Jagr: 'I always' considered Pittsburgh home

Jaromir Jagr played for nine teams over his 24-season NHL career, but the future Hall of Famer made it abundantly clear before his jersey retirement on Sunday that he considers Pittsburgh home.

"Yes, I do, and I always did," Jagr said. "If you ask anyone about Jaromir Jagr, they will say Pittsburgh Penguins."

Jagr will have his iconic No. 68 raised to the rafters before the Penguins' game against the Los Angeles Kings. He played 806 games in a Pittsburgh jersey from 1990-2001, accumulating 1,079 points, five Art Ross Trophies, a Hart Trophy, and two Stanley Cups.

The 52-year-old noted he's looking forward to being cheered again in Pittsburgh after last playing for the Penguins over 23 years ago.

"I hear a lot of boos lately. It was understandable, I was playing for a different team," he said, per NHL.com's Wes Crosby. "It'll mean a lot."

Jagr returned to the NHL in 2011 with the Philadelphia Flyers after a three-season stint in the KHL. He said his decision was based on the chance to play in the top six, and he didn't know if he'd have the opportunity to do so with Pittsburgh.

"Maybe it was a mistake, I don't know," Jagr admitted, according to NHL.com's Wes Crosby.

He added: "I don't know if I was selfish, but I was thinking about myself."

Jagr met with Mario Lemieux and other old Penguins teammates on Saturday night. He revealed the last time they had seen each other was in 2017 at the NHL's 100 Greatest Players event, according to team reporter Michelle Crechiolo.

While Jagr continues to play in his native Czechia with Rytiri Kladno, the team he owns, he acknowledged how special his career has been.

"When you do your job and you love to do it, and then you see the appreciation from other people, that's something that not many people can feel or understand," he said.

"I never thought I was going to be the guy to cry when I talk about something. I hope today I have a lot of laughs."