Jagr Is a Very Costly Penguin

Two-time NHL scoring champion Jaromir Jagr’s $4,988,491 million salary is nearly twice that of any teammate, according to the National Hockey League Players Assn.’s annual compensation survey.

But there’s an asterisk--Jagr is only the Penguins’ highest-paid active player. The Penguins still owe retired star Mario Lemieux $28.7 million in deferred money.

The Penguins are still playing--and paying--even though they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday for the second time in their 31-year history.

Co-owner Roger Marino lent the team $2.5 million--at 8% interest, to be repaid in two months--to meet Thursday’s $200,000 payroll, the first due this season.

Jagr became the Penguins’ highest-paid player by negotiating a $38-million, four-year contract extension in January.

It was the last multiyear contract negotiated by a Penguins player before the team’s fiscal problems worsened, leaving General Manager Craig Patrick unable to pursue big-name free agents.

Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings is the NHL’s top-paid player at $14 million, more than $5 million more than any other player.

Others with top salaries include: Paul Kariya of the Ducks, $8.5 million; Eric Lindros, Philadelphia, $8.5 million; Dominik Hasek, Buffalo, $8 million; Mats Sundin, Toronto, $6.35 million; Peter Forsberg, Colorado, $6 million; Doug Gilmour, Chicago, $6 million; Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers, $6 million; Mark Messier, Vancouver, $6 million; and Curtis Joseph, Toronto, $5.5 million.

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Colorado Avalanche right wing Keith Jones has been suspended for two games without pay and fined $1,000 because of a check he made to the head of Buffalo’s Curtis Brown. Jones received a minor penalty for the hit, which occurred in the second period of Monday night’s game.