Being 36 years old in the NHL for an average player generally means retirement is on the horizon. Don’t tell that to Jaromir Jagr, who confirmed today he’ll be playing his 36th straight season of pro hockey, suiting up with his hometown team, Rytiri Kladno, in the Czech Extraliga. Jagr, the team’s majority owner, doesn’t ride the bench at age 51, either. His 14 points in 26 games last season still placed him top ten on the team in scoring as Kladno narrowly managed to avoid relegation to the 1. liga for the second straight season. This season, he’ll be once again joined by team captain Tomas Plekanec, as the longtime Montreal Canadiens pivot is still active overseas at age 40. Longtime NHLer Michael Frolik is also suiting up for Kladno in 2023-24 after playing last season in the Extraliga with Bili Tygri Liberec. Jagr has played for Kladno ever since his NHL career ended in 2018 with the Calgary Flames.
Other notes from around hockey on this Saturday night:
- Groundbreaking British prospect Liam Kirk spoke to PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan recently after mutually terminating his entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes. Last season was a roller coaster ride for Kirk, who was healthy after a knee injury sidelined him for most of 2021-22. Loaned to ECHL Atlanta and then overseas to Jukurit in Finland, Kirk says he “didn’t really hear from the Coyotes” throughout the campaign and was even more confused after AHL Tucson was still active after his season in Finland ended without recalling him. Kirk, the first player born and developed in England to be drafted by an NHL team, has a one-year deal with HC Litvinov in Czechia next season, where he’s expected to play a top-six role. The 23-year-old remains in pursuit of another NHL opportunity down the line.
- Pittsburgh Penguins 2019 first-round pick Samuel Poulin is back on the ice with the team during rookie camp after taking a four-month leave of absence to deal with his mental health last season, telling NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale he “feel[s] great” and is looking forward to competing for a roster spot. It’s been a tough transition to pro hockey for Poulin, who put up strong numbers in the QMJHL but had just four goals and no assists in 15 games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound Laval product can play all three forward positions.
Jager is an embarrassment!!!!!
Jaromir Jagr is amazing (second leading scorer in NHL history, two time Cup champ, 5 time scoring champ, still playing after 50) but you are right…that Jager guy is a total loser.
Sorry…a total loser!!!!!
Today he’s a novelty act!
Sometimes I wish we still had the downvote option
No reason beyond his pedigree to think he can, but it would be huge for the Pens if Poulin could hold down a third line role.
Maybe Liam would’ve been treated a little better if he had told ARI management that his “brother”, Capt. James T. Kirk, has phasers and photon torpedoes and knows how to use them. He might as well be playing on the Klingon National Team now.
Can we ban Wilf?
Clearly it is a troll account and affects the credibility of this small website.
I would hate for future and current users to jettison their time from here because of a user that adds negative value.
Please consider as I, too, am on the fence for being an active member as “jokes” such as Wilf run rampant in this community
@pawtucket – You could just mute him, if you want. You’re right about the possibility of current and future members maybe spending less time here, but that can/has happened due to politically-incited flame wars. It least it doesn’t bother me as much as those spam maggots did. That could’ve spelled the end of PHR, but thankfully, was dealt with before that eventuality.
Jager is a novelty act these days.
^ imagine being empowered by bothering people on a hockey forum website….
@pawtucket
You guys don’t get it. He’s trolling you, by saying outrageous things, to provoke a reaction. And you fell for it. He doesn’t even need to use a rod and reel to catch you fish, you’re jumping in the boat.
(nods) I muted Wilf quite a few months ago now — along with a couple other cementheads — and have more peace thereby.
@pawtucket imagine crying like a girl on a hockey forum because you dont like someone’s comments
@nhatrang you’re my hero. Remarkable stuff by you. (applause)
Jager is delicious. Jagr I am unfamiliar with, but the hockey player was great.
Huh. Sat right behind Jaromir in the stands once — it was a game in the Hartford Civic Center his rookie year, the Penguins were due to play the Whalers the following night, and he slid in with a couple other obvious players (none of whom I recognized). He had SUCH a baby face, and if someone told me that night that he’d still be playing top-flight professional hockey over thirty years later I’d have laughed myself hoarse. NO one had ever had a career that long — not Howe, not Guyle Fielder, not Andy Hebenton, NO one.
The other odd footnote is that Desert Storm started that night …