Jaromir Jagr Straddles the Line on Possible Return to NHL

A couple of weeks ago, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal kicked up plenty of dust when he reported that the Edmonton Oilers were in the midst of completing a deal that would return Jaromir Jagr to the NHL.

Though he took some heat for his reporting at the time, Staples was vindicated a few hours ago when the Kontinental Hockey League issued a press release that referenced an interview that Jagr gave to Denik Sport where he confirmed that a deal indeed almost did get done. But while the deal didn't get done in time for this season, Jagr later left the door open for a return to the NHL, though he again insisted that a return to America wasn't his idea.

According to the KHL release, Jagr said the following: "Will I voluntarily terminate my contract with Avangard and go to America? That definitely won't happen. Only if the two hockey clubs reach an agreement. But I won't do it by myself."

While that might not seem like an important distinction, it is. Because a player transfer agreement doesn't exist at this point between Russia and North America, Jagr could walk out on his contract and seek employment in the NHL in much the same way that Alexander Radulov did before this season when he left the Nashville Predators while still under contract to sign a deal with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL.

When I asked KHL spokesman Shawn McBride about Jagr's statement, he said that the KHL believes that Jagr is "a man of his word," and would stick to the commitment not to actively seek a deal with any North American club. Safe to say, if Jagr did decide to go that route, it could very well create an international hockey incident that both the NHL and the KHL might be eager to avoid.

One other possible complication: when Staples originally reported the deal, one source in Russian hockey told me that a move back to the NHL was impossible, as Jagr's entire contract with Avangard had been prepaid. When I asked McBride about that possible wrinkle, he said that any arrangement like that was an issue between a player and his team, and that the league wouldn't have any visibility into such an arrangement.

So the deal here seems to be pretty clear: if any NHL team wants to secure Jagr's services, he's open to an offer, but not until and unless his current club gets compensated -- a courtesy that he doesn't have to give his club given the current lack of an international transfer agreement between Russia and North America. As to if or when we'll hear more from Jagr, McBride said that the winger is currently vacationing at home in the Czech Republic, and isn't due back at Avangard until April 2. Stay tuned.