Jaromir Jagr is still playing professional hockey in the Czech Republic as he approaches his 50th birthday, but it doesn't seem to be entirely for leisure anymore.

"I have a responsibility to the club, otherwise I wouldn’t fly here, and I wouldn’t be making a fool of myself. But if I quit, the partners and sponsors would leave, and the club may be done," Jagr said, according to The Hockey News' Pavel Barta.

"I have no choice. People don’t understand it, but I don’t care. Only God will judge me. I expect much more from myself, and I also believe that I have it in me."

Jagr is the majority owner of his hometown team, Kladno, which he took over from his father in 2011. He's played for the club since leaving the NHL in 2018.

Kladno was relegated from the top Czech league following the 2019-20 campaign and played in the second-tier Chance Liga this past season. Jagr helped guide the team to a championship with 12 points in 19 games, elevating the club back up to the Czech Liga for the upcoming campaign.

With the promotion, Jagr admits he feels it's his responsibility to the fans and the club to keep playing to ensure that its popularity doesn't dwindle, even though his play is declining.

"At the same time, people still expect it from me, and that’s probably the worst feeling - when people think I can, but I know I can’t," Jagr said. "Plus, I can’t even tell them. I just know that I will do my best to help the club. I don’t know if anyone can understand my role. I don’t even want to be in such a position, but I have no choice. As long as my father breathes, I take the club as my responsibility. He held it for 20 years. As a son, I would be embarrassed if I left."

Jagr will turn 50 on Feb. 15, 2022. The right-winger started his professional hockey career with Kladno in 1988 and has been playing ever since. Jagr's appeared in 1,733 career NHL games, totaling 766 goals and 1,921 points.

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The Florida Panthers re-signed forward Sam Reinhart to a three-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.

Reinhart's deal carries an average annual value of $6.5 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Panthers acquired the 25-year-old on July 24 from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for goaltender Devon Levi and a 2022 first-round pick. Reinhart was a restricted free agent and had filed for arbitration.

"Sam is a gifted and versatile talent that will play a key role for our team in the coming seasons," general manager Bill Zito said. "One of several players to commit to our organization with a multi-year contract this offseason, we are excited to see how these players come together and continue to build a foundation for success in South Florida."

Reinhart played 54 games with the Sabres last season, leading the team with 25 goals and 40 points. He joins Sam Bennett, Anthony Duclair, Carter Verhaeghe, Gustav Forsling, and Brandon Montour in signing multi-year contracts with the Panthers this offseason.

Buffalo drafted Reinhart second overall in 2014. He's amassed 134 goals and 161 assists in 454 career games and has notched at least 20 goals in five of his six seasons.

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Pat Maroon believes the Tampa Bay Lightning can win a third straight Stanley Cup next season.

"I truly think we can run it back again," Maroon said, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith. "It depends on our health, how guys are feeling, our attitude. But we've been texting together as a group and thinking, we've brought our top two lines back, our big four on D, the best goalie in the world."

The Lightning could become the first team to win three consecutive championships since the New York Islanders won four from 1980-83.

Tampa Bay lost a number of key contributors this offseason, including Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Barclay Goodrow, and Blake Coleman. The club also added a number of veterans, such as Corey Perry, Zach Bogosian, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.

Despite the significant roster turnover, Maroon is happy the majority of the team's key contributors are returning.

"Brayden Point, Kuch (Nikita Kucherov), and (Ondrej Palat) are coming back," Maroon said. "There's no doubt in my mind we can run it back. Guys want to do it again. That's why we play."

Maroon has lifted the Stanley Cup in three straight seasons, having won with the St. Louis Blues before he joined the Lightning in 2019. He notched four goals and 14 assists in 55 games with Tampa Bay last season and added four points in the playoffs.

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Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall has full confidence in his goalies entering next season and, specifically, expects starter Tristan Jarry to rebound.

"When you're a goaltender, and I've lived it, there's disappointments that you have to get over and you have to bounce back from," Hextall said Thursday, according to NHL.com's Wes Crosby. "I feel strongly that (Jarry is) going to bounce back and be a very good goaltender for us throughout the entire year."

