When I learned Jaromir Jagr had passed through waivers last week and returned to his native Czech Republic—effectively ending his NHL career—I started to tap out some memories as a comment to an earlier post. As the recollections came flooding back, I decided to pull my comments and honor ‘Jags’ with a full-blown post. My timing’s a bit off, but better late than never.
Most fans, the younger ones especially, probably don’t remember Jagr as a Penguin. They likely recall the post-KHL version of the past few seasons…the hulking guy with a shock of dark, curly hair (and sometimes salt-and-pepper beard) who was tough to play against down low, kind of like a big center in basketball posting up.
Folks, you shoulda’ seen him when he was young. Jagr was…in a word…brilliant. In my humble opinion, he was a shade below Mario Lemieux in terms of ability and impact. Perhaps not as technically skilled as Sidney Crosby, but more dynamic. Kind of a souped-up version of Evgeni Malkin.
When he first came into the league as a mullet-topped 18-year-old back in 1990-91, he showed tantalizing flashes of the monster player and record-setter he’d eventually become. Even then, he lugged the puck like nobody else…often with one or two guys hanging on him. He could skate for a big man and possessed incredible balance and strength, thanks in part to his huge legs and glutes.
Yet early on, Jagr had one great flaw. Like many Europeans, he tended to shoot almost exclusively from the backhand, which made him somewhat predictable. Determined to improve, he spent many hours after practice, honing his soon-to-be lethal wrist shot under the tutelage of then-Pens assistant Rick Kehoe.
In terms of style, there were striking similarities to Lemieux, whom Jagr idolized. Each possessed a mouth-watering array of attributes—size, strength, skill, power and deception. Jagr, whose first name was an anagram for ‘Mario Jr.’, no doubt learned a lot by watching his teammate and mentor.
There were dramatic differences as well. While each seemed spontaneous, Lemieux’s brilliance was more calculated, based on his extraordinary vision and hockey sense.
“He just holds the puck out there on his forehand and dares you to commit yourself,” said Raymond Bourque, one of hockey’s all-time great defensemen. “If you do, he slips it past you, and if you don’t, he controls the blue line and has time to make the play.”
Jaromir was more raw, instinctual.
“He reminds me of Maurice (Rocket) Richard,” said Hall-of-Fame coach Scotty Bowman. “They both played the off wing and had so many moves. I don’t think either of them knew which moves they were going to make until they did them. Totally unpredictable.”
As charismatic as he was dynamic, for a time Jags held the Penguins’ faithful in the palm of his hand like few other players before or since. Deeply emotional, he also was given to fits of brooding and petulance, which ultimately diminished his standing among teammates and Steel City fans and set the stage for his untimely departure in 2001.
Still, warts and all, I’ve never seen a more electrifying player, one-on-one, than No. 68. As a farewell, I’ll share my top two Jagr moments…you can watch them on YouTube.
April 5, 1991 vs. New Jersey (Game 2: First Round)
It’s a must-win game for the Pens, who trailed New Jersey 1-0 in the series. Nine minutes into overtime, Jagr took a pass from Phil Bourque as he crossed the blue line and fought through a check by John MacLean without breaking stride. MacLean then grabbed Jagr as he cut below the right circle, but No. 68 broke free and glided through the crease. Displaying impressive patience for one so young, Jags forced Devils goalie Chris Terreri to commit and snapped the puck home for the game winner.
May 26, 1992 vs. Chicago (Game 1: Stanley Cup Final)
With less than five minutes remaining and the Pens down by a goal, Jagr picked off an outlet pass high in the Chicago zone. Dangling the puck like a carrot on a stick, he eluded Brent Sutter along the boards and skated through the left circle, turning countryman Frantisek Kucera inside out with a dazzling, lunging move. Then he slipped past defenseman Igor Kravchuk and beat goalie Ed Belfour—who seemed spellbound—with a backhander through the five hole to tie the game.
Lemieux called it the greatest goal he’d ever seen.
Hey Rick,
Like you, I go back a long, long way to the very beginning of the team. I remember the young Jagr who skated 3rd line with Bryan Trottier and Troy Loney on those original Cup teams, playing behind first Mark Recchi and Joey Mullen and then Rick Tocchet and Joey Mullen. Finally he was put on the top line with Mario Lemieux and Keving Stevens. Philadelphia likes to talk about their legion of doom, but who would scare you more if you were a defenseman, Lindros – Leclair – Renberg or Lemieux – Jagr – Stevens?
I am not quite as big of a Jagr fan as I was from the early to late 90s, but there is no denying that he was an incredible talent, one of the few whose name belongs up there with Howe, Mario, Gretzky, and Orr
Hey Other Rick,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Hard to believe Jagr scored 34 goals and 94 points in ’92-93 skating mostly on the third line. Yoi!
And you’re right. Can you imagine for two seconds trying to defend against Jagr, Mario and Stevens as a unit? It’s a wonder they didn’t score on every shift. Heck, maybe they did … 🙂
Great work on your posts, by the way. Sorry I haven’t been more active in commenting…just been spread a bit thin of late.
GO PENS!
Rick
There was another play that occurred, I believe, during the 1992 Patrick Division Final, perhaps in Game 6. Since I can’t document it, I can’t say for certain. But I remember Jagr carrying the puck and skating straight at Rangers defenseman Jeff Beukeboom, who was very tough and very good.
Just as Beukeboom stepped up to hit him near the top of the right circle, Jags made a ballistic, 90-degree turn to the left—the likes of which I’ve never seen before or since—that literally caused Beukeboom to fall apart. I believe Jagr drove to the net and scored, although I must confess…my memory’s a little fuzzy.
I remember the move more than anything else.
Rick