NHL icon Jaromir Jagr, who is still an active professional hockey player in his home country of Czechia at the age of 52, is currently in Pittsburgh to witness his iconic No. 68 being honored at PPG Paints Arena.
This is a fitting tribute to Jagr, who began his NHL career with the Penguins in the early 1990s and experienced his most successful seasons there.
Interestingly, he will have to return to Czechia promptly to join his hometown team, the Kladno Knights, for whom he both plays and owns.
What I did not anticipate, perhaps naively, was seeing Jagr donning a Penguins jersey for the first time in over two decades and participating in a practice session with the team.
However, that is exactly what occurred on Saturday.
He even had the opportunity to sit beside Sidney Crosby, which, as a Flyers fan, was a sight that nearly overwhelmed me.
While it is true that Jags was a Flyer at one point as well, whenever he was not, he was a formidable opponent who consistently tormented the Flyers, much like Crosby does.
Another video showcased Jagr expressing his desire to practice with the team in order to experience firsthand the speed that everyone talks about in today’s NHL. The game has undeniably become faster since Jagr last played in the league around 2018, but it has only intensified further.
Therefore, it was a kind gesture on the part of the Penguins to grant him this opportunity.
It is not an everyday occurrence for someone to step onto the ice during a morning skate and receive an audible cheer from the crowd. However, the first time Jaromir Jagr skates in a Penguins jersey since 2001 is more than deserving of such an ovation.
It should come as no surprise that Jagr does not possess the same speed he once did. After all, he is 52 years old, and speed was never the most prominent aspect of his game. In fact, during his final NHL stops, particularly when he played for the Panthers, Jagr transformed into more of a playmaker, accumulating assists by feeding young talents like Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Nick Bjugstad.
Therefore, while his speed may have diminished, it is hard to argue that this man could not step into an NHL game tonight, play approximately 8 minutes, excel in board battles, and finish with a +1 rating and an assist.
What an extraordinary individual Jagr is…
The ceremony to retire Jagr’s jersey will take place on Sunday prior to the Penguins’ game against the Los Angeles Kings.
According to the Source outkick.com