One of the most prolific careers in NHL history looks to have come to an underwhelming end, as the Calgary Flames officially assigned Jaromir Jagr to HC Kladno of the Czech League, where he'll resume his professional career after clearing waivers.
Jagr ranks second to only Wayne Gretzky in career points (1,914) and third behind Gordie Howe and Mark Messier in games played (1,733). While he could still technically revive his NHL career at some point down the road, all signs point to this being the final act of a wildly eventful journey for No. 68 in the league.
The Flames were Jagr's ninth NHL team, and while it definitely wasn't his most memorable stop, his name still generated buzz everywhere he went, and inspired legions of fans to come out and watch. So, without further ado, let's look back at each of Jagr's tenures and rank them accordingly:
9. Dallas Stars (2012-13)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 14 | 12 |
Jagr's first stop in the Western Conference was individually productive, as he notched 26 points in 34 games in the lockout-shortened season. But the Stars weren't a particularly great team at that point, and the luster quickly fizzled as he was traded to the Boston Bruins for the stretch run and playoffs.
8. Calgary Flames (2017-18)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 1 | 6 |
Though even shorter than his time in Dallas, the excitement of Jagr landing a contract after an offseason of questions about whether he'd get one bumps his only stint in Canada ahead of his time in Texas. It certainly didn't end the way the hockey world had hoped, but it was fun while it lasted.
7. Boston Bruins (2012-13)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 2 | 7 |
As mentioned, the Stars weren't very good in 2012-13, but boy, the Bruins were. Jagr joined a Boston team ripe with depth and went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. In 22 postseason games, he recorded 10 assists but failed to score, which somewhat soured a playoff run that fell just barely - and excruciatingly - short of a championship.
6. New Jersey Devils (2013-15)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 139 | 35 | 61 |
While coping with the loss of Ilya Kovalchuk, the Devils signed Jagr to a one-year deal after his time in Boston. New Jersey didn't do much with Jagr in the fold, but at least he was there for an entire season. Plus, he scored his 700th carer goal and played in his 1,500th game while with the club.
5. Philadelphia Flyers (2011-12)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 19 | 35 |
After a three-year break in the KHL, Jagr provoked the imagination of all NHL fan bases by deciding to come back to North America. Pittsburgh fans dreamed he would don Penguins colors once more, but Jagr went full villain by signing a one-year contract with the archrival Flyers. Though it was ultimately a fruitless endeavor, the excitement of it all bumps this tenure ahead of his other brief stops.
4. Florida Panthers (2015-17)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 141 | 48 | 81 |
The Devils dealt Jagr to the Panthers in February 2015, where he found a comfortable home for the latter stages of his career. Jagr proved he could still be productive despite his age, leading Florida in scoring with 66 points at 44 years old. Most notably, he moved into second all time in points while suiting up in Sunrise.
3. Washington Capitals (2001-04)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 190 | 83 | 118 |
After an ugly split with the Penguins, Jagr was dealt to the Capitals and subsequently signed the most lucrative contract in NHL history at the time - a whopping seven-year, $77-million deal. Jagr's arrival didn't translate into any significant success for the Caps despite his gaudy numbers, which eventually prompted a trade out of the nation's capital.
2. New York Rangers (2004-08)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 277 | 124 | 195 |
Jagr landed in the Big Apple after Washington and remained one of the league's premier point producers. In 2005-06, he notched his third-highest season total with 123 points - the only time he reached triple digits after his time in Pittsburgh. His performance that year earned him the Lester. B Pearson award as the league's most valuable player as voted by the players' association.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (1990-2001)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 806 | 439 | 640 |
Obviously.
After being drafted fifth overall in 1990, Jagr teamed up with Mario Lemiuex in Pittsburgh to form arguably the most unstoppable tandem the league has ever seen. The Penguins won Stanley Cups in each of Jagr's first two seasons, launching him into superstardom. On top of his two rings, he also won the Art Ross five times, a Hart Trophy, two Lester B. Pearsons, and was named to nine All-Star Games as a Penguin.
(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)
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