Buzz with Jagr visiting practice
Icon lightens mood ahead of game
The Penguins on Saturday invited a skilled Czech forward in for a little workout.
With a packed house and palpable buzz inside UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, Penguins legend Jaromir Jagr joined the team for practice Saturday morning.
“It’s just fun. It’s pretty special for all of us to be a part of this weekend and to have an opportunity like this today,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “So we’re trying to enjoy it and trying to make it the best experience for him, too.”
The Penguins are retiring the future Hall of Famer’s No. 68 jersey at a ceremony prior to Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings at PPG Paints Arena.
Jagr, 52, flashed a wide grin as he hopped on the ice for a quick warmup before participating in a few drills. He joked with Crosby and others between reps. He scored a nifty breakaway goal on a starstruck Alex Nedeljkovic. And then, after about 15 minutes, Jagr took a seat on the bench and watched the practice.
As the Penguins got down to more serious business and the pace picked up, he chatted with the camera crew that has been following him around Pittsburgh all weekend. He later spoke with coach Mike Sullivan before hitting the showers.
Afterward, Sullivan was playfully asked what it was like to coach the graybeard.
“Well, I’ve never coached a 52-year-old,” Sullivan quipped. “I’m not much older.”
He added: “If you think about how difficult this game is physically, to get up and down the ice, the fine motor skills it takes to execute at such a high level and at a high pace, it’s not just that he’s playing. He’s playing at a high level. It’s just remarkable. It speaks volumes ... about his love for the game and his passion.”
Jagr still suits up sparingly for Kladno, the team he owns inthe Czech league.
But this was no comeback bid. It was just a cool moment for Jagr, the fans who came to practice and Penguins players, many of whom admired Jagr as kids. None of them looked to be more excited than star defenseman Kris Letang.
Letang and Nedeljkovic both paid tribute to Jagr by wearing mullet wigs for the opening portion of practice — a sneak preview of Sunday’s pre game warmups.
The Penguins set Jagr up with the stall next to Crosby’s in the dressing room. Letang said that when Jagr first walked in, Jagr made a beeline right to Crosby and declared, “I came to see this guy. He just keeps getting better with age.”
The Penguins, who have struggled lately, said the experience was a welcome distraction,lightening the mood a bit.