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Three decades after helping the Pittsburgh Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups, Jaromir Jagr had his jersey retired on what the city has officially been declared Jaromir Jagr Day.
Jagr, the second all-time leading scorer in NHL history and a key member of the Penguins’ 1991 and 1992 championship teams, was in Pittsburgh to see his No. 68 jersey raised to the rafters prior to the Penguins’ Sunday game against the Los Angeles Kings.
He is the third Penguins player to see his jersey retired after Mario Lemieux and Michel Briere.
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68 has officially been lifted to the rafters in Pittsburgh.
Jagr forever 🔥
(via @PensOfAnarchy) pic.twitter.com/iRO9nkbsWs
The Penguins began the ceremony with a video honoring Jagr’s accomplishments in Pittsburgh.
Jagr finished his Penguins career with 1,079 points and 439 goals, fourth only to Lemieux and future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for the most in team history.
Pittsburgh Penguins @penguins
All the goosebumps. All the glory. Forever in awe of @68Jagr. pic.twitter.com/N5qZf1NNrn
Lemieux was present for the 40-minute ceremony, during which Jagr told fans the 11 years he played in Pittsburgh were “probably the best years of my life.”
“Today, all the highlights, videos, goals, even the hair, great memories,” Jagr said.
Pittsburgh Penguins @penguins
Jagr: “To be here with you, hearing the cheers – I don’t even have to score, that’s beautiful. That never gets old. I’m honored.”@68Jagr speaks to his fans ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FqJQmJx7RC
After participating in Penguins practice Saturday, Jagr joined the current team for warmups before Sunday’s contest against the Kings.
The rest of the team celebrated the temporary addition to the roster with wigs honoring Jagr’s iconic mullet.
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The Pens take the ice in Jaromir Jagr’s No. 68 sweater and mullet wigs and … WAIT A MINUTE THAT’S THE REAL JAGR 🍿 pic.twitter.com/F2eZwaNvxp
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Crosby. Jagr. Malkin.
Imagine these 3 on the same line? 🤤 pic.twitter.com/6dEsXF78VN
After joining the rest of the Penguins for a team photo, Jagr left the ice after a solo lap and a salute that earned him a standing ovation from the crowd at PPG Paints Arena.
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A final salute for Jaromir Jagr in Pittsburgh.
What a fitting ending to his jersey retirement night 🫡 pic.twitter.com/3xgLQdTaF3
Jagr spent 24 years in the NHL, a span over which he played for the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames.
But four of his five career 100-point campaigns, and both of his Stanley Cups, came in Pittsburgh.
“You ask anybody in the world, Czech, Europe, and you say ‘Jaromir Jagr.’ They’re going to say Pittsburgh Penguins,” Jagr told the crowd at PPG Paints Arena.
Jagr, 52, is still an active hockey player in the Czech Republic, where he plays for the hometown team he owns, the Kladno Knights.
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