Former NHL great Jaromir Jagr talks about retiring in his 38th professional season

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Last updated Mar 31, 2026

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PRAGUE (AP) — Jaromir Jagr’s storied hockey career may be coming to an end.

Currently in his 38th professional season, with his hometown Kladno Knights in the Czech league, the former NHL great has strongly suggested that fans may never see him on the ice again.

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“Probably not,” Jagr said in an interview posted last Friday on his Instagram account. “It should be a miracle. God should come and come into me and make me 15 years younger.”

It was not immediately clear whether Jagr will play again this season. The winger, who turned 54 on February 15, has played just six league games for Kladno this season. His last match so far was on December 21st.

Jagr, who represented his country in five Olympics and led the Czechs to gold in Nagano in 1998, said he had spent the last 10 days watching the Milan Cortina Games on television.

“All I do is eat and watch TV,” he said. This is the first Olympics with NHL players in twelve years and Jagr appreciated it.

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“It’s the best tournament in the last 10-15 years, certainly because of the presence of NHL players,” he said. “The games are great.”

But in addition to pursuing hockey, short track speed skating and figure skating, Jagr said he is trying to stay in shape after recently gaining about 4-5 kilograms (9-11 pounds).

“It’s really a matter of discipline,” Jagr said. “The worst thing is when it’s not necessary. Sometimes it’s better when it’s necessary. When it’s not necessary, forcing yourself is the hardest thing,” he said.

“I keep going. I try, I don’t train to be ready to play, but I try to go skating every day if I have time.”

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Jagr made his debut with Kladno at age 16 and returned to the club in 2018 when the Calgary Flames released him. Jagr remains second on the NHL’s all-time points list behind Wayne Gretzky. Jagr won the Stanley Cup twice with the Pittsburgh Penguins in his first two NHL seasons.

Until early last year, Jagr held dual roles as player and owner of Kladno, dividing his time between finding sponsors and managing administrative duties and ice time.