Jagr Has No Goals

Using three words that Philadelphia Flyers fans should get used to reading together this year, NHL.com reports that Jaromir Jagr sets "no goals" for his return to the NHL.

Goodness knows that fans of the Washington Capitals got used to reading those words together. Google estimates that the words "Jagr, no and goals" appear together in about 470,000 articles.

Ten years ago, Jaromir Jagr was the most prolific scorer in the NHL. That was before the days of the "new NHL." When was the last time anybody even used the phrase "new NHL?" Three years ago? Well, that was the last time Jagr gave regular interviews in English, and he made sure to use that old buzzword in his interview today.

Should fans of the Washington Capitals be worried by Jagr's return to the league? Not directly worried that he'll play well against the Caps. No. Certainly not. Those days are long gone.

But I think the Caps should worry that, in the event of a Pens/Flyers playoff series, Jagr will be so bad that the Penguins will get an easy sweep, and show up well rested for the next round.

It certainly seems to be the strategy Jagr has employed with two other Penguins rivals, namely the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals. Jagr made a public statement this week that his heart is still in Pittsburgh.

There is no doubt of that. However, as he has ever since the Penguins were lucky enough to trade him to then-novice owner Ted Leonsis (who hasn't made a major hockey mistake since) Jagr will continue to help the Penguins by playing against them.