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Tuesday, July 17, 2001
Jagr hopes Wilson will let him play his style



WASHINGTON -- That Internet guy in Washington really knows how to land a big name.

Jaromir Jagr
Jagr

A year after he got Michael Jordan to come to town and run the Wizards, Ted Leonsis worked his magic again Wednesday. The Washington Capitals owner and AOL Time Warner executive announced a trade for the type of hockey superstar the nation's capital has never had.

Jaromir Jagr, a seven-time All-Star, and defenseman Frantisek Kucera are headed to Washington for three minor-league prospects: Kris Beech, Michal Sivek and Ross Lupaschuk.

A league source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Capitals will pay the financially struggling Penguins $4.9 million -- the maximum permitted under league rules -- as part of the deal.

"It's kind of like when we got Michael Jordan, right?" said Leonsis, who also owns part of the NBA's Wizards. "The opportunity was there.

"I do hope it answers two questions. One, can we get great players to come to Washington, D.C.? Two, I hope it knocks the chip off of people's shoulders. We're as good a team as any others now, and I hope the attendance and ticket sales prove it."

The fans will have to pay more to see Jagr, however. Leonsis said Friday ticket prices will go up Monday, with probable increases of 10 to 15 percent.

Jagr's first comments on the deal were made to the CTK news agency in the Czech Republic, where he is on vacation.

"I had no idea about the Capitals' interest," Jagr said. "Their game is based more on defense. I believe the coach will let me play my game. Should I only defend, I would be useless for them."

Assignment No. 1 for Jagr will be beating his old team. The Penguins have been the Capitals' playoff nemesis for a decade, beating Washington six times in seven tries in the postseason since 1991 -- including a first-round series victory this year.

"Yeah, that's a concern. We're definitely going to see them in the playoffs," Penguins general manager Craig Patrick said. "But that's our goal every year -- to beat the Caps in the first round of the playoffs and go on from there."

Penguins owner-star Mario Lemieux said it is "hard to trade a good friend."

"He will always be a special player and a special person to this city and this organization," Lemieux said. "He was one of the major reasons for our success over the last 11 years, including our two Stanley Cups, and we will miss him."

Leonsis had been repeatedly thwarted in his bid to bring a big name to a team that has never had a national profile and struggles to maintain one even at home. The Capitals lost $20 million last year, but Leonsis is so determined to have a winner that he's taking on Jagr's $20.7 million salary for the next two seasons from the cash-starved Penguins.

"It puts us on the national scene," Leonsis said.

The Capitals tried to sign several prominent free agents this month, but lost out in the bidding for Jeremy Roenick, Pierre Turgeon, Doug Weight and others.

The jubilant mood in Washington contrasted with the tone of Jagr's bittersweet departure from Pittsburgh, where he asked to be traded at least twice last season after spending his entire career there.

Patrick called Jagr in the Czech Republic on Wednesday to tell him about the trade.

"He wanted to move on, so he's glad at this point it's over with. It's difficult to trade someone who has been here 11 years and accomplished so much," Patrick said.

Jagr had a different message when he spoke later to Capitals general manager George McPhee.

"He said, `I have to something to prove.' He wants to be the best player in the world," McPhee said.

The Czech forward, who will arrive in Washington next week, played for Stanley Cup-winning Penguins teams in 1991 and 1992. This year, he helped lead Pittsburgh to the Eastern Conference finals after winning a fifth NHL scoring title and fourth in a row with 121 points. He had 52 goals and 69 assists.

Before Lemieux ended his retirement in late December, Jagr was well down the NHL scoring list and had a stretch with only one goal in 12 games.

Jagr asked to be traded, and didn't seem particularly happy, even after Lemieux returned and the Penguins made a drive for the Stanley Cup.

"It's probably time for a change," Lemieux said at one point.

Before the deal, the New York Rangers were believed to be the front-runners for Jagr, but Patrick was unable to complete a trade with GM Glen Sather.

Jagr, 29, won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1999. The 6-foot-2, 234-pound right wing has 439 goals and 640 assists in 806 NHL games. He's scored at least 27 goals in each of his 11 seasons.

Pittsburgh finished second in the NHL with 281 goals last season, while Washington's offense ranked only 13th. Peter Bondra was the team's only reliable scoring threat.

"You put this guy on the team with Peter Bondra," Leonsis said, "and it answers the question, `Can we score?"'
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AUDIO/VIDEO
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 Jaromir Jagr talks with ESPN's Steve Levy following his trade to the Washington Capitals.

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 Capitals owner Ted Leonsis is pleased that Jaromir Jagr is joining the team (Courtesy: WRC).
RealVideo:  | 28.8

 ESPN's Barry Melrose explains what allowed the Jaromir Jagr deal to get done.

Cable ModemRealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN

 ESPN The Magazine's E.J. Hradek breaks down the Pittsburgh-Washington deal.

Cable ModemRealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN

audio
 Jaromir Jagr was shocked to find out he was going to Washington instead of the Rangers.
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 Penguins GM Craig Patrick says it was a trade that had to be done.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 Capitals owner Ted Leonsis says Jaromir Jagr is a perfect fit for Washington's system.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 ESPN's Darren Pang analyzes the implications of Jaromir Jagr's trade to Washington.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6


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