NHL legend finally set to retire from professional hockey
Jaromir Jagr is finally deciding to call it quits on his professional hockey career after lacing up the skates for more than three decades. Jagr, who has been playing for the Kladno Knights of the Czech Extra-Liga, has been mulling retirement for several years but felt that he had to keep going as owner and president of the team as well.
For Jagr, he mentioned in a recent interview that he hasn't felt like playing hockey as much recently and thought it was best to move on. Although he gave a glimmer of hope that he would suit up for a game or two, the future-hall-of-famer has no more to give on the ice.
"It's definitely not coming, not at all. To be honest, I don't even feel like it. Unless there's still a Winter Class, which I promised there would be, I guess I'd have to force myself to go play. Otherwise, I'm not drawn back at all."
"Even if I wasn't the owner and only had to hockey to do, I would still have problems training and playing games. To concentrate on hockey at all. It's more or less impossible. Or I'd have to stop working for the club altogether, which i don't think would help."
At the ripe old age of 50, it makes complete sense that Jagr has hit finally hit a snag and doesn't hold the same passion he once did for the game he loves. After 32 years of professional hockey, over 1,700 games at the NHL-level, 3 seasons in the KHL, 10+ seasons in the Czech Republic, and a few seasons sparingly in other European leagues, Jagr is - for lack of a better word - tired.
"I like hockey, but it's hard work. Physically it's very demanding. At my age, playing at some level is challenging in itself. To prepare, to motivate. Not to mention the need for rest."
1,733 NHL games across 24 years and 9 different teams. 766 goals, 1,155 assists, 1,921 points, and +322 rating. Not to mention his 208 playoff games in 18 different seasons, scoring 78 goals and 201 points along the way as he won 2 Stanley Cups.
Jagr was named to to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1991, made 13 All-Star Game appearances, won the Art Ross 5 times, the Hart Memorial once, the Lester B. Pearson Award 3 times, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy once, and was named to the NHL first All-Star Team 7 times.
Internationally he won the Golden Hockey Stick award 12 times, which is awarded to the best Czech hockey player, won the gold medal at the 1998 Olympic Games, bronze medal at the 2006 Olympic Games, 2 gold medals at the World Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2004 World Cup.
Take a very much deserved bow, Jaromir.
Source: Markerzone.com
| POLL | ||
3 OCTOBRE | 320 ANSWERS NHL legend finally set to retire from professional hockey Fill in the blank: Jaromir Jagr is a top ___ player all time | ||
| Top 3 | 30 | 9.4 % |
| Top 5 | 84 | 26.3 % |
| Top 10 | 130 | 40.6 % |
| Top 50 | 76 | 23.8 % |
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