Report: Jagr clears waivers, expected to be assigned to Czech league
Jaromir Jagr has reportedly cleared waivers and the balance of his contract with the Calgary Flames is expected to be assigned to Czech club Kladno, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
This likely signals the end of the legendary forward's NHL career. It took until nearly the end of last summer for Jagr to come to terms on his one-year, $1-million contract with the Flames.
A return to Calgary, however, remains possible:
Placing Jagr on regular waivers & loaning him to Europe (as was reported by @TSNBobMcKenzie) instead to terminating his contract, gives the #Flames the option to recall him down the road. That flexibility will only cost CGY $370,968 in salary & 1 spot under the 50 contract limit.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) January 29, 2018
Limited to 22 games with Calgary, Jagr added a goal and six assists to his career point total of 1,921, which is second in league history after Wayne Gretzky (2,857).
Jagr's also set to finish 34 games shy of Gordie Howe's all-time games played record of 1,767.
Drafted fifth overall by Pittsburgh in 1990, Jagr recorded 766 goals and 1,155 assists with nine teams, and won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins (1991, 1992). He also won five Art Ross Trophies, three Ted Lindsay Awards, the Hart Trophy, and the Bill Masterton Trophy.
Jagr is a co-owner and team president of Kladno, the Czech team based in his hometown, and he's now free to play for his country at PyeongChang 2018.