Despite being nearly 49-years-old, Jaromir Jagr is still a future Hall of Famer due to the fact that he is still playing.
The legendary Jagr returned to the ice Wednesday for Kladno, the club he owns in the Czech Republic, to start his 33rd season as a pro. In his return, he was able to add an assist in a 7-5 win over HC Dukla Jihlava. His first professional season, back in 1988-89, happened to be with the same Kladno team he plays with now.
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Jagr was last seen in the NHL during the 2017-18 season, where he appeared in a brief 22 game stint with the Calgary Flames before the two sides agreed to terminate his contract. It was clear then that he was slowing down with age, and recently admitted that while this season won't be his last, he isn't sure how much hockey he has left in him.
«This year is very different from others,» Jagr said in November, according to NHL.com. «We don't know what is waiting for us tomorrow and it takes a lot of energy. This year I wasn't practicing as hard as in previous years but I still want to play this season. I think it might happen in the playoffs. I want to be a player who helps his team win. I'm not this player now but I want to help [Kladno] to return to the top division.
«I can't say how long I want to keep playing. This game is getting more difficult. I think I kind of lost the drive when I wanted to prove that I'm still capable of getting better. I feel a lack of motivation to keep playing, though this year is definitely not the last in my career.»
It has been a brilliant career for Jagr, and one that won't end just yet. He had many tremendous NHL seasons throughout his long career, including five Art Ross' and a Hart Trophy. He sits third on the NHL's all-time goal list with 766, and second on the all-time points list with 1,921.
Interesting note, Klado's 7-5 come from behind win was helped along by a three point performance from former Montreal Canadien - and brief Toronto Maple Leaf - Tomas Plekanec.
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