By Jordan Long
Jaromir Jagr was waived by the Calgary Flames on January 28th. He was unclaimed and has decided to go back home to the Czech Republic to play for HC Kladno for the rest of the season. According to ESPN, Jagr said, “Although I am very disappointed that things did not turn out as we had hoped due to a number of circumstances, I am deeply grateful to the Flames, the fans and the City of Calgary for having welcomed me so generously. I now look forward to continuing the season in Kladno.”
Jagr is 45 years-old, way past his prime and it showed. He didn’t perform well this season for the Flames. In 22 games, Jagr scored 1 goal and added 6 assists for a career low 7 points. It wasn’t working out. He was a step slower and couldn’t set up his teammates or skate past the defensemen. The Flames had to cut him.
Jagr might as well retire from the game of hockey. There is nothing left for him to prove. His next step will be the Hockey Hall Of Fame. Jagr lit the lamp 766 times in his career, 3rd all-time to Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe. Jagr found his teammates for goals with 1,155 assists. If you add his goals and assists, that gives him a total of 1,921 points, 2nd only to Wayne Gretzky.
Those are decent totals in the regular season. The playoffs are where a skater wants to play well. Jagr wasn’t any different. In 208 playoff games, he had 78 goals and 123 assists for 201 points. In 1991 and 1992, Jagr won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jagr has done it all in the game of hockey. There will not be a team next season who will want a 46-year old player. It is time for him to hang up his skates. Jagr will go down as one of the most accomplished NHL forwards in history. He must make that decision even though it will be difficult to say goodbye to the game of hockey.
What do you think of Jaromir Jagr’s career?
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