NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND

January 19, 1996

Jaromir Jagr

Q. Do you think that your team needs to pick up defensmen before trading in order to make sure that you are going to have a good --

JAROMIR JAGR: You cannot say. If you want to get some defensemen, you have got to keep -- if you want to get something, you have got to give something. We can play defense too.

JAROMIR JAGR: It is tough to say what is going to happen. He is 35 years old, maybe older, he doesn't think he can win it in L.A. Get some good players to L.A. and it is tough to say if maybe they are going to trade him, or not.

JAROMIR JAGR: Management didn't do everything for -- if not -- I am not surprised. He wants to win. That is what he plays for, to win. And their management didn't do everything for the winning. He should. If not Wayne Gretzky, who else is going to say it? If he cares, he should say it. If I would be him, I would say it too if I didn't think management doesn't do everything for winning.

JAROMIR JAGR: I don't know if we can afford his price.

JAROMIR JAGR: When I look at him I don't even think -- I expect him to -- I look at him, I don't even think he is hurt or something. I expect him to play so many games like he did.

JAROMIR JAGR: Yeah, it is nice for me. I can have more fun; plus, speak my own language. I feel more comfortable like that.

JAROMIR JAGR: It is very nice. I want to do some special things for the fans and show them something special. I appreciate that they vote for me and put me in the starting lineup.