Jagr’s agent claims multiple interest

Associated Press

Jaromir Jagr wants to extend his NHL career, and his agent said some teams are “very interested” in his 41-year-old client.

Jagr might have to wait a while, and the league’s active scoring leader might not be the only free agent without a new job this weekend.

“He definitely still wants to play and there is some interest in him,” Jagr’s agent, Petr Svoboda, told The Associated Press on Saturday. “I think it’s going to take some time, but you never know for sure because there are three teams that are very interested.”

Svoboda declined to say which teams wanted to sign Jagr.

J.P. Barry, who represents two of the top free agents available, Daniel Cleary and Mason Raymond, also expected a relatively slower pace of moves around the league.

“We’ve touched based with several teams and many of them are being patient at this point,” Barry said Saturday. “We’ve got options for [Cleary and Raymond], but we’re in a holding pattern with each of them because I think everyone is taking a breath this weekend.

“I’ve been through about 15 of these, and there is always a frenzy of moves then a pause to reassess and then a second wave. It’s tough to predict when that second wave will happen, so we’re always on call when teams are ready.”

Day 1 of the free agency flurry included dozens of deals, including Jarome Iginla signing a one-year deal worth as much as $6 million with Boston, which almost acquired the six-time All-Star last season when Pittsburgh did from Calgary. Nathan Horton cashed in on his second strong postseason performance for the Bruins with a $37.1 million, seven-year contract in Columbus.

Daniel Alfredsson made perhaps the most surprising move. The 40-year-old forward is taking what might be his last shot at winning a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings, jilting the Ottawa Senators after being the face of the franchise.

The Senators tried to bounce back by making a bold trade for Anaheim forward Bobby Ryan in exchange for a pair of promising players and a first-round draft pick.

On Saturday, the second day NHL teams could sign free agents, the pickings were slim after top-tier players were taken off the market by teams that agreed to and signed deals following two days of talks.

Among the relatively notable names available Saturday: Jagr, Cleary, Mason, Mikhail Grabovski, Ilya Bryzgalov, Tim Thomas, Damien Brunner, Mason Raymond, Toni Lydman, Derek Roy, Brad Boyes and Brenden Morrow.