Jaromir Jagr pulled a white New York Rangers jersey with his signature No. 68 over his head, and captain Mark Messier beamed.
"Oh, yeah, looks good," Messier said as he flashed a big smile. "Very good."
"I hope it's the last sweater," Jagr said as photographers and cameramen maneuvered to capture the photo opportunity that punctuated Saturday's news conference at the Corel Center, where the Rangers' latest star acquisition was introduced.
Jagr's long-rumored trade from Washington was completed Friday in a deal that sent Anson Carter to the Capitals.
"I'm the kind of guy who doesn't like changes," Jagr said. "I'm happy where I stay. But, the way I see it, in Washington they decided to trade me. I'm glad I'm somewhere they want me, and I'm going to have a chance to prove to the world that I'm still a good player."
The league MVP with Pittsburgh in 1999, Jagr failed to live up to expectations with the Capitals. Washington acquired Jagr after he won his fourth consecutive scoring title with the Penguins in 2001.
Jagr had 201 points in 190 games with Washington, including 16 goals and 29 assists in 46 games this season.
"There have been expectations on him for 11 years," said forward Matthew Barnaby, one of several Rangers who previously played with Jagr.
"He's always been expected to do a lot of good things.
"Even though everyone thinks he's been having a bad season by his standards, it's a very good season by everyone else's standards. He averages a point a game, and in a time when scoring's down, he's done very well."
With Pavel Bure sidelined due to a career-threatening knee injury, Rangers fans hope the addition of Jagr to an already star-studded lineup will end a franchise-record six-year playoff drought.
"We're excited," said Glen Sather, the Rangers president, general manager and coach. "We just hope he excites everyone else and gets us in the playoffs."
Aware of the heightened expectations, Messier tried to lighten Jagr's burden before the Czech star made his debut with the Rangers against Ottawa on Saturday night.
"Coming to play on the biggest stage in the world doesn't come without pressure," Messier said. "Obviously, he's picked up a lot of the pressure that the team's endured over the last five or six years, but speaking from experience, no one player can do it alone."
Jagr will be teamed with fellow Czechs Petr Nedved and Jan Hlavac against the Senators, Sather said.
In two seasons with Pittsburgh from 1995-1997, Nedved was paired with Jagr frequently.
"It seems like back then we had some chemistry going, so hopefully, we can establish the same thing and have the same chemistry and play well," Nedved said.
The Rangers, losers of three straight and winless in five, enter Saturday's game in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the New York Islanders in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot.
"The expectations are always high in New York, and for good reason, because we have a lot of great players here," Nedved said. "There are probably going to be even more expectations and more pressure now that Jaromir's here, so we've just got to get down to business and start winning some hockey games."
senators 9, rangers 1
Bryan Smolinski scored twice in the first period and Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and two assists Saturday as Ottawa ruined Jaromir Jagr's debut with the Rangers by routing New York 9-1.
Jussi Markkanen allowed six goals in the first and third periods and Jason LaBarbera, recalled Friday from the AHL, yielded three in the second as the Rangers' losing streak hit four games and their winless run was stretched to six (0-4-2).
Zdeno Chara also scored twice, and Jason Spezza, Radek Bonk, Josh Langfeld and Martin Havlat added goals as Ottawa set a season high in a game and extended its winning streak to three.
It was New York's worst loss since a 10-2 defeat at Quebec on March 6, 1993.
Flyers 2, Sabres 1
In Philadelphia, Jeremy Roenick had two goals, and Robert Esche stopped 25 shots to lead Philadelphia over Buffalo.
Esche earned up his 14th victory of the season, adding to his career high, and the Flyers won for the fourth time in five games.
Ales Kotalik scored for the Sabres, who have dropped four of five and are mired in last place in the Northeast Division.
Blue Jackets 4, Blackhawks 3
In Columbus, Ohio, Rick Nash scored his NHL-leading 29th and 30th goals to help Columbus extend Chicago's road losing streak to a franchise-record 17 games.
The Blackhawks, who beat Columbus 7-0 just 48 hours earlier, have not won a road game since beating Nashville on Nov. 7.
Manny Malhotra and Tyler Wright added a goal and an assist for Columbus, 3-0-1-0 at home under interim coach Gerard Gallant.
Steve Sullivan had two goals, including a short-handed score, and Tuomo Ruutu scored on a power play for the Blackhawks.
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