It appears that, after 38 professional seasons, Jaromir Jagr’s hockey career may be at an end.
Jagr dressed in just six games with the Kladno Knights this season, posting one assist, with his last game coming on Dec. 21.
The 54-year-old future Hall of Famer told Adam Kimelman of NHL.com he is not officially retired, but can no longer see himself going through the grind of professional hockey.
“Not official. I didn’t say that. … It doesn’t make sense to me,” Jagr said. “To practice at my age, and get ready at my age, spending so much time in my life doing this for hockey, and my ice time is like maximum 12 minutes a game, and it’s the travelling and everything. At my age, it’s not worth it.
“When you calculate the time I have to get ready for the games, if I enjoy it during the game, mathematically, it doesn’t make sense to me. I still like it, but I don’t know how long I’m going to be active, be able to walk and enjoy my life. I’m 54 so on my side I’ve got maybe 15 more years. I want to spend it the way that I want to. I’m talking about active. You can be alive until you’re probably 80, if you’re lucky. But I’m talking about the active life.”
Jagr last played in the NHL at age 45 with the Calgary Flames during the 2017-18 season, posting one goal and seven points in 22 games. He then returned to Kladno, who he began his professional career with, helping the team rise from the Czech Republic second league and into the top-tier Czech Extraliga.
Jagr posted five goals and 16 points in 39 games last season for his highest game total since 2021-22 and second-highest since playing all 82 NHL games with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17.
Selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1990 draft, Jagr posted 766 goals and 1,921 points in 1,733 career NHL games. He won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in both 1991 and 1992.