Devils trade Jaromir Jagr to Florida

The New Jersey Devils claim to still be in playoff contention,but the Devils made a trade with one of the teams that they will have to leap in the improbable case that happens as the Devils sent veteran winger Jaromir Jagr to the Florida Panthers.

The Devils did pretty well in this deal as they added the Panthers second round pick in 2015 and their choice of either the Panthers or Minnesota's third round pick in 2016.
That's more than I figured that the Devils would get for the 43 year old Jagr and since that offer was on the table,the Devils decided to leap at the chance to add two draft picks for the future and ignore the fact that New Jersey would need to pass Florida (among others) for the Quixotesque quest for the playoffs.

Jagr was unhappy that his minutes had declined of late and his ability on the power play makes him a far better fit on a playoff contending team than on a non-contender that needs to add many things to the organization.
Jagr had eleven goals,but only two of them over the last month with the reduced ice time,so he will not leave a gaping hole in the Devils lineup.
Jagr could be a nice addition to a very young Panthers team for the playoff run and since Jagr is a free agent at the end of this season,the Devils were able to add two very nice pieces for a player that they were likely to lose in a short period of time anyway.

Very pleased with the return and I think the Devils did very well.
Of course,you would always want more,but Jagr's recent lack of scoring likely took the Devils out of asking for a first rounder from a team in the late part of the round.
I liked what Jaromir Jagr brought to the team in his New Jersey tenure and he played with effort,so I'm somewhat sorry to see him leave,but this is the type of deal that the Devils need to be making and I'm hoping to see a few more of these types of trades (with a little less in return of course) before the upcoming trade deadline....

Jagr tips cap in 5-2 Devils win over Philadelphia

On a night that Jaromir Jagr set an NHL record and that the Flyers Ray Emery couldn't stop a Hoppity Hop,the New Jersey Devils were able to build a huge lead and cruise to a 5-2 win the Philadelphia Flyers.
Jaromir Jagr scored three times (7,8,9) with Patrik Elias (5 power play) and Scott Gomez (3) adding the other New Jersey goals.
New Jersey will finish their homestand on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres...

Hell Raisers

1) The Jaromir Jagr hat trick put the veteran in the NHL record books for being the oldest player ever to score three goals in a game.
Jagr displaced Gordie Howe,who was 41 plus when he set the previous high with the Red Wings,while Jagr is closer to 43 than his current 42.
Hopefully,this is the impetus to setting Jagr on a run that would result in a higher price for anyone trying to obtain him at the playoff deadline....

2) The Devils didn't exactly fire tons of ammunition at the Flyer net as they put just 18 shots against the Flyers.
If five of them go in,I'll live with such a paltry number....

3) Four of the five Devils goals to the same line as Adam Henrique was switched to the Scott Gomez/Jaromir Jagr line.
Obviously that switch worked for one night.
Mike Cammalleri was the players moved out for Henrique...

4) Four fights in this game and maybe the only person more excited than I was Ken Daneyko doing the game on TV.
I know some don't like fighting and the game is going away from it,but I am getting a feeling that the Devils are up to something-a bad team is going to try to go away from the grain and try to rough the opposition up.
I'm not saying it's going to work in the long haul,but considering Lou Lamiorello and Scott Stevens on staff,this might turn out to be the strategy that the Devils try out...

5) What the above strategy also does is this-a bad and less than exciting team (On most nights,that is) might be a bit more fun for the live crowd to watch.
When you are part of a three team market,one always is fighting for the entertainment dollar and this might be another way to excite the crowd...

6) The win pulled the Devils even (at 35 points) with Philadelphia and Columbus,which is a good thing (I guess),but keep in mind that the Devils have earned their 35 points in two more games than the Flyers and FIVE more games than the Blue Jackets.
In other words,don't get too excited yet....

7) Another word about fighting-Mark Fraser returned to the Devils from Albany for the first time since being traded away three years ago and since being signed for AHL depth.
Fraser wasn't remembered by Rachel,but quickly won a spot in her heart for soundly decisioning Wayne Simmonds of the Flyers,who is not a favorite of hers...

You CAN call it a comeback! Devils KO Capitals!

The New Jersey Devils twice rallied from two goal deficits in the third period and used a bounce off of Andy Greene (6) to knock out the Washington Capitals 5-4 in overtime in front of a stunned Washington crowd.
Devils goals (besides Greene) to Jaromir Jagr (13 power play),Dainius Zubrus (8) and Marek Zidlicky (4 power play and 5).
The Devils travel to Chicago Monday night and another powerhouse team in the Blackhawks...

Hell Raisers

1) I didn't think this team had it in them.
There. I said it.
Entering the third period after a horrible second on the road-the Devils seemed licked.
If the Devils manage to do anything out of this season and to me that would be simply making the playoffs,you might want to look back at this night as the start....

2) Jaromir Jagr was tremendous with a power play goal and two assists and even hit someone!
Jagr's sharp angle goal with the score 3-1 was delivered with stoic execution and Jagr clearly was the player of the game.

3) Not take any credit away from the usually frowned upon Marek Zidlicky,who came through with two goals.
Zidlicky's power play goal showed just enough to tease Devils fans with what he is capable of when he is performing at his highest level.

4) The Capitals might have been lucky to even get to overtime,if not for a mental clunker by Patrik Elias.
With Washington leading 3-2,Elias tried to make a pass down the chute in his own end,which was stolen and passed to Alex Ovechkin,who gunned the puck by Marty Brodeur.
Just goes to show,mental errors aren't exclusively the realm of the young.

5) Martin Brodeur was not good in this one.
The Mihkail Grabovski goal was excusable,but one goal was handed on a fat rebound,another he thought he had and didn't and the Ovechkin went through the five hole.
You know,Marty has bailed a bad offense out enough through the years,I suppose he deserved one like this...

6) Andy Greene is either A) having a career year or B) is turning into a defenseman that is starting to reach all-star caliber.
Either way,Greene's play was tremendous on this night and Greene deserves a bow...

7) It wasn't all Jaromir Jagr dominating,it was his linemates too as Dainius Zubrus and Travis Zajac each came up huge with Zubrus chipping a rebound off a Jagr shot in and Zajac assisting on both goals scored by the line.
This line was the dominant line of the night....

8) This one feels good,I must admit,but it is just one game.
Monday night will be very interesting.....