Jagr: Oldest pro hockey player ever

[alko]

NHL should create some longevity individual Trophy with Jagrs name.

 

[Albatros]

Jágr just happens to be rich enough to own his own pro hockey team, otherwise he wouldn't be playing at that level either.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Howe looked like this:

He was a physical freak of nature.

Jagr has well obviously, but Howe was a legit all time athlete.

That’s a pic of Howe in his 60s? Did he bathe in the fountain of youth? The waters of lake Minnetonka?

 

[WayTooCold]

Go Jagr.
Lazy ass Selänne is much younger and talking political bullshit on Finnish TV. He could still be playing.
Jagr is timeless!

 

[Rec T]

Ya know, with Carter announcing his retirement there's a roster spot now open...

 

[Janvonpobben]

At 69 years old. In a professional league.

PR stunt.

My 75yr old grandpa still can skate for a few minuts

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Jagr will play into his 70's, he just loves the game too much.

 

[FissionFire]

It’s not 1980, but, below, gives some insight into the world Gordie Howe came from compared to today.
A 90 year old Jagr could likely fulfill those requirements.



Toronto Maple Leafs Training Camp, 1962

The world Gordie Howe came from also didn’t have full-time professional athletes as a norm. Many of them would work jobs in the offseason. Their pay was probably closer to what AHL players make today, if not less.

 

[Toby91ca]

52 years young, he scored a goal for Kladno today. In this appearance, he surpassed Gordie Howe’s 1979-80 season Hartford to become the oldest professional player ever.

Jaromir Jagr makes history by skating in game with Czech club Kladno

On Thursday, Jaromir Jagr became the oldest professional hockey player when he skated for his club, Kladno, at age 52 and 63 days, according to Czechia hockey writer Zdenek Janda.

www.sportsnet.ca

And yes, this can be nitpicked because Howe took a shift in the IHL in the 1990s as a gimmick. The subject here is not gimmicks, but regular players for a professional team.

Yes, Howe playing a shift at 69 was a gimmick, but Jagr playing right now isn't exactly as a regular player either.

 

[Mach2]

Howe and Jagr were great players in their time. If there's to be some kind of longevity record acclaim, then I it should be based solely on how many complete NHL games were played, including regular season and playoffs.

 

[johan f]

Yes, Howe playing a shift at 69 was a gimmick, but Jagr playing right now isn't exactly as a regular player either.

Plays more than Howe.

Jágr just happens to be rich enough to own his own pro hockey team, otherwise he wouldn't be playing at that level either.

He plays to attract sponsors.

 

[UFO]

Jagr is a living legend.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Yes, Howe playing a shift at 69 was a gimmick, but Jagr playing right now isn't exactly as a regular player either.

Why not? He took some time off, but otherwise he’s a member of the day to day roster and skates regular shifts. He’s as much a regular player as anyone else on the team, no?

 

[tarheelhockey]

It’s not 1980, but, below, gives some insight into the world Gordie Howe came from compared to today.
A 90 year old Jagr could likely fulfill those requirements.



Toronto Maple Leafs Training Camp, 1962

The world Gordie Howe came from also didn’t have full-time professional athletes as a norm. Many of them would work jobs in the offseason. Their pay was probably closer to what AHL players make today, if not less.

This stuff gets heavily exaggerated. Yes, NHL players in the 50s-70s were full time pro athletes. They practiced every day just like today’s players do, they did their era’s version of dry training to stay in shape (mainly jogging and calisthenics).

NHL players often had offseason jobs, yes — because they wanted to capitalize on their fame and have a plan for after retirement, not because they were poor. A steady NHL career meant a solid upper-middle class living. In the offseason they were typically either growing a business of their own, doing physical labor to stay in shape, or working some cush job like “sales” where they did next to nothing but talk up customers while they bought a car or an insurance policy. This is not different in principle than common 2024 offseason jobs like starting an apparel label, running a hockey camp, or becoming an influencer. The jobs have changed but the behavior is much the same.

Nowadays there’s more of an industry around hockey training, but that doesn’t mean Original Six era players were literal plumbers doing hockey as a side gig or something. It was a highly competitive league with only about 100 jobs, so showing up to camp out of shape was a fast ticket to hockey retirement.

 

[Toby91ca]

Why not? He took some time off, but otherwise he’s a member of the day to day roster and skates regular shifts. He’s as much a regular player as anyone else on the team, no?

No, he’s not like any other player on the team…he doesn’t want to be playing either. It’s more than Howe playing a shift at 69 for sure, but nowhere near Howe playing a full schedule in the NHL at 52

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Off topic, lets focus on Jagr achievement

 

[WarriorofTime]

I think LNAH players average out to making about $350 per game, in a 36 game season. Really more like a side hustle at that point than a job. Much of the league is retired players.

 

[Demon Eyes]

Didn't Jagr start playing this season because his team had a lot of players out sick. Then i guess he just stayed. He probably wasn't taking training as seriously as he has in the past since it didn't seem like he was going to play this season.

 

[Laveuglette]

Gordie Howe scored 41 points in 80 games in the NHL, with the Whalers, in the 79/80 season at the age of 52. Although hockeyDB seems a bit behind in their stats for Jagr, it looks like JJ has 5 points in 16 games in the Czech league. Jagr is only about 1.5 months older than Howe was at the same point in their careers.

I know which accomplishment I find more impressive.

But congrats to Jagr nonetheless. It's a pretty amazing thing to do at his age.

To be fair to Jagr though, today's game requires much more conditionning than in the late 70s. Not even comparable.

 

[thethirdhockeyman91]

Howe looked like this:

He was a physical freak of nature.

Jagr has well obviously, but Howe was a legit all time athlete.

I got a boost of testosterone just looking at this photo.

 

[abax44]

I would say the game is slightly different now than it was in 79/80.

You can say it - softer.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Ok, and Howe played against absolute pylons compared to the skill even in lower leagues today. Cool backhanded compliment, but Howe’s competition couldn’t tie Jagr’s skates.

Jagr's competition can't tie Jagr's skates either really.

 

[tarheelhockey]

No, he’s not like any other player on the team…he doesn’t want to be playing either. It’s more than Howe playing a shift at 69 for sure, but nowhere near Howe playing a full schedule in the NHL at 52

How is he not like any other player on the team? He’s under contract as a full time player and practicing/playing daily.

I don’t think anyone believes this is the same thing as playing in the NHL, but it is a fact that he’s a professional hockey player at an older age than Howe. And in a real pro league, not a semi pro situation like LNAH.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Donald Brashear is 5 weeks older and still playing.

wtf..... figured he hung the skates up a LONG time ago.
what is LHSLF anyways?

 

[crazy8888]

It is is hometown team that he played for growing up, they are the worst team in the League and he is trying to stop them from being relegated.

Sounds like something only someone with no wife or family has time for. Good for him either way.

I'm just not sure what the end game is here. It will eventually become dangerous and irresponsible to have him on the ice in real game. Sounds like the club will fold sooner or later anyway.