Best Player In The World

SI.com - Hockey - Jagr could be offseason trade bait for cost-cutting Capitals

Jaromir Jagr says he "want to be the best player in the world," but the Washington Capitals are considering a trade because he costs too much money.

Well, you can be a great player on a bad team if the rest of the folks are mediocre. Jagr played spectacularly, but his crisp passes were often missed by lackadaisical teammates and when the opposition banged on him -- as Tampa Bay did by beating up his face, leaving him out cold on the ice with a blood-splattered uniform -- no one on the Caps ever retailated. The Caps have asked Jagr to do it alone, which has never worked in hockey. Orr needed Esposito, Gretsky needed Messier, but Jagr's got a bunch of mediocre journeymen.

Ted Leonsis, listen up! You want fans to pack MCI Center, get a good team, a consistently winning team. Don't send players away and go with two-bit has beens and unproven rookies. Pick up a Sergei Zubov -- a real defenseman -- and a Pavel Bure, a Ziggy Palfy or (dare I say it) a Vincent Lecavalier. Get Jagr his Esposito or his Messier, and you will fill MCI Center to the rafters every night.

 Posted by glenn