02/21/26 06:28:00
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02/21 06:26 CST Former NHL great Jaromir Jagr talks about retirement in his
38th professional season
Former NHL great Jaromir Jagr talks about retirement in his 38th professional
season
By KAREL JANICEK
Associated Press
PRAGUE (AP) --- The storied hockey career of Jaromir Jagr might be coming to an
end.
Currently in his 38th professional season, with his hometown Kladno Knights in
the Czech league, the former NHL great strongly suggested that fans might not
get to see him on the ice any more.
"Probably not," Jagr said in an interview published late Friday on his
Instagram account. "It would have to be a miracle. God would have to come,
enter me and make me 15 years younger."
It wasn't immediately clear if Jagr will play again this season. The winger,
who turned 54 on Feb. 15, has played just six games in the league for Kladno
this season. His last game so far was on Dec. 21.
Jagr, who represented his country at five Olympics and led the Czechs to gold
in Nagano in 1998, said he spent the last 10 days watching the Milan Cortina
Games on television.
"I do nothing else but eat and watch TV," he said. This is the first Olympics
with NHL players in a dozen years and Jagr appreciated that.
"It's the best tournament in the last 10-15 years, certainly because of the
presence of NHL players," he said. "The games are great."
But besides following hockey, short-track speed skating and figure skating,
Jagr said he is trying to keep fit after recently gaining some 4-5 kilograms
(9-11 pounds).
"It's really about discipline," Jagr said. "The worst thing is when you don't
have to. Sometimes, it's better when you have to. When you don't have to,
forcing yourself is the hardest thing," he said.
"I keep myself going. I try, I don't train to be ready to play, but I try to go
skating every day if I have time."
Jagr made his debut for Kladno at age 16 and returned to the club in 2018 when
the Calgary Flames released him. Jagr remains second on the NHL's all-time
points list behind Wayne Gretzky. Jagr won the Stanley Cup twice with the
Pittsburgh Penguins in his first two NHL seasons.
Until early last year, Jagr served in dual roles as Kladno player and owner,
splitting his time between chasing sponsors and dealing with administrative
duties and ice time.
He sold a majority stake in Kladno last January in a season he had previously
suggested would be his last but wasn't.
This season, if still playing, he has a chance to make the playoffs with Kladno
for the first time.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
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