OTTAWA – It’s not going to be about the money. Jaromir Jagr will be able to command more money in Russia, much more money, and he knows it.
Instead, Jagr’s return to the Rangers hinges on the comfort level he, Glen Sather and Tom Renney arrive at concerning his function within the team structure designed by the head coach.
It’s not about love. It’s about No. 68 and the Rangers hierarchy reaching an understanding of what each party will expect from the other this season.
It will be about Jagr buying in, not the Rangers buying him.
Glen Sather said it again here yesterday on Day 2 of the NHL Entry Draft. He wants Jagr back in Blue. But the general manager acknowledges there are issues to discuss before a contract can be negotiated, issues that Sather hopes to resolve this week.
“Just saying you want somebody back doesn’t mean it’s going to happen,” Sather said. “I met with [agent] Pat Brisson here this week. I said I want him back and I know that Jaromir wants to come back.
“Pat assured me he wants to come back. He said all of the right things. I know Jaromir was at the training center a couple of times last week, and I’m anxious to see him when I get back.
“I’ll see if I can arrange a face-to-face meeting this week when we have our camp for [our draft picks].”
The Rangers have five prominent impending free agents – Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Sean Avery, Martin Straka and Michael Rozsival. Sather said he wants them all back. He did, however, add that, “I wouldn’t tell you if I didn’t.”
Though the other four players represent decisions on individuals, the decision on Jagr will represent a decision on the program. If No. 68 returns, the Blueshirts will be bound to surround him with complementary players. If he does not, the Rangers will play a different style and will therefore seek to add different kinds of players in the free agent market.
That’s why it’s incumbent upon the Rangers to declare their intentions before July 1.
Sather said he has spoken to Shanahan and has advised the 20-year veteran to be patient through the early days of free agency.
“I’ll tell you exactly what I told Brendan and that’s until we know where the pieces are going to fall, he’s just going to have to be patient and see how it comes out,” the GM said. “We’re in a position right now where we haven’t spent our free agent money and we have some kids coming . . .
“We’re all trying to be bigger, better, faster. Making the playoffs isn’t good enough. We want to go farther. Brendan has been a big part of our success. I don’t want to shut the door early. He knows I’m going to treat him with respect.”
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Though Sather said he planned to meet with Avery’s representative, Pat Morris, the GM cited Ottawa winger Chris Kelly’s recent signing as reasonably comparable. Kelly signed a four-year, $8.5M deal. The Post has learned that the Blueshirts rejected Ottawa’s offer of Kelly for Avery at the trade deadline.
The Rangers traded washout Alex Bourret to Phoenix for the 90th overall pick. . . . The Islanders had three second-round and three third-round picks, grabbing center Corey Trivino 36th overall, defenseman Aaron Ness 40th and defenseman Travis Hamonic 53rd. . . . The Rangers selected center Derek Stepan 51st.