said, referring to the Bruins' general manager. "He's got to resign Tuukka [Rask] and obviously do his side of the business....With the new CBA he is restricted. I wish it wasn't so." ~ Andrew Ference
After being acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames, Andrew Ference has been a key part of the Bruins team despite him very rarely acting as a scoring part of this Bruins offence yet almost always serving as a backup to the shutdown style of Zdeno Chara. Nevertheless unlike the situation Jagr is in, Ference does not need to score to be useful. He blocks shots, he puts shots to the net, and he delivers hits and his team wins hockey games when he does just that and nothing more.
With that in mind, after the salary cap was lowered following this recent lockout, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli will be forced to make some tough choices that really might not go down as being that tough. With goalie Tuukka Rask as well as Ference both now restricted free agents and the Bruins pressed against the salary cap there will be no way for both Rask AND Ference to be re-signed for next year begging the question who is more valuable? I got my money on Tuukka.
