Jaromir Jagr’s jersey number 68 will be retired and hoisted to the heights of Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on February 18, the Penguins announced Friday.
Jagr, a first-round draft pick by the Penguins in 1990, is one of the best players in NHL history. He played the first 11 seasons of his illustrious 24-season career in Pittsburgh, from 1990 to 2001. He was an important member of the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup victories, in addition to being the team’s captain between 1998 and 2001.
In 1733 NHL regular season games, the Czech scored 766 goals and 1155 assists for 1921 points. Only Wayne Gretzky has collected more points than him in the history of the circuit. Figures that speak volumes.
Jagr also has 135 career winning goals, 208 playoff games and 5 seasons of over 100 points. That’s 10 All-Star Game appearances and number of trophies. It’s also 15 seasons of more than 30 goals and 19 seasons of more than 20 goals, which places him third on the circuit in these two categories.
In his collection, the 51-year-old ex-hockey player also has an Olympic gold medal and a bronze medal, as well as two gold medals and two bronze medals in the World Championships.
Jagr is currently, and since 2011, the majority owner of Rytiri Kladno, a club in the Czech Extraliga.