Missing Piece: Jaromir Jagr

Jaromir Jagr, the man, the myth, the mullet. Oh no, wait that is Barry Melrose. I wouldn't disagree with anyone who said that Jagr was rocking a mullet in this picture but I think this hair style deserves more credit. For any young man daring enough to sport this luscious flow of brown hair, we will call this the Jagr, to keep things simple.

Boy do I miss this hair soaring in the wind as Jagr breezed past defenders on his way to two Stanley Cup rings and eight All-Star game appearances. Well it is time for the Pens to bring back this scoring machine or as some may refer to him, Mario Jr., not only because he played apprentice to Mario but also because Jaromir can be turned into Mario Jr. Although Jagr lacks the speed from his prime, he hasn't lost a step in point production and overall hockey capability. Ten years after his NHL debut, Jagr found himself as a Hart Trophy finalist with 123 points in 82 games.

What brings the suggestion of Jagr skating in the Penguin sweater for just one more season is Jagr himself who was heard saying, "I was thinking about it and if Mario would call me and say, "I'd like you to play for our team, I would think about it a lot. I would play for minimum salary. I would play for $350,000 just for him because I owe him my hockey life. I want to pay him back because he has made me what I am...besides my parents." Whether Jagr was serious or not, it raised Pens' fans hopes for a positive turnaround for the young squad.

In addition to point production, Jagr would bring a bunch of other key attributes to brighten the Penguins' dismal performance thus far. Not only can Jags (yags as I like to call him) bring enough hardware to give to every season ticket holder, but he can bring veteran leadership, excellent vision, adequate goal scoring, and would be another threat on a very skilled power play unit.

Another bright side about Jagr's return would be that the fans wouldn't have to spend 1/4 of the game (every time Jagr touches the puck) "booing" him like the fat girl at a talent show.

Please Mario Jr., be true to your word because if you aren't, Ray Shero has spent more money than a drunk man at the strip club. So needless to say, the funds are limited.