Jarry, 26, managed a .909 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average in 39 games last season, his first campaign as the full-time starter following Matt Murray's departure. Jarry struggled mightily during the postseason, posting an .888 save percentage and league-worst minus-5.72 goals saved above average in six games.

In 107 career contests, Jarry owns a .911 save percentage and 2.70 goals-against average.

The Penguins fired goalie coach Mike Buckley on Wednesday and appointed development coach Andy Chiodo to the position. Hextall believes Chiodo will be able to help Jarry and teammate Casey DeSmith make significant strides in all aspects of the game.

"Andy's job now is, predominantly, the two guys on the big team," Hextall said. "So, hopefully, we can make some little tweaks. The mental side of the game for a goaltender is a huge part of it. Andy is well aware of that."

DeSmith, who was unavailable during the playoffs due to injury, put up a .912 save percentage and 2.54 goals-against average in 20 games. He's expected to be ready for the start of the 2021-22 campaign after undergoing core muscle surgery early in the offseason.

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The San Jose Sharks have re-signed goaltender Adin Hill to a two-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

San Jose acquired Hill from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for netminder Josef Korenar and a swap of 2022 draft picks. Hill was a restricted free agent and filed for arbitration.

Hill, 26, had a .913 save percentage and a 2.74 goals-against average in 19 games last season. He's split time between the AHL and NHL over the past three campaigns but has appeared in 49 career games with the Coyotes, earning a .909 save percentage.

The Sharks bought out longtime starter Martin Jones in July and signed James Reimer to a two-year deal at the opening of free agency. Reimer and Hill are expected to share the crease for San Jose this coming season.

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The Ottawa Senators re-signed defenseman Victor Mete to a one-year contract worth $1.2 million, the team announced Wednesday.

Mete was among 17 players to file for arbitration last week, which is no longer necessary with the two sides reaching a deal.

The Senators claimed the 23-year-old off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens last season. He skated in 14 games with Ottawa, scoring one goal and adding one assist. Mete also notched three helpers in 14 contests with the Canadiens prior to joining the Senators.

"Victor was a really solid addition to our defense corps over the last month of the season last year," general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's mobile, poised, and defensively aware. We're looking forward to seeing his progression in our lineup in 2021-22."

Mete has scored five goals and 31 assists across 199 career NHL games.

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The St. Louis Blues re-signed forward Zach Sanford to a one-year contract worth $2 million, the team announced Wednesday.

Sanford, who was a restricted free agent and avoided arbitration by striking the deal, will be an unrestricted free agent when it expires.

The 26-year-old recorded 10 goals and six assists in 52 games last season. Over the past three campaigns with the Blues, Sanford's totaled 36 goals and 35 assists in 183 games.

St. Louis has now signed all of its restricted free agents except for forward Robert Thomas.

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The Edmonton Oilers signed restricted free agent forward Warren Foegele to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $2.75 million, the team announced Saturday.

The Oilers acquired Foegele from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Ethan Bear earlier this week.

The 25-year-old scored 10 goals and added 10 assists over 53 games with the Hurricanes last season. He's appeared in 200 career contests while managing 35 goals and 33 assists.

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The Detroit Red Wings re-signed forward Tyler Bertuzzi to a two-year contract, the team announced Saturday.

The deal is expected to carry an average annual value of $4.75 million, according to The Athletic's Max Bultman.

Bertuzzi has been one of Detroit's most productive forwards over the last few seasons. He was limited to nine games this past year due to injury, but the 26-year-old posted 48 points during the 2019-20 campaign and 47 the previous season.

The Red Wings selected Bertuzzi with the 58th pick in 2013. He's appeared in 208 career games while scoring 54 goals and adding 72 assists.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Nick Ritchie to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.5 million, the team announced Saturday.

Ritchie spent last season with the Boston Bruins after the club acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks at the 2020 trade deadline. The 25-year-old scored 15 goals and added 11 assists in 56 games this year.

Both Ritchie and recent Leafs addition winger Ondrej Kase became unrestricted free agents after the Bruins failed to extend qualifying offers to either player earlier this week.

The Ducks selected Ritchie with the 10th overall pick in 2014. He's skated in 350 career games, amassing 59 goals and 78 assists.

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