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