Everyone seemed to be looking at the New York Rangers, the Dallas Stars and maybe the Los Angeles Kings as the teams vying for Jaromir Jagr, but not the Washington Capitals.

Good for Capitals GM George McPhee. The Capitals, trying to draw fans, have acquired the man who during the last five years has been the best player in the world. Getting Jagr is a masterful marketing stroke and makes them an even stronger contender in the Eastern Conference.

During last season's second half and the playoffs, it was apparent Jagr was ready to move on after 11 years in Pittsburgh. Even though Washington came out of nowhere to get him, Jagr should be rejuvenated in a different environment.

On the ice Jagr can play 25 quality minutes a game and has averaged 1.34 points per game during his career. The Capitals have struggled to score goals, but they do play tight defense. Other than Peter Bondra, who scored a team-leading 45 goals, the Capitals couldn't rely on many players to score regularly. Jagr provides an instant offensive boost. Adding Jagr while losing three prospects is an excellent trade-off for the Capitals.

It will be interesting to see what will happen with Adam Oates, who has demanded a trade. Will he change his mind now that Jagr is on the team? Oates, who tied Jagr for the league lead in assists last season, was upset with his situation because he got little ice time in the playoffs. But he and Jagr would make a great combination -- one of the game's best-ever setup men with the game's best offensive player.

Jagr fits in well with any system. Capitals coach Ron Wilson will just ask Jagr to do his thing. While Jagr has complained about tight defenses and banged heads with coaches, you can't blame him. He wants to play and use his skills. NHL fans come to see Jagr handle the puck, not backcheck. He will do that in the playoffs, when it's important for him to play two-way hockey.

Even though Pittsburgh lost Jagr and gained three prospects, the Penguins still have Mario Lemieux. If he stays healthy, he and Jagr will be fighting for the scoring title -- just on different teams. The Penguins have other weapons too, although they have to re-sign them.

The Penguins had to deal Jagr. They freed up money to help their financial situation and got good prospects in return. Hopefully, one or two of the three players will be contributors.

GM Craig Patrick is one of the great wizards in the NHL. Lemieux was smart in saying the team's first priority was signing Patrick. He has made contending teams on a shoestring budget under difficult circumstances. He understands chemistry and relies on his scouts and his own judgment.

Patrick has brought in players -- Robert Lang, Alexei Kovalev and Martin Straka -- who have performed despite looking as if they were done. Without Jagr, Pittsburgh should still be a strong team. Everything will revolve around goaltender Johan Hedberg. If he can play like he did in the playoffs, the Penguins will remain tough.

Brian Engblom is a hockey analyst for ESPN. He played 11 seasons in the NHL as a defenseman, including six with the Montreal Canadiens.