NEW YORK, 25 January 2004 — Jaromir Jagr, the NHL’s most expensive player, was traded to the New York Rangers on Friday with Anson Carter going to the Washington Capitals.

According to media reports, the Capitals will pay $20 million of the $44 million remaining on the seven-year $77 million deal Jagr signed when Washington acquired the Czech sniper from the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2001.

Carter, who has lost his goal scoring touch since being traded to New York from the Edmonton Oilers last season, returns to Washington where he broke into the league in 1996.

“Anson is a proven 20-goal scorer, and we’re glad to have him back in Washington,” said Capitals vice president and general manager George McPhee.

“On the other hand, Jaromir is a great player, and we hope our fans enjoyed watching him play.”

With the Capitals struggling on the ice and at the gate, the deal to unload Jagr, a five-time NHL scoring champion, had been rumored for several days.

The big-spending Rangers have coveted the 1999 Hart Trophy winner as the NHL MVP for some time having engaged in on-off trade talks with the Capitals since before the start of the season.

The Rangers now have five players who make more than $6 million a season.

One of the NHL’s premiere marksmen when teamed with Mario Lemieux in Pittsburgh, Jagr has produced the type of offense or leadership expected of him when he joined the Capitals. The 31 year-old right-winger has 16 goals and 29 assists in 46 games this season and was recently chosen to play in his 12th All-Star Game.

Jagr’s best season came in 1998-1999 when he had 127 points put was never able to produce similar numbers in Washington.

After a 121 point campaign in 2000-01, Jagr had just 79 points in his first season in a Capitals uniform.