84 Points for $8.3 Million

Larry Brooks of the New York Post has reported that The New York Rangers have declined their team option on Jaromir Jagr for the 2008-2009 season allowing the sniper to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.

Jagr has led the team in scoring the past two seasons while guiding the team offensively to two straight playoff appearances. This after the franchise missed the postseason the prior seven years. The Rangers have done their part to protect themselves of the potential cap hit of $8.36 million without the Ted Leonsis coupon. But they aren't out of the clear yet. Jaromir Jagr has a performance laden deal that would allow him to remain a Ranger at his current salary if he scores 84 points or 40 goals while the Rangers win a playoff round. With the recent offensive struggles of the blue shirts and more directly the recent scoring struggles of Jaromir Jagr, is this his last year with The Rangers? If so, are Ranger fans actually happy with that?

There are many scenarios that can play out with this melodrama that exists in a NHL cap era. Maybe this is finally the year Jagr starts showing his age and is in the decline of his illustrious career. Or, what if Jagr catches fire and goes on a tear most people believe he is still capable of. And if so, would The Rangers deal him at the deadline in fear of his impending payday?

Let me just state for the record (since I know you East Infection fans are keeping score) that I believe Jaromir Jagr will snap out of this recent funk, along with the rest of The Rangers, and start putting pucks into the net. Straka is back and that can only help the moody superstar's chances of putting up Jagr like numbers. A Straka Drury Jagr line still has some potential, and yes I say that because Drury is on my fantasy team. Jagr is on pace for 61 points after going ice cold his last six/seven games. If he heats up and puts a nice streak together, which we all know is coming, he won't be far off his magical money number.

With that hint of a prediction out of the way, I cannot envision seeing The Rangers without Jagr. If you ask most New York fans they are already handing over the C to Drury. Underestimating the value of Jagr to this team's offensive is a colossal mistake. Unless The Rangers could sign Marian Hossa in the off-season (if he ever makes it) or throw a ridiculous offer sheet at Alexander Ovechkin, New York won't even be respectable on offense without questionably the most offensively gifted player of the last 15 years. Jaromir Jagr means that much to this team.

The captain has not missed a game in two years and they have heavily leaned on his offensive abilities without question. He is the anchor of the scoring, more specifically the power play, and is not replaceable within the organization.

So we got that point across. The Rangers need Jaromir Jagr while one of their young prospects breaks away from the pack and evolves into that offensive stalwart. But can the Rangers afford him if he reaches 84 points this season? Would Glen Sather be forced to trade Jagr at the deadline in order to leave cap room for Brendan Shanahan, Sean Avery, and the gem of the franchise Henrik Lundqvist?

Of course Brendan Shanahan shouldn't be resigned right? Get rid of him and Jagr! They are only leading the team in points with the $10 million man. Get real. Ranger fans who believe that the franchise can survive a season without both Shanahan and Jagr are delusional. In a perfect world, for Ranger fans, Jagr will get 83 points and still want to resign with the team at a reduced price of around $3-5 million, which could very well happen.

But this season is long from over, and The Rangers are long from replacing #68.