On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Pittsburgh Penguins legend Jaromir Jagr revealed some interesting information about Edmonton Oilers icon Paul Coffey on Friday during the event “An Evening With Jaromir Jagr” as part of Pittsburgh’s Celebrate 68 weekend.
Jagr is no name that is unfamiliar in the sport of hockey. From his luscious mullet to his ability to control the game with the puck in his possession, Jagr left an undeniable mark on the sport throughout his 24 years in the NHL.
However, time has passed, and Jagr, now 52, still remains as physically fit as ever. To emphasize, he’s still playing professional hockey for Rytiri Klando in Czechia Extraliga, where he serves as the team’s owner and president.
During the event on Friday, Jagr revealed that he credits Coffey for pushing his fitness to the next level when the two were teammates for the first two years of Jagr’s career in Pittsburgh (1990-91 and 1991-92).
Before Jagr joined the NHL, he was already working out — as to be expected of any professional athlete — revealing in previous interviews that at a young age, he would do 1,000 squats a day and 300 pushups. Still, he was not ready for what Coffey had in store, “I thought I was working hard, but he showed me another level,” he said.
Coffey’s “training” was simple yet challenging for 18-year-old Jagr.
“He took me to the gym, and he said listen, from now on, you’re gonna do the bike, you’re going to do sprints,” Jagr said. “One minute on, one minute off. It was the hardest thing I ever did in my life.”
Jaromir Jagr said Paul Coffey was his biggest influence when it came to practice. "He took me to the gym and he said listen, from now on you're gonna do the bike, you’re going to do sprints, one minute on, one minute off. It was the hardest thing I ever did in my life."
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) February 17, 2024
Despite finding the nearest garbage can a handful of times, Coffey pushed him to the next level, then the next, and so on.
“I couldn’t handle it,” Jagr said. “But he said you got to do it, so I did it.”
The influence of the seasoned NHL veteran on the rookie paid off, and Jagr continued to focus on his physical fitness throughout his career. That included late-night workouts, double workouts after games, and skating with a 30-pound weighted vest.
“While the rest of the NHL is sleeping, he is working,” said his former New York Rangers teammate Petr Prucha.
Jagr’s legacy was born in Pittsburgh after being drafted fifth overall by the Penguins in the 1990 NHL Draft. He contributed to two consecutive back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 and 1992 for the Penguins, won more awards than you could count on one hand, and remains fifth in franchise history for games played and fourth in goals, points, and assists. Over 806 games with the Penguins, Jagr recorded 439 goals and 1079 points.
The former Penguins had his No. 68 sweater raised into the rafters of PPG Paints Arena ahead of the puck drop between the Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings.
More must-reads:
- NHL players who will send their GM a 'thank you' card next summer
- NASCAR makes major Austin Hill decision after controversial Indianapolis crash
- The 'NFL stadium names' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
Bruins' David Pastrnak Calls Out Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky: He Just Lacks Humility'
Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the most promising players in the NHL, but now he has been called out by David Pastrnak, who stated he lacks humility. After being picked No. 1 overall in 2022 NHL Draft, expectations were high in Montreal for young star Juraj Slafkovsky, and thus far, he's shown glimpses of being the elite level player many expected when he entered the National Hockey League. However, there are still some major steps to go, and in a recent interview, Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak pointed out perhaps one area where the 21-year old may need to improve moving forward. When asked about Slafkovsky and his potential, Pastrnak gave nothing but a glowing review of the young Canadiens star, but he did note that he believes Slafkovsky needs more humility. 'He's still a young player who is gaining experience in the NHL every year. This season it was already clear that he gave the team more than before...He just needs a little more humility, he should set an example for the young ones.' On the ice, there's no doubting that Slafkovsky has the presence, the size and the talent to be a true star, posting 101 total points over the past two seasons, but for whatever reason, it appears as though Pastrnak believes he needs to improve off the ice before he can take a major leap in Montreal. Ultimately, the talent is still there for Slafkovsky, and at 21-years old, he'll continue to learn off the ice, and if he can go anywhere close to living up to the potential that he's shown in his first three years at the NHL level, there's no doubt that he can be a big time star and help lead the Canadiens to significant post-season success.
