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Former Bruins calls out Sidney Crosby


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Christopher Faucher
February 16, 2024  (9:24 PM)
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Photo credit: The Augusta Chronicle

Jaromír Jágr's move to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers at the start of the 2011 free agency period caught many hockey enthusiasts off guard. Following a three-year stint in Russia, Jágr had an opportunity to rejoin the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Yet, in an unexpected turn, he chose to ink a one-year deal valued at $3.3 million with their state rivals instead.

In a conversation with Tom Gulitti from NHL.com, Jágr revealed his reasoning behind this decision. He voiced apprehensions about his potential position on the Penguins, worrying that he might be overshadowed by stars such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and thus, see limited playing time. This led him to choose Philadelphia, believing the Flyers' recent significant trades would offer him a better opportunity to demonstrate his abilities.
Jágr also pondered the NHL's evolving dynamics, recognizing that talents like Crosby and Malkin were at the forefront of a new age in hockey. He noted Crosby's rise could have played a role in Mario Lemieux's decision to end his retirement in 2000, illustrating a symbolic handover from one era of players to another.
"If I would go to Pittsburgh – and I understand that – Sid would have his own line, Malkin would have his own line. So, the best I would play would be maybe third or fourth line, and I don't think I would get the chance to show I can play. That was the only worry I had. I picked Philly because they made these big trades. They traded (away) Jeff Carter and (Mike) Richards. They brought new guys in, and I felt like I was going to have the same chance because the team is totally new. If I don't make it, it's my fault, I'm not good enough, but I would get the same chance like everybody else."

The retirement of Jagr's jersey in Pittsburgh signifies a pivotal point in his distinguished career. Over his 24-year tenure in the NHL, Jagr left an indelible mark, not only with the Penguins—where he secured two Stanley Cups, received the Hart Trophy, and won the Art Ross Trophy on several occasions—but across the league. As he pauses his time with Kladno, the Czechia's Extraliga team he owns, to commemorate this event, Jagr anticipates reconnecting with old teammates and experiencing this memorable occasion with the hockey community in Pittsburgh.
Source: Bruinsinsider
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Former Bruins calls out Sidney Crosby

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