On July 5 in Rangers history: Glen Sather’s first big mistake

What happened on July 5 in the history of the New York Rangers

Glen Sather’s tenure as general manager of the New York Rangers will be controversial.  His supporters will say that he built a Stanley Cup contender that came thisclose to winning it all in the 2014 and 2015.  His detractors will point to his ill fated free agent signings and the trade deadline deals that gutted the team’s future. On this date in 2008, Sather made one of his biggest mistakes.  He let Jaromir Jagr leave the Rangers to go play in Russia.

The headline on July 5, 2008 was that Jaromir Jagr had signed a two-year deal with Avangard Omsk of the KHL for the equivalent of $11 million annually. The news confirmed that the Rangers’ captain, team leader and most dynamic player was definitely gone, ending a three year run that had returned the team to the playoffs.

Sather had apparently offered a one-year extension, but angered over a lack of response from Jagr’s side, he went out and signed Markus Naslund on July 3. Spurned by the Rangers, Jagr turned down similar offers from Pittsburgh and Edmonton to go to Russia.

Why was it a mistake?  Although he was 35 years old, Jagr had averaged 0.45 goals per game and 1.15 points per game in his three years in New York.  In his final year, he had 25 goals and 71 points in 82 games and was their leading scorer.  Not only that, the 35 year old had five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 10 playoff games.  From his playoff performance alone, it was clear he still had a lot of gas in the tank.

Jagr had transformed a team that had missed the playoffs for seven straight years into a team that was competitive and fun to watch.  Under Tom Renney and with their new goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, the future looked bright for the Rangers.

When Jagr signed with Avangard, he brought immediate legitimacy to the newly formed KHL.  He was a point-a-game player in the KHL for three seasons before returning to the NHL to play for the Flyers and five other teams.  Jagr finally left the NHL for good in 2018 at age 45 though he is still playing in the Czech Republic for a team that he owns.

What would have happened if Jagr has remained a Ranger?  Their next season might have been very different with him likely leading the team in scoring.  Coach Tom Renney was let go despite a winning record, succeeded by John Tortorella.  The Blueshirts lost in the first round of the playoffs under their new coach. In 2010, they missed the playoffs on the last day of the season in a shootout loss to the Flyers.  As for Markus Naslund, he scored 24 goals and retired after just one season in New York. What if.

Ironically, if Jagr had scored 84 points or won a major award in his last season, his contract would have renewed automatically and he would have remained a Ranger.

Today’s birthdays

22 NHL players were born on July 5.  Five of those players were former Rangers.

Cam Talbot was born on this date in 1987 in Caledonia, Ontario.  The goalie was signed by the Rangers in 2010 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Alabama-Huntsville. After three seasons in the minor leagues, he made it to the Rangers and never looked back, excelling in 2014-15 when he filled in while Henrik Lundqvist suffered a throat injury. He started in 23 of 25 games, going 16-4-3 in that stretch.  Traded to Edmonton after that season, he was their starter and an iron man, appearing in 73 games in 2016-17.  He slumped and bounced to Philadelphia and Calgary before playing this season in Minnesota where he was once again the number goalie.

Frank Eddolls was a defenseman born on this date in 1921 in Lachine, Quebec.  After three seasons in the Montreal organization he was traded in August 1947 to the Rangers along with Buddy O’Connor for three players.   It ended up a great trade for the Blueshirts as O’Connor went on to win the Hart and Lady Byng Trophies in 1948 while Eddolls played five years in New York, serving as captain during the 1950-51 season.

Ron Ingram was born on July 5, 1933 in Toronto, Ontario. A defenseman, he played for the Black Hawks and Red Wings before coming to New York in  the 1963-64 season. He played 19 games over two seasons for the Rangers before spending the rest of his career in the AHL.

Sparky Vail was a defenseman and winger who was born on this date in 1906 in Meaford, Ontario. He spent most of a 16 year professional career in the minor leagues, but he did find his way to the NHL with the Rangers for 50 games from 1928-30.  He played all six playoff games for the Blueshirts as they made it to the Stanley Cup Final, losing to Boston Bruins.

Gene Carrigan was born on this date in 1907 in Edmonton, Alberta. The center played 33 games for the Rangers in 1930-31, scoring two goals.  He played four games for the St. Louis Eagles and also played four games for the Red Wings, all in the playoffs. He played15 years as a pro in the Chicago, Boston and Detroit organizations.