Jaromir Jagr, widely regarded as one of the most exceptional hockey players in history, presents a strong argument for being the greatest European player of all time.
Despite his remarkable career, Jagr, who celebrates his 52nd birthday today, February 15, has yet to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, primarily because he refuses to retire.
To put his longevity into perspective, the oldest player currently in the NHL is Mark Giordano, a 40-year-old defenseman for the Maple Leafs. Giordano was just six years old when Jagr was drafted.
This weekend, Jagr will embark on a unique challenge that few players have ever faced: immediately after his jersey retirement ceremony with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team where he began his NHL career and experienced his most successful years, he will rush across the Atlantic to prepare for an upcoming game, as reported by the Associated Press.
Although the retirement of Jagr’s iconic No. 68 is long overdue, it is possible that the delay has less to do with the Penguins hesitating to honor him, which should be a no-brainer, and more to do with their impatience for him to finally retire.
Jagr will temporarily step away from his role as owner and player for the Kladno Knights, his hometown team, to participate in the festivities in Pittsburgh. The ceremony will take place before the Penguins face off against the Los Angeles Kings.
Personally, I believe it would have made more sense to hold the ceremony on the following Sunday when the Penguins play against the Philadelphia Flyers, another one of the nine NHL clubs Jagr has represented. However, this is just my opinion.
The concept of retiring the number of an active player is quite unusual in itself. Perhaps it is less peculiar in Jagr’s case, as he has been playing in Czechia since 2018.
This made me wonder if any other team has retired the number of an active player. One example I came across is when the Philadelphia Phillies retired Robin Roberts’ No. 36 in 1962. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, this decision was made after a Spring Training game against the Yankees, in which Roberts pitched for the Yankees.
It is highly likely that Jagr’s number will be honored by at least one or two more clubs in the near future, with the Rangers being the most logical choice. However, it remains uncertain when this will occur if he continues to play.
According to the Source outkick.com