Czech Republic superstar Jaromir Jagr will not be leaving Russia to join the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers this season, according to Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe.
The Edmonton Journal had reported that a European hockey expert said sources told him the nine-time NHL All-Star now playing in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League was in the final stages of talks to join the Oilers.
Just months ago, Jagr ditched the NHL's New York Rangers to join the Russian league and Jagr is also playing to play for his homeland at the 2009 World Championships in May.
The talks, if true, could be aimed at bringing Jagr to Edmonton next season.
Jagr, 37, has 25 goals in 48 games this season for Omsk, a club that suffered tragedy in October when 19-year-old Alexei Cherepanov collapsed after a shift during a game in Moscow and died shortly thereafter.
Jagr helped Pittsburgh win the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup titles and led the NHL in scoring five times. He has 646 NHL goals in 1,273 games with Pittsburgh, Washington and the Rangers in 18 NHL seasons.
Copyright 2009 AFP American Edition
