Panthers acquire Jaromir Jagr from Devils in exchange for two picks
SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers may inevitably fall short of the playoffs this season, but no one will be able to say they didn't give it their best shot.
On Thursday, the Panthers acquired forward Jaromir Jagr from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2015 and a conditional third-round pick in 2016.
Florida has two third-round picks in the 2016 -- the second acquired earlier this week in trade that sent forward Sean Bergenheim to Minnesota -- and New Jersey will have the option of selecting the more favorable pick come draft day.
"I think it brings stability to our young team," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said of the move. "It gives us an opportunity in the next 20 games to make a good run to make the playoffs. I'm excited about it. I think it's a great move for our franchise."
Jagr, 43, has notched 11 goals and 29 points in 57 games this season. Over his past eight games with the Devils, however, he had gone scoreless and grew unhappy while receiving diminished playing time.
A native of Kladno, Czech Republic, he ranks sixth in NHL history with 716 goals, seventh with 1,068 assists and fifth with 1,784 points in 1,530 career regular-season games in 22 years with Pittsburgh, Washington, the New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston and New Jersey.
A future Hall of Famer, Jagr's list of accolades includes a Hart Memorial Trophy in 1999, five Art Ross Trophies and seven selections to the NHL's First All-Star Team. He has also appeared in nine NHL All-Star Games.
In acquiring Jagr, Tallon believes that the Panthers have sent a message to the rest of the league that one of the professional sport's traditionally forlorn franchises is playing to win.
"We're buyers, and we're committed to winning," Tallon said. "That's what (team owner Vinnie Viola) has said all along and what we've all said all along. We want to win. We want to win a championship. We're putting the pieces together step by step. We're hopeful that Jaromir can lead these young guys to the promised land. It's a win-win for us."
A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Jagr has recorded 78 goals and 199 points in 202 career playoff games. He is expected to play a pivotal role in igniting the Panthers' 25th-ranked offense as Florida looks to make the playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history.
Entering Thursday night's matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Panthers sit two points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
"There's no guarantee that we're going to make it, but we're two points out," Tallon said. "This should give us a boost. If we get our power play going, which I think he will help, and get our offense going, we should have a legitimate chance of being a competitor all the way through."
Set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, Tallon hopes that the team will also be able to retain Jagr's services beyond this season.
"I'd love to see him play another year or two here," Tallon said. "That's what his goal is. His fitness level is second to none. That's what we want him to do. We want him to play well the next 20-plus games and then have another solid year with us next year. That's the plan."
For many of Florida's younger skaters, including rookie forward Vincent Trocheck, a Pittsburgh native, getting a chance to play alongside one of the NHL's all-time greats is a dream come true.
"In Pittsburgh, he was an idol to every kid playing hockey," said Trocheck, who admittedly had a few posters of Jagr on his bedroom walls growing up. "It's huge. He brings a lot of leadership to this team. Just watching what he does, you can learn a lot from him."
Jagr is expected to be on the wing of either 19-year-old Aleksander Barkov or 22-year-old Nick Bjugstad when the Panthers host the Buffalo Sabres at the BB&T Center on Saturday afternoon.
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
