NHL Legend Jaromír Jágr to Retire from Pro Hockey at Age 52 After Season with Kladno

Hockey legend Jaromír Jágr intends to retire from playing professional hockey after his current season with HC Rytíři Kladno of the Czech Extraliga concludes.

Jágr confirmed the news to Rob Rossi of The Athletic on Thursday over the phone. Two days earlier, in a Czech-language post on his Instagram account, Jágr referred to his "last season." Jágr notably owns HC Rytíři Kladno, his hometown team.

Jágr played in the NHL from 1990-2004, 2005-2008 and then again from 2011-2018. He played for nine NHL teams but is best known for his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1990-2001. Jágr won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in his first two seasons.

He also won all five of his Art Ross Trophies (most points in the NHL) and his 1998-99 Hart Trophy (MVP) in Pittsburgh too.

Jágr last made an NHL appearance on Dec. 31, 2017, when he was nearing his 46th birthday in Feb. 2018. The eight-time All-Star capped his NHL career with 766 goals and 1,155 assists for 1,921 points. He's fourth in goals, fifth in assists and second in points all time.

The Penguins retired his No. 68 jersey last February, but he's kept playing for Kladno ever since leaving the NHL, suiting up for 151 games over the past eight years. He got an assist in Kladno's 2024-25 season opener.

A place in the Hockey Hall of Fame awaits Jágr someday, but a player has to have been retired for at least three years from playing professional hockey before consideration.

It looks like that clock will start after this season, however, as the legend looks ready to hang up the skates after a phenomenal career.