Jaromir Jagr

After the 2000-01 season ended, Jagr was traded from the Penguins, who could not afford him. He went to the Washington Capitals for three prospects and $4.9 million in cash. The Capitals hoped Jagr would increase their chances of winning the Stanley Cup. (The team last made it to the Cup finals in 1998 when they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings.)

Though Jagr got his wish and was traded, he was still unhappy. In his first two seasons, he did not play well. During the 2001-02 season, he had a knee injury, and while he played through it, he did not have the same scoring touch. After playing for the Czech Republic during the 2002 Winter Olympics, Jagr felt he fit in better when he returned to Washington. He signed a contract extension for seven years for $77 million.

During the 2002-03 season, Jagr was again plagued by trade rumors, but ultimately remained in Washington. The team hoped he would return to the kind of player he was in his heyday in Pittsburgh. One of his Penguin coaches, Ed Johnston, told Gerry Callahan of Sports Illustrated, "He knows the game better than anyone on the team. He's very smart out there. He knows the little things, things you can't teach. He knows how to play the angles and how to protect the puck."