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Devils right wing Jaromir Jagr (68) has had one-year contracts the last three seasons and likely be seeking the same thing for next season.

(Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports)

SUNRISE, Fla. – So Jaromir Jagr is saying he wants to be a Devil again next season and that it'll be a job for his agent to get a deal done.

Piece of cake, Petr Svoboda predicts.

“I don't want to jump the gun, but I think there's a really great chance that he's going to be a New Jersey Devil next year,” the Montreal-based agent told NJ.com.

Svoboda knows for sure that Jagr has greatly enjoyed his first season in New Jersey and says he's pretty sure that Devils GM Lou Lamoriello wants the team's 42-year-old leading scorer back.

“Basically, Jags is very, very happy where he's at, and I think it's vice versa,” Svoboda said. “I don't see why he should not be going back to New Jersey next year.”

Jagr talked with a bunch of teams last summer – Montreal and Carolina were two of them – before signing on July 23 with the Devils, who were desperate to add a veteran scorer after being floored 12 days earlier by superstar left wing Ilya Kovalchuk leaving the team to play in Russia with 12 seasons and $77 million left on his 15-year, $101 million contract.

Jagr got just $2 million guaranteed from the Devils, but he doubled it to $4 million in late December with a bonus for playing 40 games.

The future Hall of Fame right winger has been a bargain: Playing all 66 games, he leads the team in points (57), assists (36) and plus-minus (plus-19), and he's second in goals (21) head into Friday night's road game against the Florida Panthers. He's also been a team leader vocally and by example with his off-the-charts work habits.

For next season, Jagr will be looking for another one-year deal, and Svoboda says that his client won't be looking to break the bank.

“I'll put it to you this way: We've never gone to the highest bidder the last three years,” Svoboda said.

The Devils have exclusive rights to re-sign Jagr until July 1, the start of the unrestricted free agent signing period.

Svoboda doubts either side will let it get to the point where other teams can join the bidding.

For now, Lamoriello and Jagr's focus is on the Devils' final 16 games and their playoff chase, but Svoboda won't rule out a new contract being signed before the end of the regular season.

“I'm going to be in New Jersey in the next couple weeks,” Svoboda said. “Jags doesn't want to think about his contract right now, but I don't see any reason why a deal could not be done at any time. Jags really wants to have another deal with them.”

Svoboda says he'll talk whenever Lamoriello is ready … whether it's during his trip to New Jersey or after the season.

“We have a lot of admiration for Lou Lamoriello,” the agent said. “We think he’s the best GM in the National Hockey League, and we don’t say that because we want an offer from him. We have a tremendous amount of respect for him and right now he’s concentrating on hopefully making the playoffs.

“We'll see when talks take place. If Lou decides to come to me before the season ends … basically it's up to him. If Lou wants to talk after the season … whatever. Like I said, Jags really likes it there.”

Jagr’s enjoyed the Devils so much because he's been getting big minutes playing on the top line and first power-play unit.

The five-time scoring champ and former league MVP was frustrated at times during the previous two seasons playing lesser roles in 2011-12 for Philadelphia and last season for Dallas and Boston.

“It's important to Jags that his role on the team is still important,” Svoboda said. “It's much more important to him than playing for money. The team expected him to be a main focus this year, and Jags readjusted and he's still playing to a great level.”

By choice, Jagr has been on one-year deals for the last four years – his third and final season in the KHL in 2010-11, then the last three seasons after returning to the NHL.

Why?

“At his age, he just wants a one-year deal because he doesn't want to be a burden to anybody and have people be unhappy with him,” Svoboda said.

Jagr's recent salaries have been like a roller coaster.

After making $7 million playing for the Avangard Omsk in his final KHL season, Jagr dropped to $3.3 million when returning to the NHL in 2011-12. He got a raise last season up to $4.5 million, although a lot of that money was lost due to the NHL lockout. The salary cap dropping this season, as well as his age, were reasons he took a pay cut when signing with the Devils.

Next season? The cap is going back up, so Jagr surely will get a nice raise even though he'll turn 43 next February. How much? A one-year deal in the $4.5 million to $5 million seems likely. Whatever Jagr gets, Svoboda figures it'll be a team-friendly contract.

“Once you take a gamble on a guy like Jags, he's bringing so much to a team with his experience,” Svoboda said. “The last three years he's really shown he's in shape and how great he is for young guys. It's a combination of all that.

“So it's easier to take Jagr for one year than a 22-year-old that hopefully will prove himself for six or seven years. It's not easy to determine what his value is, but at the same time, this year he's a fit. He loves New Jersey and it's not like it would be taking a huge gamble for them to sign him for one more year.”

If and when a new deal get done, that doesn't necessarily mean it'll be Jagr's last with the Devils.

“Who knows how long he'll play?” Svoboda said. “He really is one of the top players who's every played the game – look at the numbers - but I have never seen anyone have the love of the game that he does.

"I think Jags takes a great approach. He takes it one year at a time. I think his body and his mind will know when it's time to retire, but from talking to him and watching him play, I don't think it's happening next year.”