I hasten to share some super news!
Omsk AVANGARD has signed a 2-year contract with Jaromir Jagr himself — the most star-studded player in the NHL!Jagr's Hamburg account ("Sportstand.ru")Even without being a fan of Avangard, regarding the fact that the Omsk team finally managed to sign Jaromir Jagr again, I can calmly say: "Yes, this is great." Finally, the media will end this soap opera—discussions about options for continuing the sports career of the crown-wearing Czech—which has become quite tedious (for me as a fan, as a sports journalist, and as a reader, actually).
These discussions were often fueled by rumors pulled out of thin air, information from same-old anonymous-but-definitely-reliable sources, and certainly heated to some extent by the people involved in this deal.
True, there is a high probability that sports publications will be hit by a tidal wave of urges to speculate on how Jagr's second coming to Russia will unfold. Well, predicting is not a crime; for some it is exciting and, from the perspective of developing "reader-publication" interaction, justified in its own way. The main thing is to perceive this correctly—that is, as an unburdening game that binds no one to anything.
Everyone with even a slight interest in hockey has known for many years what kind of athlete Jaromir Jagr is. But all of that—for now, right here and right now—falls into the category of "do you remember what kind of guy he was." No one can say with full responsibility, operating not solely on emotions, memories, and expectations, what Jagr will be like while fulfilling his contract in Omsk. And besides, the most interesting and "tasty" part in any case is to watch the situation in dynamics, in its development. And, accordingly, to speak substantively.
I assume there will be more than one conversation about how signing Jagr is further evidence that the level of Russian hockey and the authority of the newly formed league continue to grow like own-baked bread—since such megastars do not shy away from coming to Siberia. No, well, if someone wants to be conscientiously mistaken and mistake their desires for reality—no one will stop them... Although, of course, other factors worked here—financial ones and, partly, perhaps some purely everyday reasons. Jaromir would not have come to our championship if the Rangers had offered the Czech and his agents a sum in writing that met their expectations; nor did Jagr's career follow a slightly more major trajectory over the last couple of years. This, by the way, applies to many "returnees" from the NHL... That is why, incidentally, I would not loudly sing praises to the managers of the Omsk club. With such financial capabilities, hyper-ambitions, and long-established bridges/contacts, signing a superstar who is, no matter how you look at it, in the sunset of his career is not an impossible task. But one cannot—regardless of their attitude toward him—fail to give credit to Bardin's persistence, tenacity, and methodical approach to achieving the goal. From a marketing point of view, Avangard's contract with Jagr is an undisputed blessing. Already blessed with the love of its fans and the attention of authorities and sponsors, the Omsk club will earn many additional visits from this alone. It goes without saying that the attention of electronic and print media to Avangard will be increased in the coming season. One can already see and hear Bardin's passages about how his club worked for the benefit and in the name of the popularization of the Russian championship as a whole by concluding this contract. And you can't really argue with that...
Avangard gets an outstanding hockey player at its disposal. A true professional and fighter. Tough, characterful, uncompromising, and sportingly permanently angry. And, of course, phenomenally skilled. Capable of leaving several opponents out of the game with a few feints elusive to the eye, capable of deciding the fate of any level and intensity of match in a few seconds. And, which is not very common for many Russian hockey players, knowing how to hold himself accountable. Strictly. By the same strict standard. Without pointing to external circumstances. If I were a hockey player myself—especially a young one—not from the Omsk club, I would be envious of the opportunity to even just train alongside such a Master. The young crop of Avangard, if they want to truly grow and progress, not settling for a level suitable for "showing off" and winning girls' hearts in modern Russian realities, should take lessons of hockey mastery from Jagr with a very large spoon. At the level of nuances and reflexes. They must and can—if only they want to, if only they admit that they still do not understand or know how to do many things in hockey. And that often the most deafening love of fans and, say, a foreign car at the entrance is far from always a measure or an adequate assessment of professionalism... And the fruits of such labor, if they are indeed applied, will not be very long in coming. We shall see about this too. Jagr in Omsk—and that's great.
