Photo Credit: Wilfredo Lee/AP
Jaromir Jagr is one goal away from taking fourth place on the NHL goals list, a spot that Marcel Dionne has held for more than 30 years.
Both Jagr and Dionne currently hold fourth place on the list with 731 career goals, but Jagr will soon take sole possession of the fourth place spot and push Dionne back to fifth. This comes as no surprise to Dionne, who knew Jagr would make it there eventually.
“Of course, of course,” Dionne told FOX Sports West on Saturday. “That’s the way it is. … I passed a lot of guys over the years, and I never thought when I passed somebody in scoring it was a great thing. It’s about respect. Game’s changed, there were different times … I had a Jagr hockey jersey when he was in Pittsburgh, and I still have it, autographed by him.”
Jagr made his 731st goal on Thursday during the Panther’s game against the Washington Capitals.
“I was waiting for a long time [for goal 731],” Jagr said Thursday after scoring it against the Capitals. “I had some chances; I just couldn’t score. I’m glad it’s behind me. Every record looks like there’s a big karma around it and it’s tough to break it. It’s not the first time that I was stuck on a number. It’s always like that.”
Jagr began his NHL career on Oct.5 1990, and since then has played 1,578 games, as a part of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, and currently the Florida Panthers.
In his NHL career, Jagr is also sixth on the NHL assists leaders list, having 1,092 assists in his career, and is fourth on the NHL points leaders list, having 1,823 points.
With 731 career goals, Jagr is not only one goal away from taking fourth place, but is also just 10 goals behind Brett Hull for third place, with 741 career goals.
“And it’s one thing to say [Jagr] wants to play like until he’s 50 years old — I mean there’s other things after hockey, right? — but now the challenge is never mind me, he’s got to try to get Brett Hull,” Dionne joked. “If he doesn’t get him this year, that could be it. So Brett’s going to have to worry about it.”
The 43-year-old elite player will sit out of play on tonight matchup against the New York Islanders due to the flu, but many are hoping once he returns to the ice this week he will grab his record-breaking goal.
Jagr’s next opportunity to grab his fourth place goal will be the Panther’s Thursday night game in New Jersey against the Devils.
