PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Free-agent forward Jaromir Jagr on Friday surprised many around the league, signing a one-year contract with the Flyers.
Jagr, 39, the former NHL MVP who has spent the past three seasons playing in Russia, this week mulled over a one-year offer to rejoin the Penguins, his original team, before ultimately deciding to play on the other end of Pennsylvania.
The Flyers’ deal is worth $3.3 million. The Penguins’ offer was for $2 million.
Jagr was a Pittsburgh draft pick in 1990, and helped lead the Penguins to two Stanley Cup championships. The franchise’s hope was that he accept the offer, play at least one season in Pittsburgh, and then retire with the team he started with.
But on Friday morning, before the Flyers announced the deal, the Penguins formally withdrew their offer.