Alexander KONDRATYEV
Jagr is a real star ("Akado")Jaromir Jagr is returning to Russia, having signed a contract with Omsk Avangard.
This news pleased Russian hockey lovers but caused a wave of disappointment in North America.
Jagr's previous voyage to Russia was partly forced. In 2004, the Czech signing a contract with Avangard looked more like a necessary measure: the forward needed to maintain playing practice during the NHL lockout.
Now everything is different: Jagr has signed a full agreement for two seasons with an option to extend for one more year. Failing to agree on a new contract with the New York Rangers, the Czech decided to return to Russia without long hesitation.
Such a decision by the forward has already brought joy to Avangard fans. This is easy to understand: in Jagr, their club received not only a significant reinforcement of the right flank of the attack but also a person who had already played for the team and, after leaving Omsk, did not hide his admiration for playing for Avangard.
The Czech commented on his current transition as follows: "I am saddened by the fact that I have to leave the Rangers, but I always believed that there are reasons for everything. I regret nothing that happened to me during my time with the Rangers... Signing a contract with Avangard was one of the most difficult decisions in my life. I admit, I don't like change very much. But do not forget that I myself come from Europe.
Russia is not a mystery to me; moreover, it is close to the Czech Republic. Omsk fans love hockey very much. I enjoyed playing for Avangard and am glad to return there," the Czech stated in an interview with The New York Post.
And such was the reaction of the Western press:
"When Jagr left Avangard in 2005, he actually stated that he wanted to return to Omsk someday. But who could have thought that this 'someday' would come this Friday? The moment problems arose with negotiations for a new contract with the Rangers, Jagr signed an agreement with the Omsk club without hesitation. It is a great pity that we will no longer see him as part of an NHL club," writes a New York Daily News columnist.
"Concluding an agreement with Jagr is one of the best decisions made by Avangard's management, there can be no doubt about this... Unlike many other NHL players going to seek their fortune in Russia, Jagr is a real star. Moreover, he is still capable of demonstrating great dynamics on the ice," believes the site globesports.com.
"At the end of the season, Jagr demonstrated his signature hockey. In the playoffs, he also appeared in full glory, remaining the best sniper until the moment the Rangers were eliminated from the Stanley Cup... Despite this, Satter (Glen Satter, general manager of the Rangers. — "Akado") decided to bet on Markus Naslund. Well, we'll see what comes of that," writes The New York Times.
One of the authors of the Canadian Edmonton Journal does not hide his hockey preferences. He worries for his native Edmonton: "Our team was unable to sign Jagr. To be honest, I am very upset. The Czech would surely have been able to strengthen our attack. He stated that he was offered a magnificent contract in Omsk, which he could not refuse.
Well, we will be glad that he went to Russia and not, for example, to Phoenix or Anaheim, as part of whom he would represent a real danger to Edmonton," the article says.
Representatives of the KHL also did not stay on the sidelines of Jagr's transition to Avangard: "The famous Czech hockey player Jaromir Jagr from the Rangers team preferred HC Avangard and the KHL over all other offers from North American NHL clubs. The agreement is concluded for two seasons with the possibility of extension for a third by mutual consent of the parties.
Signing a contract with Jaromir Jagr and other NHL players shows that stars of this caliber believe in the Continental Hockey League and see the future of this organization. And these are only the 'first swallows' at the beginning of the long path of the KHL's formation," says the official press release published by the organization.
It is no secret that one of the priority tasks of the Continental Hockey League (KHL) is to gain authority not only among European hockey powers but also throughout the world. In this light, the news about signing Jagr coming from the headquarters of Omsk Avangard undoubtedly pleased the leaders of the new league.
The appearance of a star of such magnitude in the KHL should be used to the maximum. In this situation, one should not emphasize that the Czech has already turned 36 and perhaps his career peak has already passed. Other things are important: Jagr is an active star who still shone in the NHL last season. And his appearance should be used to promote the image of the new tournament. To miss such an opportunity would be a serious crime against domestic hockey.
Dmitry Kozhurin
\based on materials from
www.hawk.ru[/url]
This year we are champions of Russia!:smile49:
Respectfully, VDV_forever
