Jaromir Jagr still resonates with the current Penguins
Share this post:
Radim Zohorna’s command of — and confidence with — English has improved greatly since he came from his native Czechia to North America to join the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2021.
But vocabulary of any tongue isn’t really necessary when you ask the 27-year-old forward about countryman Jaromir Jagr.
Zohorna’s ebullient smile and bright eyes spoke volumes when he was broached about the subject Saturday morning, a day after the Penguins announced they would be retiring Jagr’s iconic No. 68 later this season.
Frankly, asking Zohorna about Jagr is like asking a Brazilian about Pele.
“He was my childhood hero,” Zohorna said. “Everyone in (Czechia). I’m excited to see it.”
The formal ceremony to retire Jagr’s number is scheduled for Feb. 18 before a home game against the Los Angeles Kings.
No active members of the Penguins — at least those not employed in an off-ice role — ever played with Jagr, who left the organization via a trade with the Washington Capitals in 2001. But his impact on the organization is very evident to the current luminaries on the roster.
“I don’t know if there’s a rule about between when you played your last game or if you can still be playing, but it’s about time, I guess,” defenseman Kris Letang quipped. “Obviously, he’s been an amazing player for this franchise. Brought (Stanley Cup championships) here. Just an amazing player to watch. Growing up, I’m not going to lie, I was wearing (No.) 68 my whole childhood. It’s pretty cool.”
Approximately four years after Jagr left the Penguins, the franchise drafted its current superstar icon Sidney Crosby. The two were regular opponents as Jagr played for the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames after Crosby joined the Penguins.
“I saw as a fan watching him and then up close playing against them, he was really strong on the puck,” Crosby said. “Unbelievable shot, big body, he was hard to contain. He was dangerous in a lot of different ways. His shot and his ability to hold onto the puck are probably the two things that stuck out the most.”
“It’ll be cool to be a part of that. There was a lot of talk. I was hoping that’s something I could be a part of. He had some great years here. … He’s had an amazing career, and I think we’re all excited to be a part of it.”
Hinostroza up; Blomqvist down
[gps-image name=”6760663_web1_AP23309143277959.jpg”]
The Penguins recalled forward Vinnie Hinostroza from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL on Saturday. He opened the contest on the team’s fourth line, replacing Jeff Carter on the right wing.
Before Saturday, Hinostroza had appeared in two NHL games and scored two points (one goal, one assist) while averaging 9 minutes, 10 seconds of ice time per contest this season.
At the AHL level, Hinostroza has appeared in five contests and has four points (two goals, two assists).
Hinostroza, 29, has been shuffled between the NHL and AHL repeatedly this season. Most recently, he was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.
He is signed to a one-year contract worth $775,000.
In a corresponding transaction, goaltender Joel Blomqvist was assigned to to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
With starting goaltender Tristan Jarry having recovered from an undisclosed facial injury and scheduled to return to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena, Blomqvist was returned to the AHL roster.
The team recalled Blomqvist on Thursday, and he dressed as the backup to veteran reserve Magnus Hellberg during a 4-3 overtime road win against the Los Angeles Kings that same day.
A second-round pick (No. 52 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old Blomqvist is one of the organization’s top prospects. In seven AHL games this season, Blomqvist has a 4-2-0 record, a 1.91 goals against average and a .920 save percentage.