Good Morning!

Most of the big signings are done, and the rest as you’ll see below are just filler. So, what do we do now? We play Jagr watch 2017!

The 45 year old star is a free agent after the Florida Panthers decided to not renew his contract. So, what are his options?

He could go looking for a contender to play with, his past 2 and a half seasons with the Panthers weren’t exactly that. He was a semi-mascot for the team and living in Florida does have it’s advantages - weather for example. Most people assumed he was going to re-sign there but the Panthers made that decision for him.

If he wanted to stay in Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning are an option. They could play him in the bottom six, sell a few more jerseys than normal and have a special ‘travelling Jagr’s’ night. They have $13 million dollars in cap room so they can afford the bump over a normal bottom six players salary that Jagr would have.

If not Tampa I’m sure the Vegas Golden Knights would love to have him, big marketing coup for them. They’ll be a bottom feeder and that isn’t what most older players are looking to volunteer for.

The Montreal Canadiens would love him because they are in “holy shit we have to win now mode” after having....an off season.

The New York Rangers have always loved old stars, maybe there?

What about our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs? I’d love to have him for the novelty factor of it, but he’s just not a good fit. I could write a whole article but it comes down to a couple things:

  1. He’s older and slower than most of our players
  2. We have a glut of our own wingers. We don’t need more.
  3. We’re $1,000,000 over the cap with Zach Hyman and Connor Brown to sign.

So, yeah. Would love him, but don’t need/can’t fit him.

Good luck in your search Jaromir.

Here are your morning links.

Lou Lamoriello on the Patrick Marleau signing: “We wouldn’t be able to do this next year — this is a time and a window” - MLHS

The Leafs went the familiar route in the backup goalie market, and that’s okay - TLN

Assessing the good and bad with Patrick Marleau's contract - Puck Daddy

An Ode to Patrick Marleau: Reflections on the Greatest Shark Ever - Fear The Fin
With Patrick Marleau leaving for the Maple Leafs, our newest writer looks back on his time in teal.

Free agency and the draft: The Islanders’ totally active/inactive two weeks - Lighthouse Hockey
Here’s what you missed if you were, like, watching baseball or something.

Capitals Re-Sign Andre Burakovsky - Japers' Rink
The team locks up an emerging star... for now

No Sign & Trade for Devils; Ilya Kovalchuk to Play in KHL in 2017-18 - All About The Jersey
Reports from Larry Brooks, Andrew Gross, and Mike Morreale confirmed that Ilya Kovalchuk will be playing in the KHL in 2017-18. There will be no sign and trade for the Devils. This post is a...

Free Agency 2017: Arizona Coyotes sign Michael Latta - Five For Howling
The Coyotes sign another depth forward to deepen their pool for the 2017-18 season

NHL Free Agency 2017: Sharks sign Brandon Bollig to a one-year deal, for some reason - Fear The Fin
This is a head-scratcher.

Marcus Kruger Adds Depth, Brings Questions to Carolina Hurricanes - Canes Country
Hurricanes bring in a reliable fourth-line center on the cheap, but there are questions that come with it.

Rangers sign David Desharnais, 1-year, $1 million deal - Blueshirt Banter
The Rangers have found their bottom-six center.

Free Agency 2017: Final Thoughts on Mason and Kulikov - Arctic Ice Hockey
The Winnipeg Jets finally learned to put on pants.

Enjoy your day!

From The Branches