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Feb 17, 2024, 05:41 PM ET
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Jaromir Jagr wore a Pittsburgh Penguins’ jersey for the first time in 22 years.
Jagr, dressed in full gear, practiced with the Penguins at their suburban Pittsburgh practice facility on Saturday morning. The 52-year-old made his iconic name in the NHL and won two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh, the organization that drafted him No. 5 overall in 1990.
The Penguins will retire Jagr’s No. 68 jersey before Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. It’s the third number that will be retired in franchise history, joining Michel Briere (21) and Mario Lemieux’s No. 66.
It’s happening! pic.twitter.com/vFvjfV7PMo
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 17, 2024
“When you look at the history of hockey, he’s somebody that you’re always going to think about,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said of Jagr. “The fact that he played here, and had the impact he did here, and what he was able to accomplish over his career is incredible and I think we feel pretty fortunate to be part of this.”
Jagr joined Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and the current team for the first time since a messy divorce in July 2001 when the Penguins, who were financially stressed at the time, traded the superstar forward to Washington.
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Jagr still plays professionally and is in his 36th season, now with his hometown club in Kladno, Czech Republic. He scored 766 goals and 1,921 points — No. 2 all-time behind Wayne Gretzky – with nine teams in 24 NHL seasons.
“He’s a legend on the ice,” Malkin said. “Growing up, I watched him play. I was excited to skate with him. It’s a great memory.”
Jagr received a warm welcome back to Pittsburgh on Saturday. He was all smiles and decked out in Penguins’ gear before practice. Jagr, a former team captain, sat to the left of Crosby in the locker room, his stall adorned with his name, the team logo and a yellow No. 68 name plate.
Our faces hurt from smiling so hard 😁…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39547218/penguins-share-laughs-praise-jaromir-jagr-joins-team
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Publish date : 2024-02-17 22:41:17
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