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Jaromir Jagr practiced with the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of his jersey retirement ceremony and looked pretty dang good out there

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Jaromir Jagr takes the ice with the Penguins
Screenshot: @NHLEurope/Instagram

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In front of a huge crowd at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, 52-year-old hockey legend Jaromir Jagr returned to the ice with the team that originally drafted him on Saturday.

The skate comes as Jagr will have his number 68 retired by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, February 18 ahead of their game against the Los Angeles Kings.

“I don’t want to sound the wrong way, but it was never things I was kind of looking for,” Jagr said of his upcoming jersey retirement to NHL.com. “I don’t know how to put it right, but it’s not a trophy. There’s the Stanley Cups, but nothing individual. I just loved the game, and I was blessed I could make a living and play that game. I never thought of anything else. Just to play that game, just the time I could be on the ice, that’s what gave me everything I needed. I never looked for anything else or anything more. That game gave me what I needed.”

Jagr still very much looked the part despite his NHL career being over (we think).

The moment he first took the ice was full of anticipation.

Jagr participated in drills and even snapped a shot top cheese past Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.

“There’s that thought, that’s Jaromir Jagr coming down (the ice at me),” Nedeljkovic said admitting he was nervous. “Obviously, he’s an incredible hockey player. It was a lot of fun. It was cool to be a part of.”

The big Czech also showed that his mitts are still very silky as he did small ice stick-handling drills before taking shots on net.

Jagr last suited up for the Penguins during the 2000-01 season as the team’s captain, posting 121 points (52g, 69a) in 81 games. He won the Art Ross Trophy for leading the NHL in points.

Back then, Jagr was a fashion icon, rocking the most aggressive of mullets — a fact not lost on his Penguins teammates for the day.

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic both rocked fake mullets on the ice during practice, which I can imagine was very sweaty.

Jagr also made sure to spend a lot of time with fellow future Hockey Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby.

Crosby, 36, is on pace to score 48 goals this season, which would be his most in a single season since he scored 51 in 2009-10. Depending on how long he plays and how much he can stymie his age regression, Crosby (1,556 points) could challenge Jagr’s 1,921 career points.

“Just fun,” Crosby said of experience. “It’s a pretty special thing for all of us to be part of this weekend and have an opportunity like this today. I think we’re still trying to enjoy it and make it the best experience for him too. It’s well deserved and he’s done so much for the team, the city, and the organization.”

Crosby added, “You know, being a kid and just watching him, just how strong he was on the puck. He was so good at protecting it. Just walking guys, you know. He made guys look pretty silly. He was so talented and strong. Then I got to experience that playing against him. It was tough. Felt like he scored against us every single game. He probably got up for our games a little bit more than other ones, too.”

According to the Penguins’ Michelle Crechiolo, Jagr practiced with the team for around 45 minutes before retreating to the locker room. Jagr’s locker for the day was placed right beside Crosby’s.

“I’ve never coached a 52-year-old,” Penguins’ 56-year-old head coach Mike Sullivan said according to NHL.com’s Wes Crosby. “I’m not that much older.”

When asked after practice if he wanted to play into his 50s like Jagr, Evgeni Malkin responded, “Please, no.”

During his time in Pittsburgh, Jagr scored 439 goals and tallied 1079 points in just 806 games, winning two Stanley Cups. His career there ended when he was traded to one of the team’s biggest rivals, the Washington Capitals, in 2001 for three prospects due to financial reasons.

Jagr, who has not yet retired from professional hockey, last played in the NHL in 2018 but still plays for the team he owns in the Czech Extraliga, the Kladno Knights. So far this season, Jagr’s played 15 times and registered four assists. The season before he scored five goals and tallied 14 points in 26 games.

“Ready for @penguins,” Jagr said on social media.

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