Jaromir Jagr stated last September that the 2024-25 season would be his last in professional hockey, but it sounds like those plans may have changed.
Jagr spoke about the future of his playing career in a guest spot on TNT’s pregame coverage of Game 4 of this year’s Stanley Cup Finals between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. The 53-year-old legendary winger just completed his 37th year of pro hockey, playing 39 games for the Kladno Knights in the Czech Extraliga.
After recording 16 points (5g, 11a) in those games, the two-time Stanley Cup champion says he still has the desire to lace his skates up for another year.
“I said it might be my last year, but I’m not sure about it,” Jagr said. “I still love the game. I love to practice. I don’t want to get fat. I lost some weight right now, like 20 pounds, so I feel a little bit better, and I love to practice. I just do it just to be healthy, and I just enjoy the existence.
Jagr stated last September that the 2024-25 season would be his last, but it sounds like those plans may have changed. He then played his most games and recorded his most points in a Czech Extraliga season since the 2021-22 campaign.
“I sold the team I play for,” Jagr added. “I keep only 20 percent, so there’s no pressure. I just want to do what I love to do.”
Jagr was previously the 100 percent majority owner of the Knights, but sold 80 percent of his shares to businessman Tomas Drastil last January.
Jagr has played for Kladno since being released by the Calgary Flames midway through the 2017-18 NHL season. The Knights are his hometown team and were his first professional team as a teenager.
The NHL’s all-time, second-highest point scorer didn’t escape his past year with Kladno unscathed, losing four teeth to a high stick during a December game against Mountfield HK. Jagr remained in the game, earned an assist in the 4-2 win, and found a way to joke about his new smile postgame.
“God will always find a way to keep me from getting fat,” Jagr joked in his native Czech per a Google translation.
In February, Jagr had his number 68 retired by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jagr will not be eligible to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame until he has been retired for three years.
