Though not on scoresheet, Jaromir Jagr imparts wisdom in first game with Panthers
SUNRISE, Fla. -- In the first of what will likely be many must-win games for the Florida Panthers in their push for the playoffs, the team received a much-needed spark from their newest addition.
Jaromir Jagr, who was acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Thursday for two draft picks, was held off the scoresheet in his Panthers debut, but he still managed to make his presence felt in Florida's 5-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
Trailing 2-0 and already 0 for 4 on the power play, forward Brandon Pirri said he received a few meaningful words of encouragement from the 43-year-old veteran on the bench before netting goals on back-to-back power plays to tie the game midway through the second period.
"(Jagr) goes to me, 'Shoot the puck, you got it,' " Pirri said.
"The next two went in."
Such was the case for Jagr in his first game as a Panther as Saturday's game quickly turned into a 60-minute hockey lesson for the team's group of receptive young skaters. A veteran of over 1,500 NHL games, the future Hall of Famer was eager to impart wisdom upon his new teammates.
"There were little things he told me on the bench that really helped," left winger Jonathan Huberdeau said of his new linemate. "I think he's going to be a big mentor for me, and I'm going to follow him."
Arriving only a few hours before puck drop, Huberdeau says he and Jagr didn't have much time to become properly acquainted before the game, but he nevertheless picked up several new tricks from the savvy veteran throughout the night.
"(He told me) when you get a pass you should get a step on it instead of stopping," Huberdeau said. "Little things like that that I sometimes don't do. He knows how to beat defenseman, so he told me things like that."
On a team filled with soon-to-be stars, Jagr spent the majority of Saturday's game not only advising his teammates on the bench, but also giving them more room to work with on the ice.
A legend of the game, Jagr's presence on the ice demands a certain level of respect that his teammates envy and opposing teams can't ignore.
"I think he gives a lot more space on the ice," Huberdeau said. "He's a big guy in the corner, and a lot guys go at him because he's good with the puck. It's been good, we got some chances."
Jagr, meanwhile, was all smiles after securing his first victory as a member of the Panthers and shared his excitement in joining one of the NHL's most prominent up-and-coming organizations.
At his age, Jagr said his teachings might be just as valuable as his on-ice contributions to the Panthers going forward. His mind as sharp as ever, he now sees himself doing more directing on the ice rather than finishing.
"I've got a lot of experience, and there's a lot of young guys. It's even making me excited a little more," Jagr said. "It's kind of a new life. At my age, I feel like I know a lot of things what to do, but I just cannot do it anymore. It's a lot easier to tell them what to do because they've still got the legs and hands to do it.
"I just know things, but I cannot do them anymore."
As for what fans can expect of him going forward, Jagr says they'll have to wait to find out.
"I don't want to talk about myself," Jagr said. "You will see."
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