The New Jersey Devils were left with a need for a scoring winger when Ilya Kovalchuk suddenly retired from the NHL and dipped into the free agent market for the most accomplished scoring winger available. Numbers Game breaks down the Devils deal with Jaromir Jagr. The Devils Get: RW Jaromir Jagr. Jagr, 41, has been a productive offensive player since returning to the NHL at the start of the 2011-2012 season, scoring 89 points in 118 games. His puck possession numbers have been strong too, ranking 41st among forwards that played at least 1500 five-on-five minutes over the last two seasons. Hes slower, as one might expect from a 41-year-old winger, but hes still a 240-pound winger who can protect the puck and control play in the offensive zone. Criticism of Jagr, at this point, is most likely going to centre around his failure to score a single goal in 22 playoff games for the Boston Bruins, setting a single-season playoff record for the most recorded shots on goal (58) without scoring. He created chances, had 10 assists and was among the Bruins possession leaders in the postseason, but that zero in the goal column is an ugly number for a player who leads all active players with 681 career regular season goals, to go along with 78 career playoff tallies. While Jagr is a far cry from the dominant offensive performer that he was from 1991 through 2007, when he scored 1471 points in 1111 games (his 1.32 points per game the best in hockey over that span), he remains an effective scoring forward and has an opportunity to play a significant role with the Devils. When Ilya Kovalchuk abruptly retired from the NHL earlier this month, that left the Devils with a big opening for a scoring winger and while Jagr isnt capable of playing 24 minutes a night, like Kovalchuk has for the past couple seasons, Jagr can play 18 minutes a night on one of the top two lines as well as the power play. For whatever it may be worth -- maybe nothing, maybe slightly better chemistry -- the Devils power play will include a couple of Jagrs Czech countrymen, Patrik Elias and Marek Zidlicky. With Jagr in the fold, the Devils have a decent group of top six forwards, including Elias and free agent additions Ryane Clowe and Michael Ryder on the wings, with Travis Zajac and Adam Henrique occupying the top two centre spots, though Andrei Loktionov could warrant a look in a scoring role too. Once the Bruins had traded for Loui Eriksson and signed Jarome Iginla as a free agent, there wasnt a fit for Jagr on Bostons top two lines, so he moves on, to his fourth team since returning to the NHL in 2011. Whats more, if the Devils cant rebound from a disappointing 2013 campaign and get back into the playoff picture, then Jagr could be on the move again around the trade deadline, where he would at least bring a draft pick in return, which is significant to New Jersey since they are required to forfeit their first-round selection as a penalty for the initial contract they signed with Kovalchuk. Thats a fall-back position, because the Devils would rather have Jagr play a role in getting them back to the postseason, but that asset management cant be ignored as a factor in getting Jagr inked to a one-year deal. With Kovalchuk gone and the free agent frenzy having died down, the Devils made the best of their situation. We dont have the salary numbers on Jagr yet but, because its a one-year deal, the investment shouldnt be problematic and gives them a reasonable replacement for Kovalchuk who may be 11 years older but, because of that, doesnt require anywhere near the same kind of financial commitment. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Wholesale MLB Jerseys China . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Cheap Jerseys From China . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. http://www.cheapauthenticjerseyskings.com/ . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Wholesale Stitched NFL Jerseys .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Wholesale Jerseys 2018 . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.VANCOUVER -- After being unwanted in Winnipeg, Joey Elliott did what many other veteran CFL free agent quarterbacks would not do. He attended a B.C. Lions open tryout camp in Las Vegas in early May. The move paid Friday off as the Lions agreed to terms with him on a three-year contract. "They didnt know I was coming -- I just showed up," said Elliott from Indianapolis, where he has been working as a substitute teacher. "I just showed up." Lions general manager Wally Buono offered a slightly different version, saying the club asked Elliott to attend a camp after his representatives tried to negotiate a contract earlier in the off-season. Regardless, Buono, was impressed that Elliott was willing to pay his own way for a flight to the gambling mecca and bet on employment with the Lions. It took a special person to humble himself the way Elliott did, said the GM. "Its huge to get another opportunity," said Elliott. "Whether youre a quarterback, or as a professional, when you are released, youre just looking for another opportunity." The 26-year-old Franklin, Ind., native spent the past three seasons with the Blue Bombers. During that time, he dressed for 33 games, including nine as the teams starter. But the Bombers deemed him expendable after what was actually his first full season. He joined the team in the fifth week in 2010 and was sidelined much of 2011 with a torn knee ligament that forced him to miss the Grey Cup against the Lions. Last season, the Purdue grad had his most productive year as a pro as he threw for 2,101 yards and five touchdowns. Elliott is expected to battle for B.C.s backup quarterback job following Mike Reillys departure to Edmonton as a free agent, but he must advance beyond the teams rookie camp first before taking the field with veterans at main training camp, starting June 2 in Kamloops, B.C. . Elliott believes he can provide a calming influence to a B.C. squad while lending experience to the Lions, who won the West Division title in 2012 but were upset by the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Final. Aside from starter Travis Lulay, the only other quarterback in the Lions den with CFL experience is second-year pro Thomas De Marco. Lulay and De Marco are also the oonly B.ddddddddddddC. quarterback holdovers from last season. Buono said his main concern is that Elliott understands the teams offensive system rather than opposing defences. While he has a strong, accurate arm and can pass on the run, "one of his issues is ball security." Meanwhile, one part of the Geroy Simon trade failed to pay off Friday when the Lions released Justin Harper, who was part of a package for the CFLs all-time leading receiver. Harper was out of shape when he came into a Lions camp for offensive players this spring. Coach Mike Benevides indicated he was impressed with Harper and was willing to give him more time to get fit. However, Buono was not. "This (release) was precipitated by me being disappointed with him coming into camp at almost 250 pounds," said Buono. "Im not blaming him, but when it comes to a first impression, I was disappointed." Buono said wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneauxs return to B.C. earlier this week from the NFL factored into Harpers release. But the GM was not sure whether Harper would have attended training camp if Arceneaux had decided to pursue another NFL opportunity. The Lions also released defensive lineman Maurice Evans. In another more positive move, B.C. re-signed receiver Courtney Taylor, who excelled late last season after a lengthy spell on the practice roster. Taylor, a 29-year-old Carrollton, Ala., native spent three years in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, but after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009, he was released by the Seahawks in 2010 and did not get another opportunity until the Lions signed him in October 2011. He spent the rest of the 2011 and most of 2012 on the Lions practice roster, but recorded 16 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns in five games late last season. "Im excited about Courtney Taylor," said Buono. "When you think about this, Courtney was a starter in the NFL, and what prevented him from continuing to be a starter was his illness." Taylor has successfully managed his MS by taking daily medication that comprises just one pill, and has not experienced any symptoms since the diagnosis. "Hes had another life to live -- and now hes back," said Buono. China NFL Jerseys WhiteWholesale Jerseys 2019Cheap NFL Jerseys ThrowbackWholesale NFL HoodiesWholesale Nike NFL JerseysWholesale NFL Camo JerseysWholesale Stitched JerseysWholesale NFL T-shirtsDisocunt Football JerseysCheap Jerseys Free ShippingYouth NFL Jerseys CheapWholesale Jerseys 2020Wholesale NFL T-shirtsWholesale Jerseys 2018Black China NFL Jerseys ' ' '