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Jaromir Jágr, 52, scores first goal in 37th and likely last professional season

Jágr was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1990 NHL draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

sean leahy
Contributing writer
·3-min read
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - 2024/05/26: Jaromir Jagr seen during IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship 2024 final match between Sweden and Poland at O2 Arena Prague, Czech Republic Final score; Switzerland 0:2 Czechia. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Jaromir Jagr during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship 2024 final match between Sweden and Poland at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Jaromír Jágr scored the first goal of his 37th professional season Friday during HC Rytíři Kladno's 4-2 win over HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga.

The 52-year-old Jágr netted his first goal since last April's playoff relegation series. His backhand attempt was denied, but the future Hall of Famer put home the rebound for the third goal of the game for Rytíři Kladno.

After recording an assist in the season opener, Jágr is currently a point-per-game player.

Jágr is in his eighth season back with Rytíři Kladno, the team he owns and operates, after being waived by the Calgary Flames during the 2017-18 NHL season after 22 games. The No. 5 overall pick in the 1990 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins has been hampered by injuries since returning home and only played 18 games last season.

The downtime last season afforded Jágr the opportunity to have another moment with Penguins fans in Pittsburgh. During his recovery, he went back to the Steel City to take part in former teammate Mario Lemieux's adult fantasy camp and had his No. 68 retired by the franchise.

Canadian professional hockey player Mario Lemieux #66 (left) and Czech colleague Jaromir Jagr #68 of the Pittsburgh Penguins stand with the Stanley Cup, early 1990s. The Pens won the championship trophy in 1991 and 1992. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
Canadian professional hockey player Mario Lemieux No. 66 (left) and Czech colleague Jaromir Jagr No. 68 of the Pittsburgh Penguins stand with the Stanley Cup in the early 1990s. The Pens won the championship trophy in 1991 and 1992. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)

This week, Jágr confirmed to Rob Rossi of The Athletic that he is planning to retire following this season.

After the outpouring of love between Jágr and the city of Pittsburgh last season, team president of business operations Kevin Acklin, who was instrumental in organizing the retirement of Jágr's No. 68, is hoping that Jágr will be part of the organization in some capacity down the road.

“Clearly, this is a guy who has a love for this franchise and city that needs to be cultivated," Acklin told The Athletic. "I don’t know what that looks like. We have talked about the future.”

Jágr is second all time in NHL scoring with 1,921 points and fourth all time in goals scored with 766. He boasts two Stanley Cup titles, Olympic and World Championship gold medals, five NHL scoring titles and a bevy of other individual honors and records. He's a shoo-in for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame — but when will that happen?

Whenever Jágr finally does retire, he would be eligible for induction after three years — so 2028 if the 2024-25 season is indeed his last.

But given Jágr's accomplishments, would the Hockey Hall of Fame waive the three-year waiting period to induct him early? Nine players have received that honor, including Wayne Gretzky (1999) and Jágr's former Penguins teammate, Mario Lemieux (1997).

It would make sense if Jágr is the 10th to receive that honor.