The 45-year-old Czech forward returned to his hometown team, the Kladno Knights, Saturday evening and didn't disappoint, netting three assists after receiving a hero's welcome from the capacity crowd.
Given Jagr's popularity in the Czech Republic and the anticipation surrounding his return, the game was relocated almost 70 kilometers away to accommodate a larger crowd, according to Sportsnet's Mike Johnston.
His most recent NHL stint came to an end Monday after he cleared waivers and was assigned to Kladno from the Calgary Flames.
Holl scored in both of his first two NHL games after being summoned by the Leafs on an emergency recall, etching himself in the history books in the process.
Petr Mrazek has been arguably the league's best goaltender over the last two weeks. Strangely, that's not ideal for the Detroit Red Wings.
Detroit's reportedly already made it known that the club will be a seller ahead of the Feb. 26 trade deadline. For the first time in years, the Red Wings look to be in the process of stockpiling young assets and draft picks, and should be in line to select a top-level prospect in June.
There is just one problem with this plan: Mrazek is playing some fantastic hockey.
Since Jan. 14, Mrazek has gone 4-0-1 with a 1.02 goals-against average, a .967 save percentage, and two shutouts. If he keeps this up, he could realistically play the club out of a potential top-10 pick in this year's draft.
That's why the Red Wings should take a cue from Tim Murray and the 2014-15 Buffalo Sabres - who endured a similar situation - and work the phones to deal Mrazek.
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Some might recall that the 2015 draft was headlined by a guy named Connor McDavid. Teams were salivating at the possibility of selecting the league's next generational talent, and none more so than the Sabres.
That season, Buffalo got off to another horrid start after finishing the previous season with the NHL's worst record, falling 18 points behind the league-leading Montreal Canadiens by Dec. 1. It started to become evident that the Sabres had a far greater chance to finish with the best lottery odds than to secure a playoff spot.
A couple of months later, with the club last in the standings, two things started to jeopardize that status: Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
From Jan. 29 to Feb. 10, Enroth put together a stretch of 2-3-0 - which isn't great - while rocking a .931 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average. That was too good for a team trying to tank. So, on Feb. 11, the Sabres dealt Enroth to the Dallas Stars.
With Enroth out of the picture, the net belonged to Neuvirth, but the problem recurred. Neuvirth went 3-2-2 from Feb. 15 to Feb. 28, constructing a record of 3-2-2 with a .941 save percentage and a 2.20 goals-against average.
That earned Neuvirth a ticket to Long Island - Buffalo dealt him to the New York Islanders on Mar. 2. Ultimately, the Sabres did secure the best lottery odds, but we all know how that turned out.
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Ken Holland and Co. should consider this sell-off strategy with Mrazek.
The Red Wings currently sit 24th in the standings, giving them a 5.8 percent chance of winning the draft lottery and the right to pick Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
However, he's not the only quality prospect expected to go within the first 10 selections. Players including Andrei Svechnikov, Adam Boqvist, Filip Zadina, Quinn Hughes, and Brady Tkachuk have all piqued the interest of scouts and should intrigue general managers as well.
That's why things are looking dicey for the Red Wings. The club is just six points back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and currently has the eighth-best chance of winning the draft lottery. It's not out of the realm of possibility that an extended hot streak could vault Detroit up the standings and entirely out of contention for a top-10 pick.
Of course, finishing in the basement doesn't guarantee anything. Last season, the New Jersey Devils won the right to select Nico Hischier first overall after finishing with the fourth-worst record; the Flyers jumped up to second after finishing with 40 more points than the last-placed Colorado Avalanche; and the Dallas Stars rounded out the top three after finishing 24th overall. Meanwhile, those 2015 Sabres had to settle for Jack Eichel instead of McDavid.
But if the Red Wings want to give themselves the best possible chance at nabbing a top-10 selection, dealing Mrazek should be their first move.
Drouin left the ice following the play and was reportedly en route to the hospital as a precaution, with the Canadiens later announcing he would not return to the game after being limited to just 6:08 of ice time.
The Canadiens forward has scored 26 points in 46 games this season.
Oshie was fined $5,000 Saturday after his cross checks on Letang went too far in Friday's meetup between the Penguins and Washington Capitals.
The Capitals winger voiced his frustration with the leadership of the NHL Department of Player Safety, headed by former enforcer George Parros.
"George is old school, and fought, which I think is respectable, so I figured that was the reason there would be no suspension or fine," Oshie told Tarik El-Bashir of NBC Sports Washington. "Last night, Letang got two free shots at my face. One sucker punch, then I dropped the gloves. Apparently, he didn't want to. Then he got another one in once the ref came in.
"Hopefully we figure out a way to get some consistency. It seems like it really depends on who the hitter is, how many games they've played, and who they play for."
Oshie was initially assessed a minor penalty on the play, while Letang was whistled for roughing after he retaliated.
According to the winger, the in-game penalty was enough justice for the infraction.
"I agree it's a penalty, but I don't look down and target," Oshie said. "First of all, I don't hit his head. I don't know what replay or secret angle (the NHL) had."
Oshie was particularly annoyed to receive a fine - the first time he has faced supplemental discipline in his 10-year career - as he was on the receiving end of a questionable call earlier this season that did not get any further attention.
"It's hard to figure out what you're doing to get fined and suspended for, and what you're not," Oshie continued. "I got a concussion a little over a month ago after I got hit. I don't know what the norm is ... I got a concussion on the play and I was out."
He was sidelined for six games as a result of that play.
The Boston Bruins rookie blue-liner will return to the lineup Saturday versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, less than two weeks after undergoing a procedure to correct an abnormal heart rhythm.
The Bruins posted a 3-1-0 record in McAvoy's absence and currently sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 68 points. The Maple Leafs trail the Bruins by three points, despite having played four more games.
McAvoy has been one of the NHL's top freshmen this season, as he's tallied 25 points in 45 games. He ranks third in scoring among rookie blue-liners and sits four points behind teammate Torey Krug for second among Boston defensemen.
Rielly has missed the Maple Leafs' last six games with an upper-body injury, while Hainsey returns after a two-game absence with an illness.
The two will join a club that is currently playing some of its best hockey of the season. The Maple Leafs have won four straight and are coming off back-to-back shutouts on consecutive nights with 5-0 and 4-0 victories over the New York Islanders and New York Rangers.
Though Rask has become good friends with Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski over the years, the Finnish netminder admits he'll be watching the game just like every other fan on Sunday.
"It's fun," Rask said, according to NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "We're just hoping that he makes the kick, like all over New England, everybody else. You're just a fan. But obviously you're just hoping for the best and trusting him that he's going to be the clutch player like he usually is."
As for Krug, growing up in Michigan he's always been a fan of the Detroit Lions, but with few reasons to celebrate in recent years, he's become more of a Patriots fan during his time with Boston.
"The Lions have never won a playoff game since I remember watching, so it's been a long time coming," Krug said. "But it's been refreshing being here and becoming a Patriots fan too because the way that they accomplish things and the way they go about their everyday business is pretty fun to watch."
As far as predictions for Sunday's game go, Krug thinks people shouldn't sleep on the Philadelphia Eagles, but that you can never count out the Patriots - as recent history has shown.
"I just think their strength is their character," Krug said. "They're down but never out. So many comebacks that are indicative of that. I just think that's their biggest strength. Obviously you have (quarterback) Tom Brady leading the way, it's easy to listen to what he says and fall in line and let him be your leader, for sure."
