Jagr Trade Means Capital Gains

The Pittsburgh Penguins completed one of the most one-sided trades in NHL history Wednesday, sending superstar winger Jaromir Jagr to the Washington Capitals for three youngsters and future considerations.

In exchange for Jagr, the league’s leading scorer the last four seasons, and defenseman Frantisek Kucera, the Penguins received 20-year-olds Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk and Michal Sivek and about $5 million in cash.

The Penguins’ mind-boggling move was made in order to save the $20.7 million they would have had to pay Jagr over the next two seasons. With 17 free agents to re-sign this summer, the cash-starved Penguins simply didn’t have the money to pay Jagr. They also couldn’t afford to pick up a big-name player with a big-time salary, which led to the deal for the three prospects.

Pittsburgh figured to trade Jagr at some point this summer. After all, he asked to be traded at least twice during the 2000-01 season, including during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But what stands out most about Wednesday’s trade was what the Penguins didn’t get in return for the five-time scoring champion: an NHL-caliber player.

“He wanted to move on, so he’s glad at this point that it’s over with,” Penguin General Manager Craig Patrick told reporters in Pittsburgh. “It’s difficult to trade someone who has been here 11 years and accomplished so much.”

Asked to explain the lopsided appearance of the trade, Patrick said: “This is the only deal that made sense to us. It’s not in the best interest of our team to keep someone who didn’t want to be here. I’m glad it’s been accomplished. The players we got in return are all 20 years old and all have pretty good futures.”

Washington parted with three of its top four picks from the 1999 draft, but gained a future hall of famer in Jagr and a veteran defenseman in Kucera. The Capitals also stuck a dagger in the hearts of the New York Rangers, who had hoped to acquire Jagr and put an end to a string of four consecutive seasons without advancing to the playoffs.

Contrary to reports earlier in the week from New York, the Capitals were the front-runners all along.

The Kings and Mighty Ducks were not active in talks for Jagr because his salary for the next two seasons is simply too high. The Kings traded defenseman Rob Blake to the Colorado Avalanche late last season and did not re-sign winger Luc Robitaille in order to trim their payroll. The Ducks traded winger Teemu Selanne to the San Jose Sharks last season for the same reason.

Washington owner Ted Leonsis, an Internet mogul, has been eager to improve his club since taking over before the 1999-2000 season. He is one of the few owners in a position to take on Jagr’s hefty salary.

The trade gives the Capitals two of the league’s best goal scorers, with Jagr and Peter Bondra expected to form a blockbuster tandem. Jagr and Bondra made their NHL debuts in the same game in 1990. Jagr had 52 goals last season and a league-leading 121 points. Bondra had a team-leading 45 goals and 81 points.

“Our main objective for the upcoming season was to add offense to our club and acquiring one of the top offensive players in the game addresses that need,” Capital General Manager George McPhee told reporters in Washington. “Our team is a better team today as a result of this trade.”

The Capitals, the Southeast Division champions the last two seasons, would appear to have the firepower on offense to challenge the New Jersey Devils for Eastern Conference supremacy. In addition to a one-two punch of Jagr and Bondra, they also have an all-star goaltender in Olaf Kolzig.

There are some questions about the Capitals’ depth on defense, but all eyes will be on the other end of the ice whenever Jagr steps off the bench.

It figures to take some time for Jagr and his new teammates to mesh. But a change of scenery could be good for the 29-year-old Czech. Last season, he feuded openly with Pittsburgh Coach Ivan Hlinka and didn’t jell with Mario Lemieux as well as Lemieux had hoped after leaving the owner’s box to begin his comeback as a player midway through 2000-01.

The Penguins advanced to the Eastern Conference finals but were easily defeated by the Devils in five games. Jagr had only two goals and 12 points in 16 playoff games. There was as much talk about his demand for a trade as his lackluster showing in the postseason.

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Newly acquired Detroit Red Wing goalie Dominik Hasek has been hospitalized for a week because of a mystery virus that felled him during his vacation in the Czech Republic, his business partner said.

Jiri Voprsal said Hasek, 36, showed signs of being ill upon arriving in his native country from the United States. The goalie had to be hospitalized in his hometown of Pardubice last Thursday.

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The Carolina Hurricanes signed left wing Chris Dingman, who was acquired in a draft-day trade with the Colorado Avalanche, to a one-year contract. . . . Right wing Brad Isbister agreed to a two-year deal with the New York Islanders. Isbister, a restricted free agent who has been injured for much of his two seasons with the Islanders, had 18 goals in 51 games last season. . . . Taking its lead from the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.’s 50-year institution “Hockey Night in Canada,” ESPN will televise 25 of its 27 games on Wednesdays in prime time, rather than scattering them throughout the week. Next season will be the third under the NHL’s five-year, $600-million TV-rights package with ABC and ESPN.

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From Times Wire Services

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Point Man in D.C.

Jaromir Jagr’s career statistics:

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Season Team GP G A Pts 1990-91 Pit 80 27 30 57 1991-92 Pit 70 32 37 69 1992-93 Pit 81 34 60 94 1993-94 Pit 80 32 67 99 1994-95 Pit 48 32 38 70 1995-96 Pit 82 62 87 149 1996-97 Pit 63 47 48 95 1997-98 Pit 77 35 67 102 1998-99 Pit 81 44 83 127 1999-00 Pit 63 42 54 96 2000-01 Pit 81 52 69 121 Totals 806 439 640 1079

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PLAYOFFS

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Season Team GP G A Pts 1990-91 Pit 24 3 10 13 1991-92 Pit 21 11 13 24 1992-93 Pit 12 5 4 9 1993-94 Pit 6 2 4 6 1994-95 Pit 12 10 5 15 1995-96 Pit 18 11 12 23 1996-97 Pit 5 4 4 8 1997-98 Pit 6 4 5 9 1998-99 Pit 9 5 7 12 1999-00 Pit 11 8 8 16 2000-01 Pit 16 2 10 12 Totals 140 65 82 147

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