Older, slower Jagr could still complement Hemsky

Q: What is your opinion of signing Jaromir Jagr? I think it would be good on several levels. The man can still play and he would be the face of the franchise, taking the pressure off Tyler Seguin if they draft him. He might also be the catalyst to get Ales Hemsky over the 80-point mark.

(Vance)

A: I would say the organization is torn right now because they are in a rebuild. Do they really want to spend $4 million on a 38-year-old player who certainly isn't the offensive threat he used to be? That said, Jagr l ooked fine in the Olympics, but for getting clobbered in the open ice and knocked for a loop by Alexander Ovechkin. I did notice his cycling along the boards is a little shorter than it used to be. He runs out of gas a little quicker now, but what player his age doesn't? I do believe Jagr would be very good for Hemsky , who says he used to be a left-winger, so could move over if Jagr came on board. What Jagr r eportedly wants however, is a package deal. He also wants the Oilers to sign Czech Olympian forward Roman Cervenka, who is an emerging star in the Czech League but on the smallish side and looked like he was over his head at the Olympics. Jagr pushed for Cervenka to be on the Olympic squad. Jagr, as we've said over and over, has two big boosters in former New York Rangers coach Tom Renney and Jagr's former Omsk coach, Wayne Fleming. I'd say the odds are 60-40 that they sign Jagr. Cervenka? I'm not so sure.

Q: Lately, you've been promoting Tyler Seguin over Taylor Hall because you say the Oilers are lacking in depth at the centre position. But with Sam Gagner and Shawn Horcoff in the long-range plans at centre, don't they need a winger more? Hemsky and Penner will be unrestricted free agents in two years.

(Andrew McNally)

A: You bring up some good points, but the most successful NHL teams tend to draft their own first-line centres: Pittsburgh Penguins (Sidney Crosby), Dallas Stars (Mike Modano), Tampa Bay Lightning (Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos). Evgeni Malkin would be a first-liner on 29 other teams, too, but he takes a back seat to Crosby in Pittsburgh. NHL teams don't trade first-line centres unless they're bad apples. This is why I think the Oilers will take Seguin. Even fellow centre Shawn Horcoff says you build with a high-end centre. The Oilers like Hall's competitive level in the battle areas, for sure. And it is true that Hemsky and Penner can walk for nothing in two years, and one or both might just do that, which would leave holes on the wing -- but wingers are only as good as the centre. I believe the Oilers see Gagner and Horcoff as strong second-line centres.

Q: I hope the Oilers dont have a fire sale for Sheldon Souray as they did for Chris Pronger. They have to hold off for a while and make sure they get full value for him. Maybe if Washington bombs, they might want Sheldon (and Khabibulin )?

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