Jaromir Jagr is 46, but that doesn’t mean he’s trying to hang up his skates for good.
Dealing with a lower-body injury, Jagr’s brief stint in the NHL this season resulted in the winger returning to the franchise that he owns – HC Kladno. In 22 GP with the Calgary Flames this season, Jagr put up 7 points.
A nagging knee issue ended Jagr’s NHL season, but he went on to play for HC Kladno, totaling 4 points in 5 games. Jagr may still have it, but not at the NHL level. Despite many critics and the belief that the game is too fast for even a legend, Jagr isn’t ruling out a return to the NHL.
In an article from the New York Times, it states that Jagr is still plotting where he will be next season, but currently he is sidelined. Jagr is not giving up the dream, as he has been “practicing on my own slowly,” he said. “I want to get completely healthy and then see what happens. I don’t want to retire yet. I can always play here (Kladno). My plan is just to get healthy first and then see how far I can go.”
As majority owner, Jagr converted HC Kladno’s rink from international specifications to the North American NHL size. The smaller ice surface allows faster play and bone-jarring hits. Jagr says that the move was better for the fans as “everything is quicker, more scoring chances,” but it also gives him a place to prepare for NHL hockey.
Where will he end up? Who knows. A lingering knee issue clearly affected Jagr, so it may not be 100% clear what he still has left in the tank. As he mentioned, he’ll always have a spot on HC Kladno, so why rule out a return to the NHL?
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