NHL

DOOR’S A-JAR TO KEEP JAGR

THE Rangers’ perfect 2008-09 world would feature Jaromir Jagr and Mats Sundin combining forces on the first line with Chris Drury moving to left wing to skate with Scott Gomez on the second unit.

It’s anybody’s guess why Glen Sather hasn’t made the effort to communicate that vision to Jagr, who has every right to be miffed over what can politely be described as the GM’s cavalier approach to the captain’s impending free agency, but trust me, the Rangers will be giddy if they can retain Jagr and unite him with Sundin.

It’s not going to be easy for Sather to seal the deal now. It’s not going to be easy for the GM to convince Jagr to sign a one-year contract with easily achievable bonuses that would justly make him the Blueshirts’ highest-paid player while giving them the maneuverability to: A) add Sundin on the same type of over-35, one-year deal; B) retain Sean Avery; and C) re-sign Michal Rozsival as the No. 1 defenseman.

It’s not going to be easy for the Rangers to appeal to this immensely proud man, not with the clock about to strike midnight and the GM having allowed the sands to slip through the hourglass without a care in the world.

Jagr is a study in contradictions. After insisting all year that he was giving 100-percent every night, he announced during the Pittsburgh series that he’d picked his spots during the season in order to conserve energy for the playoffs.

He said three days ago in the Czech Republic that he craves the mantle of leadership, yet he conducted ongoing discussions with Omsk deep into the season even as the Rangers were battling for a playoff spot.

Still, Jagr is a big-hearted individual with shoulders broad enough to carry the load. He has been a great Ranger. And he is invested in his legacy.

The Rangers won’t be competitive if they sign Jagr to a multi-year deal for the $7,357,144 minimum – one dollar more than Gomez’s average – he would require.

Jagr needn’t worry about Drury resenting a shift to Gomez’s wing. Indeed, Drury and Gomez have talked about it, and are excited about the opportunity to work together. This won’t be an issue.

The issue is getting Jagr to buy in. Should Sundin go elsewhere, the Rangers are prepared to acquire a center to complement Jagr while moving Brandon Dubinsky into a third-line role. The idea is to have Jagr at his best, not merely to have him.

The Rangers need to sell this to Jagr. This week, the Lightning showed them the way, if Sather and Jim Dolan are willing to see it. The Lightning hired Phoenix pro scout Greg Malone as their head of scouting. A few days later they acquired the rights to his son, Ryan Malone, whom they are poised to sign to a multi-year deal. What a coincidence.

The Rangers should hire Jagr’s father, also named Jaromir and the president of Kladno of the Czech League, as their director of Czech hockey operations. Why not? They should hire Mr. Jagr and then sign No. 68.

The Lightning opened the door. Let the NHL try to close it on Jagr and the Rangers. Just let them try.

larry.brooks@nypost.com