Controversial Former Bruins First Rounder Hits Free Agency After Unexpected Contract Termination
Orioles, Blue Jays pull off unique trade midway through doubleheader
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired one of baseball's premier relievers to bolster their bullpen. In a trade with the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto is adding Seranthony Dominguez to its pitching staff, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. While the move solidifies the Blue Jays' status as buyers, it's the timing of the transaction that stands out. The Orioles finished a 16-4 walloping of the Blue Jays just hours before the deal went down, and while it's not unheard of to see a player traded to a franchise his former team is visiting, the fact that the two teams will face off again Tuesday night at 6:35 PM EST makes this a truly unique swap. Dominguez may not suit up in his first official contest as a Blue Jay, but he will be switching clubhouses before the second half of the team's doubleheader. It won't take long for the veteran reliever to make an impact, either, as bullpen production has stood out for a Toronto team that has been dominating in most aspects of the game. In 43 appearances with the Orioles this season, Dominguez has posted a respectable 3.24 ERA over 41.2 innings. He hasn't quite returned to the impressive form he was in with the Phillies from 2018 to 2022, but the value is obvious for a team hoping to capture its third World Series in franchise history. The rebuilding Orioles acquired right-handed pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown, who was ranked as Toronto's 10th-best prospect in the latest MLB Pipeline team Top 30 Prospects list. The 23-year-old has gone 2-5 over 19 starts across High-A and Double-A this year, posting a combined 3.54 ERA while striking out 115 over 89 innings. As two teams heading in vastly different directions this season, it's a sensible move for both sides. Dominguez is an unrestricted free agent after this season, making him a rental for Toronto down the stretch. If Watts-Brown continues to show promise, though, the trade could ultimately be deemed a win for Baltimore.
Report: Bengals draw hard line in Trey Hendrickson contract talks
Cincinnati Bengals star defensive end Trey Hendrickson has been holding out from training camp as he seeks a new contract, and it does not sound like the two sides are all that close to a deal. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on "SportsCenter" Monday that there has been "some progress" in negotiations between the Bengals and Hendrickson's representatives over the past week or so. The real disagreement has to do with guaranteed money, and Cincinnati's brass is not budging. "Hendrickson wants a stronger guaranteed structure, particularly later in what should be a multiyear deal. In talking to people with the Bengals they feel like, 'Hey, we've probably relented as far as we can go.' So this is a classic stare-off right now, and it's time to buckle up," Fowler said, via Andrew Peters of Bleacher Report. Hendrickson is set to earn $16M in base salary in the final year of his contract this season. He recently said he has shown a willingness to take less than market value on a new deal, but the Bengals do not want to guarantee him money beyond the 2026 season. Based on what he has said, the 30-year-old Hendrickson is not seeking to become the highest-paid defensive player in football. In order to accomplish that, he would have to top the three-year, $123M extension T.J. Watt signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Hendrickson had 35 sacks over the past two seasons, which was the most in the NFL during that span. He had 17.5 sacks each season and finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024. The Bengals took care of one major offseason issue on Sunday when they finally signed first-round pick Shemar Stewart to a rookie deal. All it will take is one side to budge in the team's ongoing stalemate with Hendrickson, but all parties seem to be dug in as training camp rolls on.
Ex-Packers Star May be About to Lose his Starting Job
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones was a virtual nonfactor against the Packers last season, but Green Bay may be seeing a little less of the veteran back in the pair of meetings against their NFC North rivals this season. In two games against the Packers, Jones rushed for 140 yards but failed to reach the end zone in either game, as the Vikings swept the season series against Green Bay. However, there’s a chance Jones may already have been supplanted in Minnesota’s backfield. Ex-Packers RB Aaron Jones Splitting Reps with Jordan Mason Early in Vikings training camp, Jones might be losing his grip on Minnesota’s No. 1 running back role. Multiple reports say Jones is splitting carries with Vikings newcomer Jordan Mason, who Minnesota acquired in an offseason trade with the San Francisco 49ers. “The news is noteworthy but not particularly surprising,” Ryan Smith points out for Pro Football Focus. “Given that the team traded for Mason in March and then signed him to a two-year, $7 million fully guaranteed deal that could reach up to $12 million. Seifert believes that Mason and former Pro Bowler Aaron Jones will have a near 50-50 split in terms of playing time this season. “Last year, both Jones (76.5 PFF rushing grade) and Mason (76.1) ranked among the top 20 running backs in the league in PFF rushing grade. Jones has shown the ability to be a more dangerous threat through the air, as evidenced by his 70.6 PFF receiving grade last year and nearly 2,500 career receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.” Jones, in his first season with the Vikings, rushed for a career-high 1,138 yards and five touchdowns. If Minnesota takes a backfield by committee approach, it could bring out the best in both backs, after Jones was the Vikings’ lead-dog in 2024 and Mason wound up emerging as an explosive option in San Francisco after Christian McCaffrey’s season-ending injuries.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
