Jaromir Jagr: A Fit for Detroit?

Most hockey fans are well aware of 39-year-old Jaromir Jagr's impending NHL comeback, which is apparently between Detroit and Pittsburgh and possibly others depending on who you follow. As a Red Wings fan, I've decided to take a look to see if there is a fit with Detroit.

First off, it truly is impossible to determine just how Jagr would be in the NHL. He's never had the defensive acumen to be a third line forward, yet he may be unable to play top six minutes for a whole season as he's been playing in the KHL the past three seasons where the seasons are shorter, and the competition is less fierce. For argument's sake, I'll say he'll see time as a top six forward, at least to begin the year. He'll also likely sign for between $2 and $3 million.

Also, for Detroit, I'll assume that Patrick Eaves and one of either Drew Miller or Kris Draper will return. So let's look at the forwards without Jagr:

Franzen - Datsyuk - Holmstrom
Bertuzzi - Zetterberg - Cleary
Abdelkader - Filppula - Hudler
Mursak - Helm - Eaves

Draper/Miller - Emmerton

Well, looking at those lines there simply isn't any room for Jagr. However, I don't see the Wings being overly concerned with losing Cory Emmerton to waivers as he's never been able to really put his game together with Grand Rapids. However, there's no reason for any of the players I have penciled into lines to not be playing regularly.

So how would Jagr fit?

Well, only one way in my mind. And that way would be if the Wings do trade Jiri Hudler to Valtteri Filppula at the draft for a defenseman. I'm a proponent of trading Filppula for several reasons: he's got more value than Hudler, his cap hit is higher than Hudler's, he's a second line center when Datsyuk and Z play on the same line but last year I think proved that the two are better apart. Meanwhile, Helm should be getting experience as a third line center which he seems ready for, and Abdelkader has proven that he can play center.

So great, sign Jagr and trade Filppula for the defenseman we need after Rafalski's retirement. Unfortunately though, there just aren't any defensemen who could be had for Filppula who really jump out. Cam Barker (Minnesota), Nick Schultz (Minnesota), and Keith Ballard (Vancouver) could probably be had, but only because all three of those players have struggled recently. The idea of trading for a good young defender really has dried up with Atlanta moving to Winnipeg and the likelihood of Bogosian being an option back to zero (if it ever was a possibility to begin with).

So really in my mind there's nobody to trade Filppula (or Hudler) for. Of course there could be somebody available whom I have no idea about, but I doubt that player will be better than whichever UFA we'll end up with.

So, in short, I just don't see how Jagr fits with this team. And for the record, if the Wings sing a possible top six forward to a reasonable deal I would much rather see that forward be Tampa Bay's Simon Gagne than Mr. Jagr. Just my two cents though.