Jagr assigned by Flames to Czech Republic team

Forward Jaromir Jagr cleared NHL waivers and was assigned by the Calgary Flames to Kladno in the Czech Republic on Monday.
Jagr, 45, had seven points (one goal, six assists) with the Flames but missed 27 games with a lower-body injury; he last played Dec. 31.

"I want to thank general manager] Brad Treliving and the Calgary Flames for giving me the immense opportunity to be a part of their team and continue my NHL career this season," Jagr said. "Although I am very disappointed that things did not turn out as we had hoped due to a number of circumstances, I am deeply grateful to the Flames, the fans and the city of Calgary for having welcomed me so generously. I now look forward to continuing the season in Kladno."
Jagr played 1,733 NHL games, including 22 this season, his first with the Flames. He signed a one-year, $1 million contract Oct. 4 as an unrestricted free agent.
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Kladno is Jagr's hometown, and he has been the majority owner of the team since 2011.
Jagr trails
Gordie Howe
(1,767) by 34 games for first in NHL history;
Mark Messier
is second (1,756). Jagr passed
Ron Francis
(1,731) for third Dec. 29.
"Anytime you're around greatness, and his career speaks for itself, anytime you're able to pull from that I think you can only improve," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said. "He was accommodating in terms of his time talking to people and offering advice, whether it be players ... I enjoyed my conversations with him. He's a really intelligent guy with a really unique perspective. Anytime you can be around people that have achieved what he has achieved in this game, it does nothing but help you."

Jagr was voted one of the
100 Greatest NHL Players
presented by Molson Canadian. He is second all-time in points (1,921) behind
Wayne Gretzky
(2,857), third in goals (766) behind Gretzky (894) and Howe (801), and fifth in assists (1,155). He's 14 assists behind fourth-place
Ray Bourque
; Gretzky leads with 1,963. Jagr also is the all-time leader with 135 game-winning goals.
"It was a short time, and I think in a lot of ways it was a perfect storm that worked against him in terms of not being able to have a training camp and then dealing with some injuries that he dealt with during his time here," Treliving said. "But having said all that, we don't regret the experience. We don't regret the decision to bring him here. We thank him, and I think we're better for the experience of having him."
Jagr won the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who selected him No. 5 in the 1990 NHL Draft, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1990-91 after he had 57 points (27 goals, 30 assists) in 80 games.

He won the 1999 Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion five times (1995, 1998-2001), and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey in 2016.
He scored more than 20 goals in an NHL season 19 times, including each of his first 17 seasons, and scored at least 30 goals 15 times, at least 40 goals six times, and at least 50 goals three times, including an NHL career-high 62 in 1995-96.
"He's a legend in the game and a guy I looked up to my whole life," Flames center Sean Monahan said. "Still do. Having him here and getting to know him and learn from him was pretty special."
Jagr had five 100-point seasons, most recently in 2005-06 with 123 points (54 goals, 69 assists) in 82 games with the New York Rangers. His high was 149 points (62 goals, 87 assists) with the Penguins in 1995-96.
Jagr was selected to the NHL All-Star Game 10 times and voted an NHL First Team All-Star seven times.
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"He's had a great career, but still you could see he still has the desire to play and he's going to continue to play," Flames captain Mark Giordano said. "It's tough when things don't work out as planned. I think there are a lot of different factors, and the bottom line is he's a great guy. He just couldn't get around a few nagging things that were bothering him. I'm sure he'll go back, play and come back stronger."
Jagr played for the Penguins, Washington Capitals, Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Panthers and Flames.
He played for Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League from 2008-11. He played for his native Czech Republic at the Olympics five times, winning the gold medal in 1998 Nagano and a bronze medal in 2006 Torino. Jagr is a member of the Triple Gold Club, adding the gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World Championship to his Olympic gold and Stanley Cup championship.