After widespread speculation that Jagr would sign with his former team, the Penguins withdrew their one year, $2 million free-agent contract offer on Friday morning, according to Penguins.NHL.com.
“We made what we thought was a very fair contract offer to Jaromir on Tuesday, based on his stated interest of returning to the Penguins,” Ray Shero, the Penguins’ executive vice president and general manager, told the team’s website. “But now … we have decided to move in a different direction. It was never our intention to get involved in a free agent bidding war, and we have to focus on our team.”
This comes just one day after Jagr’s agent, Petr Svoboda, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Jagr’s “heart is in Pittsburgh” and the winger would welcome a return to the city that drafted him back in 1990.
Jagr, who is currently a free agent, is eyeing a return to the NHL after spending the past two seasons in the Russian K League.
If he does return, however, he will not be wearing the black and gold of the Penguins. The Red Wings and Canadiens have made contract offers similar to Pittsburgh’s, and the Flyers are also reportedly interested in the 39-year-old, although no terms have been released.
With NHL free agency now open as of noon on Friday, Jagr is expected to make a decision within the next few days.
