Jagr turns 45: Czech star was once the NHL’s No. 1 villain
Long before he became a charming cult hero, Jaromir Jagr was the NHL’s No. 1 villain.
He was probably the best player in the world at that point in 2001 – the first since Wayne Gretzky to lead the league in scoring for four years straight– but also appeared to turn his back on the Pittsburgh Penguins. What followed were the lost years of a Hall of Fame career, a period of frustration, disappointment, big money and turmoil with the Washington Capitals.
“I guarantee if you talk to Jaromir he would admit that was kind of a rough time in his life, a rough time in his career,” said Tim Hunter, a former assistant coach with the Capitals.
Looking back now as he celebrates his 45th birthday, Jagr feels the need to set the record straight on at least one thing: he never wanted to leave Pittsburgh.
He concluded, though, that the organization’s best chance for success amid worrying financial duress was trading him and his big contract that summer. He also knew that with superstar Mario Lemieux sticking around, Mellon Arena would be full every night and thought it important that the club find a way to hold onto the talented players like Robert Lang, Martin Straka and Alexei Kovalev.
That wouldn’t happen if he remained. Nor would a trade happen unless he asked Craig Patrick, the club’s general manager and someone Jagr said, “was like a father to me”.
“If I didn’t tell him I wanted to be traded ... then he wouldn’t have traded me,” recalled Jagr, who turns 45 today. “It was for the team. Obviously it was the wrong thing – because everybody thinks I wanted to leave.”
At the time Jagr, now a member of the Florida Panthers, said he was stung by questions about “heart” following a poor playoff run that spring. He voiced his preference for a fresh start with the New York Rangers.
That didn’t stop Ted Leonsis from insisting that his team’s general manager George McPhee pursue a deal. Less than two years into his term as the Capitals owner, Leonsis saw in Jagr a splash who could re-invigorate the sleepy Washington sports scene.
A few months later the Capitals locked Jagr into what was then the biggest contract in NHL history: seven years and US$77 million.
The Czech star picked up two points in his first game with the Caps, a 6-1 win over New Jersey, but it was evident early that the flashy new addition might be a difficult sell for head coach Ron Wilson’s team-first concept.
“It didn’t sit well with them that they’re there and they’re plugging away and following the game plan and being good soldiers and this guy just waltzes in and gets a sevenyear, $77-million contract,” said Hunter, who called the deal “one of the worst things” for Jagr’s career at that point.
Jagr’s reputation, already damaged from those disappointing final days in Pittsburgh, took another hit as the “coach killer” label attached itself amid declining production. Jagr averaged only 78 points in two full seasons with Washington after averaging 112 in his final four campaigns with the Penguins.
Capitals management took the whole experience as a lesson that it was better to build around young players and draft picks than expensive superstars in free agency. They traded Jagr to the Rangers in January 2004, his Washington tenure lasting less than 200 games including the playoffs.
After four seasons in New York, Jagr shocked the hockey world by departing for the upstart Kontinental Hockey League. He came back to the NHL three years later and charmed the league with his retro mullet, storied midnight skates and rave reviews of leadership.
McPhee, now the GM of the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights, believes Jagr evolved into the perfect role model for young players, a living embodiment of the commitment required for a long career.
“I don’t think he’s being facetious when he says he wants to play until 50. He can do it,” McPhee said.