End of an era: Jaromir Jagr announces retirement from professional hockey

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Austin Kelly
September 19, 2024 (10:57)

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NHL legend Jaromir Jagr has after over 30 years as a professional hockey player given his solid word over his final end to his playing career.

The 52-year-old Jagr has announced via his agent that he will be retiring at the end of this upcoming season. Jagr is currently a member of the Kladno Knights of the Czech Extraliga.

Jagr made his season debut for Kladno yesterday, getting an assist in what is his 37th pro hockey season, a career that started all the way back in 1988.

Jagr was a first round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990, fifth overall, setting up the then-unknown Czech teenager on a team with Pens superstar center Mario Lemieux.

Jagr would win the Stanley Cup in his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, going on to quickly become of the NHL's best talents, even without Lemieux, who would later be sidelined due to injuries and later cancer, with Jagr stepping up. Jagr won the Art Ross in four straight seasons from 1998-2001, and won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's best player in 19999.

In 2001, with Pittsburgh in a financial struggle, Jagr was traded to the Washington Capitals, where he was a top player for the Capitals, but struggled to live up to expectations from his time in Pittsburgh. Jagr was traded to the New York Rangers in 2004, and post-lockout in 2005-06, Jagr found his old scoring touch with 123 points.

After 2008, Jagr would move to the KHL, playing three seasons in Russia with Avangard Omsk, before returning to the NHL with Philadelphia in 2011-12, and would play in the league until 2018 with Dallas, Boston, New Jersey, Florida & Calgary.

At 36, Jagr left the NHL, and has been with Kladno since 2018, continuing to be a contributor for his Czech home club. In 1733 NHL games, Jagr had 766 goals, 1155 assists & 1921 points, 2nd in PTS behind Wayne Gretzky all time.