Timeless Jágr Signs with Calgary
Jaromír Jágr's unretirement continues.
When the dude who can rightfully be called an institution on skates inked his one-year, $1million deal with the Flames, he joked that the sight of snow almost sent him scurrying back to his home in the Czech Republic.
There's snow right now in the Czech Republic.
They say that, quite often, the mind is the first thing to go. But at 45?
Maybe he's just getting a head start.
This hockey mad city is going bonkers at the news, and rightfully so. Jágr's a living legend, and this is the first time he's played for a Canadian team.
- Immediately, Jersey No 68 -- he wears it in honor of the Prague Spring -- has become Calgary's best-seller;
- The Traveling Jágrs have reunited;
- This:
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The Flames will be Jágr's ninth NHL team in what will become his 24-year career.
He'll start the season -- whenever he gets in NHL shape -- 56 games away from Gordie Howe's all-time record for games played.
Jágr could well find himself on the first line when he does hit the ice, joining forces with Johnny Hockey, among other things.
No joke.
Gaudreau's got more than enough wheels. Jágr's transformed to an inside game and has the strength to do it, but his hockey sense will still make up for the step he's lost, to his speedy linemate's benefit.
Dude was drafted by the Penguins in 1990, the same year as NHL Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk, whose impressive 19-year career incredibly pales in comparison. More incredibly, his son Matthew will now be Jágr's teammate.
Jágr said this was "99.9%" his last season, but he's also said that before.
Keep in mind, he wasn't exactly dead weight in Florida last season: 82 GP, 16 G, 30 A.
Dude can't get on the ice too soon for his new club.
Calgary could've used him against Edmonton on opening night:
Jágr will clearly make a difference in the locker room, as the young Flames gather around the campfire to hear the OG tell of mystical tips heretofore only known in the days of Old Time Hockey and legendary mullets.
Odds are, the more they lap up, the better they'll be.