What we learned from Jaromir Jagr’s reunion with Penguins: Planning, execution and what’s next

Few things in life live up to their hype. Jaromir Jagr’s official NHL homecoming — a dayslong celebration of his 11 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who retired his No. 68 jersey Sunday night — is one of the exceptions.

From his arrival Thursday to a birthday cake (burnt almond torte) through his candor at a town hall event Friday night, and then his surreal practice with the current Penguins team Saturday afternoon — the main event Sunday certainly could have been overshadowed.

It wasn’t.

The Penguins put on a Masters-level class on how to honor an iconic player. No details were spared, including new, crisp banners for their other retired numbers (Mario Lemieux’s No. 66, and the late Michel Brière’s No. 21) before an understated one for Jagr was unveiled in front of him, his mother, Anna Jagrova, and his girlfriend. A pregame ceremony many within the Penguins felt would run short went long, not by much, because every time Jagr paused during his speech a packed house at PPG Paints Arena serenaded him with applause.

It was as if Jagr’s exile period — he was traded in 2001 and turned down an offer to again play for the Penguins in 2011 — was erased from Pittsburgh’s hockey history. If the so-called Jagr Watch of 2011 hinted that Penguins fans and Jagr wanted to love one another again, Jagr’s past few days in Pittsburgh, and especially Sunday night, were akin to a hit romance drama’s long overdue sequel.

The Athletic covered a lot of ground leading up to and through “Celebrate 68” events. What better way to wrap everything up than by sharing what we’ve learned about the planning, execution and what might happen now that Jagr is “home.”

Terrible crew for dinner… I can tell all were great players but u have NO idea how great they are as people…I’m No one but I’m with Legends pic.twitter.com/310HoNCwpg

— Matthew Barnaby (@MattBarnaby3636) February 18, 2024

A private dinner Saturday night for Jagr and former teammates/personnel in Pittsburgh for the proceedings produced an iconic photograph of Lemieux, Jagr and Ron Francis, who hadn’t returned for previous celebrations of the early 1990s Penguins.

Though Jagr idolized Lemieux, Francis was the primary center until Francis parted with the Penguins after the 1997-98 season. It’s easy to forget that Francis served as captain of the Penguins that season, with Jagr taking the reins from him (not Lemieux) and holding that role until his departure after the 2000-01 season.

The captaincy lineage: Lemieux (1987-88 through 1993-94, 1995-96 through 1996-97 and 2001-02 through 2005-06); Francis (1994-95, 1997-98), Jagr (1998-99 through 2000-01), and Sidney Crosby (2007-08 to current).

Quite a list, eh?

Anyway, the dinner was held at Alla Famiglia, a popular Pittsburgh-area scratch Italian eatery. Fenway Sports Group, which purchased the Penguins a couple of years ago, picked up costs for that dinner and all team alumni travel accommodations.

Mario Lemieux was always planning to attend Jagr’s ceremony. His inclusion was kept a secret because Lemieux did not want to take away from Jagr, and Lemieux was aware his first public appearance at a Penguins game since his ownership group sold to FSG likely would have been treated as its own story.

Jagr said he, Lemieux, and Lemieux’s wife, Nathalie, had a long, pleasant conversation Friday night.

The Penguins intentionally announced Lemieux last among returning alumni for the ceremony Sunday night. He walked to the staging area while waving to fans amid a rapturous reception.

There is hope within the Penguins organization that Jagr’s reunion with the Penguins will entice Lemieux to feel more comfortable being around the franchise. Though Lemieux and FSG haven’t seen eye to eye on everything since the sale, he could just want a break after playing for and then owning the Penguins and to enjoy life with his family.

Jagr said Sunday that when people think of him, they think of the Penguins. That’s even more true of Lemieux.

It’s worth noting that Lemieux has always wanted Jagr’s number to hang next to his at whatever Pittsburgh rink the Penguins call home. He first made that clear, albeit privately, after Jagr was traded in 2001.

The Penguins spent months working on plans for various events featuring Jagr. Kevin Acklin, their president of business operations, wanted more than just a ceremony to celebrate Jagr — in part, Acklin said, to “let Jags know just how loved he is by our fans and everyone in the city.”

Only a few weeks out, Jagr told friends he was sure some fans would boo him. In hindsight, it’s logical to read many of his public comments — especially when he revealed details about his infamous trade request in 2001, but also when he implored local reporters to “close the chapter” Sunday before the jersey retirement ceremony — as Jagr lobbying for goodwill.

None was necessary.

Jagr was treated like a legend. He needed all of 24 hours in Pittsburgh to feel comfortable and gain confidence.

Can’t share video of #Jagr ceremony, but here’s a cool shot of Jaromir Jagr just before his @penguins jersey is about to go to rafters @TheAthleticNHL pic.twitter.com/RkyD2wz9cy

— Rob Rossi (@Real_RobRossi) February 18, 2024

Paul Steigerwald, who had done just about everything except play for and coach the Penguins, was a fantastic choice to emcee the town hall and Jagr’s jersey retirement ceremony. He and Jagr constantly bantered with one another, showing the depth of a relationship that dates to Steigerwald’s taking Jagr clothes shopping at a mall for a television story in 1990.

Though Jagr shouted out Mike Lange, the longtime Voice of the Penguins who did not attend Sunday’s ceremony, it’s Steigerwald who expertly connected Jagr’s era as the missing link between those of Lemieux and Crosby.

Steigerwald’s interview with Jagr for a Penguins 50th-anniversary documentary late last decade opened the door for a mending of fences between Jagr and the Penguins. Phil Bourque’s visit with Jagr in Kladno, Czech Republic, in early 2020 moved the puck forward.

From Acklin to Steigerwald to Bourque — other current and former Penguins employees did some heavy lifting, too — it was a team task to deliver this moment for Jagr.

One event Jagr doubted would go well until it happened — and then played out spectacularly — was practicing with the current Penguins on Saturday. Jagr was open to the idea as pitched by coach Mike Sullivan, who also brought Crosby in on the decision. Jagr, though, originally intended just to take the ice for about 10 minutes.

He spent most of the practice working drills and taking time to share a moment with every player he could. For their part, the likes of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang were thrilled with how the practice went.

Seeing the Penguins behind-the-scenes videos of Jagr interacting with the big three, you couldn’t help but think he would have fit in had Jagr rejoined the franchise in 2011. On multiple occasions during his trip to Pittsburgh, Jagr explained his decision to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers. He even doubted if that decision was the right one.

After practicing with and talking to Jagr on Saturday, Letang spoke defiantly when he said the Penguins would have been a good fit for Jagr in 2011. There might be some revisionist history, or perhaps hindsight being 20/20, but it’s clear Jagr enjoyed his time on the ice with Crosby, Malkin and Letang as much as they did.

A question on the mind of many Penguins fans is who will join Brière, Lemieux, and Jagr with retired numbers. There are ongoing discussions within the organization as to how the franchise can differentiate between icons such as Lemieux and Jagr — players who won the Cup after starting with the Penguins, but also won individual NHL Awards and are in or will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame — and other important contributors to the franchise’s storied history.

One determination is locked in: Crosby and Malkin will have their numbers retired after their playing days are finished.

As for the likes of Letang — or everyone from Francis and Paul Coffey to Marc-Andre Fleury and modern-era popular players — nothing has been ruled out or determined.

The statue of Lemieux outside one of the gates at PPG Paints Arena will at some point get company. An ardent Penguins fan can probably formulate an educated guess as to which person might have that rare honor bestowed upon him.

(Top photo of Evgeni Malkin, Jaromir Jagr and Sidney Crosby: Joe Sargent / NHLI via Getty Images)