


The Ageless Wonder is at it again.
NHL legend and former Rangers star Jaromir Jagr made his season debut Wednesday for his hometown Czech team, the Kladno Knights, and recorded an assist to kick off his 36th season of professional hockey at the age of 51.
Playing 13:44, Jagr helped Kladno erase a 3-0 deficit against Czech Extraliga leaders Pardubice, but Pardubice scored a short-handed goal to win 4-3.
Kladno, which is owned by Jagr after he made his pro debut for them in 1988-89, is in second-to-last place in the league with 24 points.
Jagr, whose 1,921 career NHL points is second only to Wayne Gretzky, was “excellent” in Wednesday’s game, Kladno coach Otakar Vejvoda said.
The Penguins, who are retiring Jagr’s No. 68 on Feb. 18, selected the winger at No. 5 overall in the 1990 NHL Draft, and he immediately helped them win two straight Stanley Cups alongside Mario Lemieux to begin his NHL career.
After 11 seasons, the Penguins traded Jagr to the Capitals, who signed him to a then-record seven-year, $77 million contract.
Jagr, an eight-time All-Star and one-time Hart Trophy winner, disappointed during his two-plus seasons with the Capitals, and the Rangers traded for him in January 2004 for Anson Carter.
He had 29 points in 31 games for the Rangers the rest of that season, and after the 2004-05 lockout, he recorded 123 points (54 goals, 69 assists) for the Blueshirts in 2005-06.
Jagr was named the Rangers’ captain before the start of the following season and held that role for two seasons before he signed with Avangard Omsk of the KHL after becoming a free agent.
He made an NHL comeback with the Flyers in 2011 and later played for the Stars, Bruins, Devils, Panthers and Flames, last playing an NHL game for Calgary on Dec. 31, 2017.
Jagr returned to Kladno in 2018.
— With AP