Florida Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr wasn't voted into the All-Star Game this year, but he will still attend the weekend's festivities in Los Angeles to take part in the NHL's tribute to the game's top 100 players of all-time.
Jagr revealed the not-so well-kept secret after morning skate Thursday at the BB&T Center.
"It's a little tougher to fly all the way there Friday morning at 7 a.m. and back," Jagr said of the cross-country trip and missing practice time. "I come back to practice on Monday, and we have a game on Tuesday. ... But it's always fun."
The 100 Greatest NHL Players is a centerpiece in honoring 100 years of the NHL. A panel of NHL executives, media members and NHL alumni selected the list. The first 33, who played predominantly during the NHL's first half-century, from 1917-1966, were named on Jan. 1 at the Centennial Classic in Toronto. The remaining 67, who played predominantly from 1967-present, will be introduced Sunday at the NHL All-Star Game in the Staples Center.
Jagr, who turns 45 next month, was voted in as the Atlantic Division All-Star captain last season, and participated in his ninth All-Star Game. He remembered his first All-Star Game in 1992 when he was 19 years old and his second NHL season with the star-laden Pittsburgh Penguins.
"I've never been a big fan. When I was younger I was kind of nervous to go there my first time," said Jagr, who is third in all-time goals with 758 and second in all-time points with 1,897.
"It was my second year and I was voted on [and] playing on the third or fourth line in Pittsburgh. All of a sudden I'm on the starting line for the all stars. I was kind of ashamed. There were so many great players. I was embarrassed and didn't want to go out there. But I had to because I was voted in. It was very cool when I look back on it but I was hoping I'd get injured before the All-Star [Game]. I didn't want to embarrass myself but it's always a lot of fun."
Panthers coach Tom Rowe has become a huge Jagr fan.
"It's great for our franchise; great for him and great for the NHL," Rowe said. "We're trying to sell the game in South Florida and I can't think of a better guy than him. He's great with the fans. They like coming out; the Traveling Jags no matter where we are are with us. That's all positive stuff for our fan base and I think it's great for the kids in the market to watch him."
Jagr misses his sidelined linematers, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, but he has been a huge help for Rowe in his mentoring of some of his younger linemates, such as Jared McCann, 20, and Jonathan Marchessault, 26, as well as first-time All-Star center Vincent Trocheck, 23.
"The reason he's playing with new linemates is he's like a teacher," Rowe continued. "We want him talking to McCann, taking him under his wing and talking to him. Coaches can say an awful lot but sometimes to have a guy like Jagr, it's coming from him then that player's really going to listen to him and do everything he says. He's a great guy for us to have to help develop these young guys."
Jagr has played in all 49 games and is third on the team with 29 points, but tied for first with 20 assists.
