On the Calgary Flames …
Jason Deforest: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 on injured Flames forward Jaromir Jagr and if he could retire sooner than later: “If he’s not going to play, I could certainly see the possibility. Maybe they shut him down and see if he can get healthy – I would bet on that before retirement.”
Wes Gilbertson: Have been told that Jagr won’t be retiring, but “what does that leave? Surgery? Shut down a while to get healthy? No news at all?”
Bob McKenzie: “Lots of speculation on the future of Jaromir Jagr with CGY. Hobbled by injury, unable to get a defined role, rumours abound but, for now anyway, my understanding is no declarations are imminent. There has been and will continue to be dialogue between Jagr and CGY … All this is set against backdrop of what’s believed/rumoured to be an “arrangement” or “understanding” between CGY and Jagr when he signed; that if it wasn’t working out for one party or the other, mutually agreed termination of contract could be invoked…but what are/were precise terms of that “understanding” and are they currently applicable? In any case, Jagr’s situation in CGY is certainly worth monitoring and perhaps could become clearer in the days ahead.”
On the Detroit Red Wings …
Ansar Khan of MLive: (mailbag) Red Wings GM Ken Holland doesn’t have a contract beyond this season and coach Jeff Blashill has a year on his deal. If Holland comes back next year, it increases the chances of Blashill coming back. A new GM may want a new coach.
The Red Wings have limited roster flexibility due to a group of players who are on long-term contracts with large salary cap hits, are underperforming, and some have no-trade clauses.
The Red Wings are not trading captain Henrik Zetterberg. Doubtful that the Red Wings moved him unless he came to them and asked to be traded. If they looked to move him before the trade deadline, they wouldn’t get a first-round pick for him. Zetterberg has three years left on his deal – $3.5 million next year and $1 million in the last two years.
Petr Mrazek could be traded for a draft pick – maybe a fourth-round pick if that.