Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr
Jaromír Jágr; born February 15, 1972) is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League. He has formerly played in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils, serving as captain of the Penguins and the Rangers. After leaving the Rangers, he played for three seasons in the Kontinental Hockey Leaguewith Avangard Omsk before returning to the...
NationalityCzechoslovakian
ProfessionHockey Player
Date of Birth15 February 1972
CityKladno, Czech Republic
The players don't play the position game as much as we used to play. A lot of young guys go up and down, shoot the puck, go for the rebounds. You're getting tired quicker because the body has to react where the puck is going to go. You cannot read it, because you don't have the puck on your stick.
We knew it was not going to be easy for him. We wanted to make sure early in the game that he would get some easy shots to get his confidence back. It's not easy when you don't play for such a great time. And he did a great job. And we did a great job, too. They didn't get that many chances. I thought we played good.
We had a chance the last four games against easier opponents than Ottawa. It's not a playoff, but it's almost like a playoff game.
You have to play the game to feel how well you're playing. You know sooner or later you're going to come back. We were down two goals because we were making mistakes, not because we were playing poorly, and it almost cost us the game.
To me, it was fast, too. But that's the way it's going to be. I think it's going to be even faster when the players get into shape. Don't forget they didn't play for a year. So heads up.
We've had such a great year and we don't want to give it away. Why? It just happened. We're not happy with the way we played. We have to play better in the playoffs and we have two games to go to get us there.
I didn't get frustrated - it's a playoff game and I did what I had to do. We're losing, 5-1, and I wanted to play as hard as I can to the last minute. Whether it's smart or not, I don't know. I'm not going to question that.... I don't want to send anybody a message. That's the way I wanted to play. That's the way I'm going to play.
I am happy for it. Look at the great players here in the past 80 years.
Maybe we are not good enough yet. Maybe we're not there. Maybe it shouldn't surprise anybody. I thought we played good 5-on-5; the power play and the penalty kill, that's where we made our mistakes. Could we have won the game? Yes. But we lost it. I don't think we are worse than they are. Maybe we're not as talented.
Of course it's a big honor. The Rangers are an original six team. A lot of great players played hear -- Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier -- a lot of great players. It's a big honor to me.
I wouldn't say the effort wasn't there, we just didn't play smart enough. Not many teams play the trap against us. It's something new we have to learn ... It looks like they're already starting to play playoff hockey.
I would say he's not playing by himself, but almost by himself in Pittsburgh.
I think we have a chance just like everybody else. There's no doubt in my mind we're going to have a playoff spot. I don't think it's a rebuilding year. No way.
I might be more excited than I was before the Olympics. Our goal is to make the playoffs, but we don't want to just make the playoffs for the first round and go home. I want to be in the best condition I've ever been in my life, to know when a crucial time comes, I'm ready.