Ice hockey: Jagr rules out Olympic return due to fitness problems

[February 01, 2018]  PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech ice hockey great Jaromir Jagr, who plans to skate for his hometown team HC Kladno after an unsuccessful stint with the NHL's Calgary Flames, ruled out playing in this month's Winter Olympics due to fitness issues.

The 45-year-old winger, who was a member of the Czech's 1998 Olympic gold medal winning team, said he had considered a return to the national team for the Games in South Korea but has not been able to get match fit.

"I was kind of hoping that if I stayed here in the Czech league or somewhere in Europe, I would get used to the bigger ice and if I was going to be good enough to help the team, there was a possibility to play," Jagr told a news conference.

"But right now, I am not ready, I am not good, I did not play many games, so not a chance."

Jagr joined the Flames earlier this season on a one-year contract, scoring a goal and six assists in 22 games. But the winger has been sidelined since the end of 2017 with a lower body injury that prompted the Flames to release him.

With no other NHL offers forthcoming, Jagr returned home to the team he now owns and where he started his career before the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted him in 1990.

He plans to return to the ice on Saturday for an away game against Benatky nad Jizerou.

Florida Panthers right wing Jaromir Jagr (68) leaps in front of St. Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) during the third period at Scottrade Center. The Panthers won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Jagr, whose haul of 1,921 career points while playing for nine NHL teams is second only to Wayne Gretzky's total of 2,857, said he wants to lead the second league team to the top division.

Since Jagr announced his return, the team has sold out its games and is considering moving to bigger arenas.

"When I am on ice, I am a player, not the owner, so if I make a mistake, they should treat me as an 18-year old boy," Jagr said.

(Reporting by Robert Muller, writing by Michael Kahn, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.