Even in the 2022-23 season, we’re bringing you an investigation across the Atlantic. On the European ice, we focus on events in individual leagues and on the international scene, which are often linked to the NHL. This time we will see how Jaromír Jágr and Kladno will once again fight for survival in the Czech top flight.

Friday will be the D-day for Jaromír Jágr Kladno club owner and legend of the game is waiting for the additional major league match on the also threatened ice of České Budějovice, which will tell a lot about the participants in the dead-game. A possible loss by nil in south Bohemia sent Kladno into it, who dropped a point to their next opponent in the table.

To celebrate Jagr’s 51st birthday, which fell on February 15, fans in the renovated hall’s auditorium hung a giant tarpaulin depicting the greatest European player in NHL history as the Terminator. Karel Gott’s Být stillm mlád blared from the loudspeakers, and the 2:1 win over Mladá Boleslaví also contributed to the generally festive atmosphere.

“Hats off to Džegr. He is still showing how valid he is. He did his best for the team and set an example for all of us,” claimed Adam Kubík, a teammate of the famous forward.

Video: Unforgettable moments: Jaromír Jágr

New York Times reporters and fans from France came to see the birthday boy. Odes poured from all sides about the longevity of the performer who stepped onto the big stage in the 80s of the last century and whose professional career spanned five decades.

“Sometimes there are times when he says enough is enough. But he always shows that it’s still enough. He always finishes the game to the end. His ice time is awesome,” laughs Kubík.

When Kladno won 3-0 in Pilsen two days after losing to Jágr, the clouds in the playoffs appeared to be lifting. But then came three defeats by one goal, and the Knights were in it again.

Last time out at home against Vítkovice, it was Jágr who brought Kladno back into the game at 59:03, but the score remained 1:2. In this match, he spent 18:59 minutes between the goalposts. Only Kubík and Tomáš Plekanec, another player returning from the NHL, trying to keep their parent club among the elite, managed more forwards. But even the heroic rise of the grizzled bullfighter wasn’t enough. So it should be until Friday’s game – or at least it will provide plenty of clues.

“The fight for everything, the result other than victory, doesn’t exist for us,” claims one of Kladno’s coaches, Pavel Skrbek.

At the moment, Jagr doesn’t really care that he recently surpassed Wayne Gretzky in the number of goals scored in the world’s elite leagues and in the national team. Now the playing owner of the club Kladno is even three goals ahead of the brand legend ‘The Great One’, but what if Kladno has playoff concerns?

“It depends on a lot of little things and details. The important thing is to feel that you have done everything for it. But a million other things can happen during a game that affect it. There can be injuries, good performances or bad performances from other teams. On those things those around you, you don’t have to worry about yourself. Only about yourself,” Jágr told Denik.

An unenviable denouement may come in the Budejovice arena. Or Kladno will come to his senses and seal their possession among the elite on Sunday against Karlovy Vary. The Terminator’s ability will be very useful for Jagr now.

Just like when he scored four goals in Budějovice four years ago and Kladno progressed to the extra league.

“I’m still young. If it was four years ago now, I wouldn’t care at all,” joked Jágr.

“I hope that the players have a ready goal,” also believes Kladno goalkeeper Adam Brízgala, whose performance the Kladno players also want to rely on in this year’s battle.

However, twenty-four-year-old Kubík, who was supposed to go to České Budějovice after the season, would probably find himself in a slightly schizophrenic situation.

“It may be unpleasant for me, but I don’t allow it. I will do it one hundred percent. I will fight for Kladno! We want to take it, we will do our best for it,” he said. according to isport.cz.

Another divisive figure was Jágr’s old friend David Čermák, who led the Budejovice team from a coaching position.

“Sometime in December, we talked about the possibility that something like this could happen. And here it is. We have to win against them by three points. If we want to avoid the playoffs, we have nothing else to do,” admitted Skrbek.

During his career, Jágr experienced countless heated matches, including key Stanley Cup duels, World Cup finals and the Olympics in Nagano. But this is something completely different. Especially for a legend who divides his time between playing and owner roles, who seeks financial cover for the season and then still faces complaints from fans who want to see his favorite team move higher up the rankings.

“It’s a little worse for me because I also share this view,” explained Jágr. “I understand that people are interested in how you feel before a match. I don’t even think it matters. A match will lead you to something…”