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Panthers re-sign living legend Jaromir Jagr to one-year deal

(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Jaromir Jagr will return to the Florida Panthers next season on a one-year contract.

The 44-year-old Jagr led the Panthers in scoring last season with 66 points in 79 games and combined with youngsters Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleskander Barkov to form one of the more dynamic top lines in the NHL.

According to War on Ice, Jagr posted a 50.27 CF% and a plus-1.97 CF%Rel for the Atlantic Division winning Panthers.

Jagr just completed a one-year $3.5 million contract signed last offseason with the Panthers. According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, the deal is for one year at a $4 million base salary, with games played bonuses that could add $1.5 million to the contract. Johnston also reports the deal includes $15,000 in possible performance bonuses: $5,000 for the Hart Trophy, $5,000 for the Art Ross Trophy, $5,000 for the Stanley Cup.

At the team’s getaway day after their first-round loss to the New York Islanders, general manager Dale Tallon referred to an agreement between the two parties as a “win-win for all of us.”

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“Jaromir is a Hall of Fame player and had an excellent season playing alongside Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau,” Tallon said in a statement released by the team Thursday. “His track record speaks for itself, ranking third all-time in points and goals. He has been a great fit with our organization and we are excited to have him back for next season.”

This year, Jagr moved ahead of Brett Hull for third all-time in NHL goals scored. He currently has 749 – a total of 52 behind Gordie Howe for No. 2 in the league’s record book. Jagr also  moved ahead of Howe for third-place on the league’s all-time points list this year. Jagr finished the season with 1,868, just 19 behind Mark Messier for second in NHL history.

As recently as this past March, Jagr has said he wants to continue playing hockey until he’s 60.

Overall, Jagr still has a lot to give in the game. Along with the point totals, he tried to show his legendary training habits to Florida’s younger players. These included late-night skating and workout sessions

“Jaromir has had a tremendous influence on our younger players and has been a key offensive contributor on our team,” Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said in a statement. “We are happy to have him back as we look to build off this year’s playoff appearance.”

This past season he seemed to show a more youthful side to his personality. Early in the year, Jagr embraced the idea to re-grow his signature mullet haircut, which became an obsession at points this season. He also seemed to enjoy his experience as the Atlantic Division’s All-Star Captain after showing some doubt initially on his desire to take part in the new 3-on-3 tournament.

Jagr went without a goal in his team’s six-game first-round playoff exit to the New York Islanders, and vowed to be better next postseason. He has gone 37 straight playoff games without a goal.

“I’m very upset about the playoffs,” he said. “I didn’t play in them for three years and sometimes with the confidence, you don’t score for a couple games and you put pressure on yourself. Even me, at my age, I learn a lot from that. I’m going to be more ready than I was this year.”

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!