Jaromir Jagr continues to prove that he isn’t your average 52-year-old.
On Wednesday, the future Hall of Famer kicked off season No. 37 of professional hockey, suiting up for the team he co-owns, Rytiri Kladno, of the Czech Extraliga. The hockey legend made an impact, too, recording the primary powerplay assist on his club’s only goal in a 5-1 loss to Dynamo Pardubice.
Jagr told Robert Rampa of iSport.cz in June that the 2024-25 campaign would be his last with Kladno. But he admitted that he wasn’t “100 percent sure” about his future beyond that, as a player or an owner.
If this is the last hurrah for one of the game’s best, he plans to go out with a bang. Jagr came into this season in shape, aiming to play the entire season after taking the ice for only 15 games during the 2023-24 season.
“This time it’s different,” Jagr told Patrik Czepiec of iSport.cz. “I want to play every game. I’m going to train full-time.”
Jagr spent 18 seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins (11 years), New York Rangers (three years), Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers. He hasn’t played in the league since the 2015-16 season, but his numbers are still among the best.
An eight-time All-Star, Jagr is a five-time Art Ross Trophy winner (points leader), a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a former MVP, having won the Hart Trophy in 1998-99. All time, he ranks fifth in assists (1,155), fourth in goals (766), second in points (1,921) and first in game-winning goals (135).