Late-arriving Jagr has nothing to lose

by Teemu H on Sep 16, 2011 3:42 AM EDT in Philadelphia Flyers News From Europe

Jaromir Jagr is ready for the new challenge that waits for him in Philadelphia, but admits there will be a lot of new things waiting for him that he needs to get used to. He even compares the current situation to the beginning of his career in Pittsburgh.

"I’m going to an unfamiliar environment. It will take a while to get used to everything. It’s comparable to when I started my career in North America when I was 18. I’m not saying it will be similar, my first year was worse, of course. I couldn’t talk and everything was new. Back then I didn’t even know if I’d still be there next year, I was actually thinking about returning home. So it’s a slightly different situation now, when I’ve been to North America before and I know what I’m getting myself into."

"But it will be a new team for me and I haven’t played there in three years, so a lot of things will be new to me this time as well. Everything will depend on how I’ve prepared myself for the season and how we’ll do as a team. It’s easier for you to do well if the team does well. Everything becomes easier. We just have to wait and see how it goes."

Jagr doesn’t mind if people have low expectations for him.

"That’s just fine for me. At least I won’t have any pressure. It would be worse if everyone expected a great performance and I wouldn’t fulfill their expectations. You can only be a huge disappointment that way, but now I really have nothing to lose."

Jagr arrived pretty late for the Flyers training camp compared to the other players. He says he’s been busy running his hockey team in Kladno. But now the focus shifts from Jagr the GM to Jagr the player.

"The last few days have been so hectic. But you could say that everything looks good now. Maybe not quite perfect, but the basement [for the club] has been built. Now I have to focus on myself."

Jagr doesn’t worry about arriving a little later and says he rather takes it that way.

"It’s better if I just jump straight into it than wait around and have nothing to do. We’ll just train the first three days or so, so I can look around for a house then and if I can’t find one, I’ll wait until the camp is over. At least I won’t get bored."

This report was based off of a Czech-language story in the publication iDnes.

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t’s comparable to when I started my career in North America when I was 18. I’m not saying it will be similar, my first year was worse, of course. I couldn’t talk and everything was new. Back then I didn’t even know if I’d still be there next year, I was actually thinking about returning home.

He won the Stanley Cup in his first year in North America, I now expect nothing less in his first year returning to North America.

Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.

One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Sep 16, 2011 4:46 AM EDT reply actions

Wow….Just wow! He is already lowering expectations and pressure levels. And apparently he has been busy sitting in a GM’s chair. I might lower my over/under games played to 35 from 45. And when this younger, new version is finding it’s way without some proven talent don’t look to Jagr to be anything but a baby. This is going to be very interesting.

Commenter formerly known as M from Pdaddy, but still just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Sep 16, 2011 6:05 AM EDT reply actions

I eat sentimentality for breakfast, but stats stop me dead in my tracks

by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Sep 16, 2011 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I’ll be honest the GM role worries me a little. That has to be a distractor.

Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.

One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Sep 16, 2011 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Profound

Commenter formerly known as M from Pdaddy, but still just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Sep 16, 2011 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions

I think he’s just trying to say the right things in an interview. Don’t read too much into it. With the lowered expectations it sounds like he was asked whether he minds that people have low expectations of him heading into this season, and his choice was saying “yes, I think people should expect the old me” and set himself up for failure or say “no, I’ll take it in my stride and use it as a positive” which is what he did.

That said, if this article began with him saying something to the extent of “I think I still have the skills to succeed in the North American game and contribute to this Flyers lineup, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens and how the team plays together before we start making any predictions” it might have been better.

Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.

One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Sep 16, 2011 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree that I think he was trying to say the right things, but I feel like either the interviewer, Jagr, or both of them didn’t realize they were talking about Philadelphia….

Jagr doesn’t mind if people have low expectations for him.

"That’s just fine for me. At least I won’t have any pressure. It would be worse if everyone expected a great performance and I wouldn’t fulfill their expectations. You can only be a huge disappointment that way, but now I really have nothing to lose.

I think people will have expectations, and there’s always pressure playing here in Philly. I originally figured that he knew that, but if he forgot I assume he’ll figure it out pretty quickly.

Warning: Arguing the NHL CBA with me could be hazardous to your mental health. Proceed at your own risk.

by DragonGirl0583 on Sep 16, 2011 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions

To be fair, it is a Czech paper. It’s not unlikely that the reporter has no clue what Philadelphia is like.

Bob.

by The Dark on Sep 16, 2011 12:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Damn, not one mention of workin out or skating. Hope he has something left in the tank for us.

Leino = $$$

by flyerfreek on Sep 16, 2011 8:21 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

THIS

makes me nervous. If this translation is accurate, he doesn’t seem to have any enthusiasm at all and is pretty ho-hum about working hard and producing. He doesn’t sound like he cares. Didn’t mention work-outs or training, didn’t mention his hopes or expectations, didn’t even mention the goal of winning the Cup. I hope he sounds a little more excited and anxious to get started in his first Flyers press conference

Bullies, Phightins, and Vickerbockers

by DannyMcG on Sep 16, 2011 1:13 PM EDT reply actions