The Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly working to sign the legendary winger. Jaromír Jágr to his front office, The Athletic’s Rob Rossi shares in an interview with Penguins president of business operations Kevin Acklin. Acklin shared that the team is ready to enter a “new chapter” after Jágr’s retirement ceremony in February. The team has been working to recruit Jágr ever since, and recently went the extra mile during his visit to Prague for the World Championship.
Pittsburgh does not yet have a clear idea of Jágr’s role, although Acklin shared that it would focus on Jágr spending most of his time in his hometown of Kladno, Czechia. That’s where Jágr has been since the 2017-18 season, as a player and owner of Rytíři Kladno of the Czech Extraliga. He continued to define his legacy with Kladno, elevating the team to the Czech Extraliga in 2019, helping them stay afloat from the brink of relegation in 2022 and setting the record for the oldest player to score in a professional competition with a goal in April. Jágr’s age, 52 years and 63 days, narrowly exceeded Gordie HoweThe long-standing record of 52 years and nine days.
Jágr’s return to the Czech Republic has continued to build his memory as one of hockey’s greatest. players of all time: a legend he built over a 24-year NHL career. He played in 1,733 career NHL games, the fourth most games played in NHL history, scoring 1,921 points, the most of any unnamed NHL player. Wayne Gretzky. Jágr formed an all-time duo with Mario Lemieux In the first 11 seasons of his career, he pitted the Penguins against the legacy lineups of the Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings and led the Penguins to two Stanley Cups. He was just as good when he launched a solo career in the NHL, playing with eight clubs over the last 13 years of his career, including four years with the New York Rangers. Jágr was productive until the end, recording 16 goals and 46 points in the 2016-17 season, the most any NHL player 44 or older has scored or played in a season. He left the NHL following a knee injury the following season, taking his talents through the KHL before settling in the Czech Republic. He continues to make a positive impact to the lineup, recording four assists in 15 games during the regular season and two points, a goal and an assist, in three postseason games.
The Penguins now look to rekindle Jágr’s history in the NHL while also solidifying their presence in Central Europe. Acklin spoke cautiously about Jágr’s daily work with the team, acknowledging how busy his schedule has become in the Czech Republic. Therefore, Rossi acknowledges that Jágr would likely play a minimal day-to-day role, adding that bringing him to Pittsburgh just a few times a year would be a success for the Penguins. That could mean the legend is set for a modest scouting role, although Acklin praised Jágr’s understanding of the business side of the sport across Europe, built during his time with Kladno. No timeline has been set for Jágr’s return to the Penguins organization, and president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas will have the final say on what his exact role will be. But there’s no doubt that any return to Pittsburgh (and reunion with Mario Lemieux) would add another layer to Jágr’s never-ending legacy in the hockey world.
Photos courtesy of USA Today.
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