Agent says Jagr, Flyers working on new contract

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The wheel of fortune on Jaromir Jagr appears to have come full circle in the Flyers favor.When the Flyers held their break-up day on May 10, the words emanating from Jagr clearly indicated the clubs chances to re-sign him were questionable.Jagr was asked three times about re-signing and avoided answering questions directly, while deferring to his role as being an issue on coming back for the 2012-13 season.He didnt like being bounced off Claude Girouxs line or having his minutes cut during the playoffs, even though it was plain he was laboring to skate because of injury.Jagrs position in May was in stark contrast to Jan. 19 when he told reporters he was going to re-sign as a Flyer without reservation.Well, once again, something has changed.Jagr is very much in the Flyers' picture and apparently wants to re-sign, after all.Agent Petr Svoboda, the former heart-on-his-sleeve Flyer defenseman, told CSNPhilly.com on Wednesday night that Jagr wants to come back and that the two sides are working on another one-year deal for next season.Ive talked to Jaromir and I have talked to Paul Holmgren and we hope to get something done before the draft, Svoboda said, adding that whatever impression Jagr left last month was no longer accurate.That should come as welcome news to Giroux, who reiterated Tuesday when accepting the Wanamaker Award as the Citys top athlete, that he, among other Flyers, wanted Jagr re-signed.Jagr had a very productive season with the Flyers with 54 points as the free-agent replacement on right wing for Ville Leino.The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer was third among all Flyers in scoring, not an easy chore after spending the previous three seasons playing overseas in Russia. Readjusting to the NHL as a top line forward after playing in the KHL is no small task.What hampered Jagr this past year were multiple nagging groin and leg injuries. He suffered an unannounced left quad pull against Pittsburgh that was so bad it was hemorrhaging prior to the series against the New Jersey Devils, even though he played every game.Even then, Jagr continued to work out during off days when coach Peter Laviolette asked players to stay off the ice. Svoboda said he believes Jagr will be a smarter and more physically fit player next season with the Flyers if he cuts back on his training.Jagr was simply obsessed with training this year. While he was a role model for the Flyers, his use of 20-pound weights during the second round of the playoffs with a thigh injury wasnt smart. It was actually counterproductive.Jaromir hasnt forgotten how he got criticized by the media in Pittsburgh early in his career, Svoboda said, a reference to Jagr being immature and somewhat lazy as a player in his 20s.He feels he needs to prove himself every day, but I agree with you, he needs to cut back in his training.Svoboda also said he is optimistic that restricted free agent Jakub Voracek will re-sign without incident around the NHL draft.Holmgren confirmed that on Wednesday night.Asked about Jagr, Holmgren said, We have interest in Jaromir.E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.

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