What was the draw of the KHL for Jagr?

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tib2d2

Registered User
Jan 4, 2022
51
43
Was always curious about what drew Jagr to leave the NHL and go to Russia to play either in the Superleague or the KHL? He was far from washed up, and he even came back to the NHL. What was the appeal of playing in Russia for him?
 
The first time, it’s not like he left the NHL to do it. There was no NHL season that year. He played there during the lost lockout season and came back from it totally refreshed. But by the time you got to the end of the 08 season he had clearly lost a step, and the fond memories playing there with the realization that he was no longer an elite NHLer led him to go back.
 
The first time, it’s not like he left the NHL to do it. There was no NHL season that year. He played there during the lost lockout season and came back from it totally refreshed. But by the time you got to the end of the 08 season he had clearly lost a step, and the fond memories playing there with the realization that he was no longer an elite NHLer led him to go back.
It's crazy that you can say "in the 08 season he lost a step" and buddy is STILL playing professional hockey.
 
It's crazy that you can say "in the 08 season he lost a step" and buddy is STILL playing professional hockey.

He lost a step for sure back then. I’m a Rangers fan and watched it happen. But he didn’t lose another step until like 7 more seasons beyond that.

Jagr is still playing pro hockey, but at limited effectiveness in a league that’s below the AHL, maybe is at ECHL, level. I don’t watch any of the games, but part of me suspects (without justification) that his opponents take it somewhat easy on him. I actually think a lot of formerly elite NHLers could do what he's doing if they had the desire and stayed in top shape. He's a rare one, but I think it's more personality than ability.
 
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He lost a step for sure back then. I’m a Rangers fan and watched it happen. But he didn’t lose another step until like 7 more seasons beyond that.

Jagr is still playing pro hockey, but at limited effectiveness in a league that’s below the AHL, maybe is at ECHL, level. I don’t watch any of the games, but part of me suspects (without justification) that his opponents take it somewhat easy on him. I actually think a lot of formerly elite NHLers could do what he's doing if they had the desire and stayed in top shape. He's a rare one, but I think it's more personality than ability.
I'm not disagreeing with you I'm just saying it's crazy that this mofo is still playing.

I think a big part of it is that Jagr is a complete physical beast. A bit easier to hold onto the puck when your mobility starts to go down than when you're 5'10 and 175.
 
Was he really offered more money in the KHL? Was quality of life for him better in Russian than in North America?
 
Was he really offered more money in the KHL? Was quality of life for him better in Russian than in North America?

$7m per season, tax free. The highest paid player in the NHL was making $10m pre-tax, so Jagr took home more in the KHL than any NHL player did. The stuff I was talking about with where his mental state was I think was a big factor, but money was a huge part of it too. He made $8.36m pre-tax in his last season in NY. $3.3m in his first season back in the NHL.
 
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IIRC, he was trying to support his home country while still playing at a decent level of competition by buying the Kladno HC club. He only just recently sold 80% of his stake in it, at the end of January of this year.
 
main reason was probably that he knew he had lost a step and wasn't going to make as much money if he stayed in the NHL. i think he also mentioned he was mentally burnt out from the 82 game schedule

i wonder how his career would've turned out if he hadn't left, since he's credited his KHL stint with prolonging his NHL career
 
He lost a step for sure back then. I’m a Rangers fan and watched it happen. But he didn’t lose another step until like 7 more seasons beyond that.

Jagr is still playing pro hockey, but at limited effectiveness in a league that’s below the AHL, maybe is at ECHL, level. I don’t watch any of the games, but part of me suspects (without justification) that his opponents take it somewhat easy on him. I actually think a lot of formerly elite NHLers could do what he's doing if they had the desire and stayed in top shape. He's a rare one, but I think it's more personality than ability.
whatever you say bro!
 
Pretty sad overall for NHL fans. Dude put up 123, 96, then 71 in healthy seasons before leaving.

Assuming he stayed for those three seasons and averaged 25 goals (which is a very safe bet. 30+ was more likely) and assuming no lockouts, here are my pace/guesses for him in goals:

94-95 - 22 goals (pace)
04-05 - 30 goals(guessing)
08-09 - 25 goals (guessing)
09-10 - 25 goals (guessing)
10-11 - 25 goals (guessing)
12-13 - 14 goals (pace)

Jagr would have finished with 907 goals

Wayne would have had +9 based on 94-95 pace.
Ovy would have +22 from 12-13 lockout and assuming he played in 04-05 as his rookie year, ill toss out 30 goals which we all will likely agree is low.

So today, we would be sitting at

Ovy 935
Jagr 907
Wayne 903
 
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Pretty sad overall for NHL fans. Dude put up 123, 96, then 71 in healthy seasons before leaving.

Assuming he stayed for those three seasons and averaged 25 goals (which is a very safe bet. 30+ was more likely and assuming no lockouts, here are my pace/guesses for him in goals, here are my pace/guesses for his goal totals.

94-95 - 22 goals (pace)
04-05 - 30 goals(guessing)
08-09 - 25 goals (guessing)
09-10 - 25 goals (guessing)
10-11 - 25 goals (guessing)
12-13 - 14 goals (pace)

Jagr would have finished with 907 goals

Wayne would have had +9 based on 94-95 pace.
Ovy would have +22 from 12-13 lockout.

So today, we would be sitting at

Jagr 907
Ovy 905
Wayne 903

I believe Ovechkin would've played in 04-05, as well.
 

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