Pittsburgh Penguins Should Retire Jaromir Jagr’s #68
Longtime Pittsburgh Penguins star Jaromir Jagr seemingly retired from the NHL earlier this week.
The Calgary Flames waived Jagr earlier this week, and instead of reporting to the AHL, he opted to return to his native Czech Republic. The 46 year old will join HC Kladno, a team which he owns. Yeah, he owns a professional hockey team. Owning a pro hockey team while playing pro hockey: epitome of the legend that is Jaromir Jagr.
It is a bit sad, the way he went out. You envision a standing ovation and packed house, maybe some indoor fireworks. Then Jagr goes out and scores the game winner in OT, gets hoisted on top of his teammate’s shoulders, the arena belting his name, his salt and pepper mullet gleaming from the sweat and champagne (oh yeah, there is champagne too).
But that’s not what happened. Jagr hadn’t played in a month. A leg injury and his age were hampering his game. The Flames are still fighting for a playoff spot in the west, and Jagr was not going to factor into their equation going forward.
But let’s not think about that. Let’s focus on the happy times. The 6’3″ forward was a polarizing figure on the ice. He burst onto the scene in 1990 and never looked back. His on ice production combined with his confident and playful personality made him a fan favorite of not just the team for which he played, but the hockey universe as a whole.
The unheralded way his NHL career came to end won’t affect his legacy.
Stat Line
Let’s examine Jagr’s incredible career numbers.
Games played – 1,733 (3rd all time)
Goals – 766 (3rd all time)
Assists – 1,155 (5th all time)
Points – 1,921 (2nd all time)
Game Winning Goals – 133 (1st all time)
While he put up the numbers, he could also deke with the best of them:
Jagr was a generational talent, and his legacy spanned across the NHL. He donned nine different sweaters in 24 seasons. He’s a shoo in for the Hall of Fame no doubt, and his iconic 68 should hang from the rafters.
Seeing as he played for almost a third of the league, there are options, but it’s obvious his Pittsburgh Penguins jersey should be the one that’s honored.
Why Pittsburgh?
The Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Jagr with the 5th overall pick in 1990. He would go on to play his first 11 seasons with the team. He is also probably the only current NHL player my grandmother could name. WTAE wrote a post detailing his accomplishments in a Pens jersey. They include:
"2 Stanley Cups5 Art Ross Trophies, awarded to the regular-season point leader2 Ted Lindsay Awards, given to the regular season’s most outstanding player1 Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the regular-season MVP"
The numbers, the skill, the awards, the hair. All are reasons for why he should have jersey retired. But for a guy that played for nine teams, he should have options right? Wrong!
First off, he played for Pittsburgh, the team that drafted him, longer than any other team on hsi resume. 11 seasons is nothing to sneeze at. His 1,079 points puts him 3rd all time in Pittsburgh Penguins history.
Secondly, he won his two Stanley Cups in black and gold. Winning a Stanley Cup is cements your legacy with a certain team. That’s why Ray Bourque’s #77 (oddly) hangs from the rafters in Colorado. That’s why, as Pens fans, we remember guys like Max Talbot and Rob Scuderi. If you’re instrumental in bringing your team a Stanley Cup, it instantly boosts your clout with that team.
Third, that number has to be retired somewhere. The fact that there is an argument that his number shouldn’t be put to eternal rest is mind boggling.
He put some good years in at Washington and New York, but he never won a cup, and ended up abruptly ditching the Rangers to play in Russia. That doesn’t exactly make you a fan favorite.
https://twitter.com/NHLonNBCSports/status/958029303337365504
When he parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it might have not been under the best circumstances. But that doesn’t tarnish his legacy. His best days were in Pittsburgh. He won 2 cups in Pittsburgh. He played the longest in Pittsburgh. His jersey should be retired in Pittsburgh.