It’s been a trademark year for Pittsburgh Penguins icon Jaromir Jagr. In 2024, Jagr saw his famous No. 68 retired by the Penguins organization, bobbleheads celebrating his legacy stolen and later recovered, and he was recently inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.
While Jagr has been making his rounds, there are still no signs of him retiring from professional hockey. At 52, with a number retired and a Hall of Fame induction under his belt, Jagr still suites up for the team he owns in his hometown of Kladno, Czechia.
A recent report from Rob Rossi of the Athletic indicated that the Penguins want to bring Jagr back to the organization in a working role. It's not clear what kind of job title, but the Penguins believe there is a perfect fit.
With a new job possibly on the horizon, it’s safe to wonder if Jagr is ready to take his career in a new direction.
“I’ll die on the ice,” Jagr said recently about his status as a player.
It appears Jagr has no plans to retire from playing hockey anytime soon. With that dedication, the Penguins are likely looking for an ambassador role that would keep him based in Europe.
Jagr wanted to officially retire from hockey before allowing the Penguins to retire his number. He took time away from his team for the ceremony. Hall of Fames usually wait several years after retirement before inducting players. The IIHF jumped at the opportunity to induct Jagr while the World Championship tournament was held in Czechia.
At 52, Jagr has already surpassed Gordie Howe as the oldest player in professional hockey history. He's accomplished all he needs to accomplish in the game, but he still has a fire to keep playing.
