Pittsburgh Penguins Retire Jaromir Jagr’s No. 68: A Weekend of Celebration for Hockey Legend
The weekend was filled with excitement, culminating in a remarkable ceremony to honor one of hockey’s all-time greats.
On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins officially retired the jersey of Jaromir Jagr, immortalizing his No. 68 in the rafters. This distinguished him as only the third player in franchise history to receive such an honor, joining the ranks of Michel Briere and the legendary Mario Lemieux.
Prior to the Pens’ matchup against the Los Angeles Kings, a heartfelt ceremony was held, paying tribute to Jagr’s illustrious career. The team unveiled multiple video tributes celebrating the 52-year-old’s remarkable achievements, even reminiscing about his iconic mullet and distinctive style from the 90s.
Built for Pittsburgh 💪@68Jagr's journey to Pittsburgh is a story of perseverance.
Learning a new language and moving around the world wasn't always easy, but playing a sport you love? That's universal. pic.twitter.com/RVa8PWhX7v
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 18, 2024
Adding to the festivities, Jagr took to the ice with the Penguins at their practice facility on Saturday, further igniting nostalgia among fans.
The man, the myth, the legend: @68Jagr. pic.twitter.com/cXSSCswD7E
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 18, 2024
Although currently active in the Czech Extraliga with RytÃÅ™i Kladno, a team he co-owns, Jagr remains one of the NHL’s greatest players of all time. Following his final game with the Calgary Flames in the 2017-18 season, Jagr ranks second in all-time points (1,921), behind only Wayne Gretzky. His 766 goals place him third all-time, while he sits fifth in assists with 1,155.
Kris Letang telling Jaromir Jagr that Jags was his childhood idol is amazing 🥹💛
(via @penguins) pic.twitter.com/FYuSuJEWCQ
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 17, 2024
While Jagr’s prime years were predominantly spent in Pittsburgh, he later embarked on a journeyman career, representing several teams including the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, and Florida Panthers, before his stint in Calgary.
A five-time recipient of the Art Ross Trophy and the league MVP in 1999, Jagr’s legacy extends far beyond his remarkable statistics. In Penguins’ history, he ranks fourth in points (1,079), trailing only Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin.
Although Jagr’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame awaits his retirement, he will be honored with enshrinement into the IIHF Hall of Fame this May during the World Championships in his native Czech Republic.
