'You say Jaromir Jagr, they’re going to say Pittsburgh Penguins'

He chose his words carefully. And he took time to answer questions, wanting to provide thoughtful responses.

After all, it’s been nearly 23 years since he was in Pittsburgh as a member of the Penguins.

Jaromir Jagr held court with reporters Sunday, a handful of hours before the team is scheduled to retire his No. 68.

Fielding queries ranging from his memories of his spellbinding existence as a Pittsburgh Penguin to the gulf of time between today and his last games with the franchise, Jagr was pensive in explaining all of these matters.

• He played for nine teams during his 24 seasons in the NHL. But he views Pittsburgh as his NHL home:

“Yes, I do and I always did,” Jagr said. “There was no question about it. You ask anybody in the world, or in Czechia or Europe and you say ‘Jaromir Jagr,’ they’re going to say ‘Pittsburgh Penguins’ and not where I played after that.”

• Returning to Pittsburgh for this honor was initiated by the team’s president of business operations Kevin Acklin and well as former teammate Phil Bourque, today a broadcaster with the franchise:

“When Kevin and Phil Bourque — when he came to Kladno and he told me the idea of (what the) Penguins and Kevin wanted to do — I think that was the start.”

Jagr, still an active player in his native Czechia at the age of 52, sees one player on the active roster as being capable of having a similarly lengthy career.

A 36-year-old Sidney Crosby.

“I was sitting next to Sid,” Jagr said. “I always loved to study the game and, you mention it, the last time I played (in the NHL) was six years ago. … And I wanted to know how the game has changed. Who else to ask, Sid knows the most. He’s played since 2005, and he’s played until now. He could feel the difference. I asked him a little bit. Of course, the game got a little bit quicker. … He has probably had the best season that he’s had. I’m happy for him, and I think he can play for another five, six years if he really wanted to. I always felt Sid is the guy who wanted to be the best. He wants to be tomorrow better than he is today. And that’s what you need if you want to play long.”

• He is open to being a more regular presence with the team for functions such as alumni games or reunions with the teams that won the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992.

“I have to retire from playing,” Jagr said. “That’s the first step. I’m getting there pretty soon, there’s no question about it. I’m going home on Wednesday. So we are going to have some talk about that and see what’s going to happen. I’m going to finish the season and see what happens next year.”

• Jagr reflected on having his jersey retired alongside his idol, Mario Lemieux:

“I never really played for anything but love since I was a small kid,” Jagr said. “I never really paid attention to what I can do or what I can accomplish, what I can win. It was never in my mind. Retiring the jersey, that was never in my mind. I always play for love. I always love the game. I still do. It’s harder to compete at my age, but I still love the game. When I saw Mario (the) first time on TV, since that day I want to be like him. Him and all those guys (from the 1990s) and they don’t probably know about it, they (made) me the way I am, not only on the ice, but off the ice also. They have a big effect to what I am right now. I was 18 years old, and I spent so much time with them. … So, if something (is) wrong with me, got to look at them.”

• He admitted being anxious before speaking to a full building Sunday:

“It’s unbelievable,” Jagr said. “It’s great. First, I was excited. I’m tired. I’m getting tired, no question about it. I’m tired right now. The jet lag. You can not really sleep. You’re thinking about what is going to happen. You’re thinking about the speech also. It’s not easy. You don’t want to forget anybody. I know it’s going to be kind of different because I never spoke before (so many) people. It might be a little bit strange. But I’m also a little bit tired.”

Chaz Palla | TribLive

• His mother, Anna Jagrova, is present for the occasion:

“When I told my mother she’s coming, she didn’t want to go actually. She’s 78. She was kind of afraid of the flight, it’s a long flight. But even she admitted it, it’s the best thing that happened to her. She’s so happy so I’m glad for her too.”

• Given that Jagr was routinely booed on the occasions he returned to Pittsburgh as a visiting opponent, he is eager to hear a different reaction.

“I hear a lot of boos lately,” Jagr joked. “It’s was understandable, I was playing for different teams. It’s going to mean a lot … it’s just, it’s a little extra bonus. It’s huge. You play the game with love. You play to make you happy. But it’s an extra bonus. When you do your job and you do (a) job you love to do and you see appreciation from other people, that’s something that not many people can feel it or understand.”

• On Saturday evening, Jagr attended a dinner in town with several of his former teammates, including Lemieux and Ron Francis.

“Last time I was sitting next to Ronnie and Mario was when I was (with the Florida Panthers), there was a ceremony for the top 100 (players in NHL history in 2017), that’s the last time I saw Mario. (His) wife Nathalie was there too (Saturday night). We had a pretty good talk. We had a chance, and we had time to do it. It was nice.”

• Traded to the Washington Capitals in 2001, Jagr reflected on his time away from the Penguins, including his infamous flirtation with the Penguins in 2011, commonly referred to as #JagrWatch. After negotiations broke with between Jagr and Penguins management, he opted to sign with the rival Philadelphia Flyers.

“It was a sad day for me in 2001, and I explained it two days ago to our fans (at a dinner in the Rivers Casino), what really happened there. We just went different ways, then after I spent some time in other teams in (Russia’s) KHL, I had a chance to come back, big talk coming back to Pittsburgh. When I was coming back from (the) KHL I still felt like I was good enough to play one year or two years. I had confidence about myself. I was playing against top guys in the (IIHF) World Championship (tournament in 2011), and I did pretty good. I wanted to come back to (the) NHL, not only to just last a year but I want to go to a team where I’m going to have a fair chance to play a lot.

“That year … the Penguins had such a great time and Sid had his line and guys who he loves to play with and (Malkin) had his line. I felt like I would play the third and fourth lines, and I wouldn’t get a fair chance to show what I can do. … Philadelphia, (forwards Jeff Carter and Mike Richards), they got traded. New guys came. I felt this was a perfect fit for me. I wasn’t thinking I was about ‘I was coming home to Pittsburgh.’ I don’t know if I would say I was selfish, but I was thinking about myself because I still loved the game. I wanted to prove that I’m still (a) good player. Maybe it was a mistake, I don’t know. Maybe if I came here (in 2011) the celebration would be bigger.”

• He was particularly introspective when asked how he would like to be remembered as a player and a person.

“You know what, those two kind of (don’t) go together when I was thinking about my hockey life,” Jagr said. “If you want to accomplish something in this sport or any business, it’s tough to be a nice guy. I don’t know if I explained that right, but there’s something what everybody wants. To be the best, to score the most goals, win the Stanley Cup. That’s my job. When I had the drive, I didn’t think I was a nice guy. That’s what (drove) me, I wanted to be the best. After a while, when I hit 30, all of a sudden, I still loved the game but to win something, it (didn’t) that much for me. Or it wasn’t that important to me. All of a sudden, I wanted to be remembered as a great person. Somebody that could help other people.

“That’s what I wanted to be remembered (for). The hockey is going to be good. You scored a lot of goals, a lot of assists, you win the (Stanley) Cup, win the (Olympic) medals. But what did you do for the others? That’s the question before you die. God is going to ask what you did here. I want to be remembered as a good person. Maybe I’m far away from that, but I’m going to try my best.”

• Finally, he was asked if he achieved what he wanted as a hockey player:

“Once you’re satisfied with something, I think you’re done. There always has to be a hunger to be better and better and better. That’s the drive in your life. I always compare (to) animals in the jungle. If you’re satisfied in the jungle, you’re dead. Sorry, you were good? Somebody is going to eat you. Once you’re satisfied, I think it’s over. I don’t want to (be satisfied by) anything. Maybe I’m not going to get better, but I want to think I’m getting better.”