Jaromir Jagr refuses to stop moving up the all-time scoring list.
Despite taking three years off to play in the KHL in Russia between 2008 and 2011, the 42-year-old took over sole possession of sixth place on the all-time NHL goal scorer’s list on Friday.
Jagr ate up a juicy rebound by Detroit Red Wings goalie, and fellow Czech, Petr Mrazek, for his fourth goal of the year and 709th of his career. It wasn’t the prettiest one he’s ever scored, but they all count.
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The goal moved Jagr past Mike Gartner, and he now sits just nine shy of Phil Esposito’s 717 goals for fifth place all-time.
At this point Jagr is only looking up at some of the all-time greats on the NHL score sheet. Only Wayne Gretzky (894), Gordie Howe (801), Marcel Dionne (741), Brett Hull (731), and Esposito have scored more goals in their career. One can only imagine where he’d be had he not left for the KHL.
Jagr recorded an assist later in the game on a Peter Harrold goal. The two points move him just one shy of Dionne’s 1,771 career mark for fifth on the all-time list. After Dionne? Former teammate Ron Francis at 1,798.
