Jaromir Jagr Reportedly Doesn't Plan on Retiring, Wants to Return to Panthers

It seems hockey's version of the ageless wonder, 44-year-old right winger Jaromir Jagr, isn't ready to hang the skates up yet after the New York Islanders eliminated his Florida Panthers in six games in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.    

On Tuesday, Panthers general manager Dale Tallon told Harvey Fialkov of the South Florida Sun Sentinel that "Jagr told him he wants to come back."

Jagr completed his 22nd NHL season in 2015-16 with the Panthers, the eighth team of his storied career. His one-year, $3.5 million contract is now up, via Spotrac, and if he doesn't ink a new deal with Florida, then he will be an unrestricted free agent starting on July 1. 

Despite his age, he put up one of his most productive seasons in the past nine years with 27 goals and 39 assists.   

The last time he scored over 25 goals was when he was with the New York Rangers as a 36-year-old in 2007-08. 

The emergence of Florida's young stars, along with linemates Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov, helped his resurgence.

At 22 and 20, respectively, Huberdeau's and Barkov's ages don't combine to Jagr's, but their line was one of the best in the league. The NHL showed one of the many times they were able to break down opposing defenses:

It was a historic season for Jagr as he played his 1,600th career game, recorded his 1,100th career assist and, with 749 goals, moved past the great Brett Hull for third on the NHL's all-time scoring list. He also moved past Gordie Howe for third-place in points with 1,868.

Here's goal No. 742, the one that moved him past Hull via the NHL:

It was also a historic season for the Panthers, who recorded 103 points—the most in franchise history—while winning their division for just the second time ever.  

There's little question Jagr can still produce; he's shown that with his tenacity and still-dangerous scoring ability. But an elusive third Stanley Cup could be the fire that's fueling his desire to return. 

In his first two years in the league, Jagr won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a 19- and 20-year-old in 1991 and 1992. He hasn't won one since. 

With the young core the Panthers have and with the great season they just finished, Jagr is more than capable of adding one more season to a Hall of Fame career that could possibly end in storybook fashion. 

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com.