Veteran Savvy and Leadership
In a previous article, I discussed the veteran leadership that Scott Hartnell brings to the Predators. Well let me just say that Jagr’s veteran savvy far surpasses that of Hartnell. Jagr had already won four Art Ross Trophies, his Hart Memorial Trophy, won two Lester B. Pearson Awards, two Stanley Cups, and been an eight time All Star before Hartnell was even drafted in 2000.
Jagr’s veteran leadership alone, at a cheap price, is almost enough to convince me that he deserves a deal. The Predators roster is chock full of young and inexperienced skaters, who could certainly benefit from playing with a living legend like Jagr. Of the 23 players who scored a goal for Nashville this year, 12 of them weren’t even alive when Jagr entered the league.
Jagr knows how to lead a team as well. His six seasons as a captain serve him well, as he has led his team and the players around him for many years. An NHL captain is a leader for life, and even if he isn’t wearing the ‘C’ or an ‘A’ on his sweater, he still will lead those around him. I imagine that a presence like that around a young roster in Nashville, would do wonders for everyone.