I Could Get Used To This

"He was the man here forever," Jaromir Jagr said. "What he did for hockey, not many people can do it. With the leadership and scoring the goals and bringing the Cup...and all the stuff ... you can't replace."

Turns out, this isn't the first time Jaromir Jagr has come to a city in need of a new face for a franchise built around a retired icon. The above quote has nothing to do with Dallas, or Mike Modano. It was pulled from a 2005 AP article, just before Jagr assumed the "C" on Broadway in the wake of Mark Messier's retirement.

Jagr takes the ice at American Airlines Center, Jan. 24, 2013

His words then are probably just as true today: "I don't try to be anything, I just want to play my game."

Then, he wasn't trying to replace The Captain. Today, he's not trying to be the face of a franchise. He's just does the work.

a religious icon sits in Jagr's locker; his pre-game routine has been called religious

For those reading who aren't hockey fans, Jaromir Jagr is a legend. At 40 (and turning 41 on Feb. 15th), Jagr sits in 8th place in all-time NHL scoring & is a lock for the Hall of Fame.

The fans here in Dallas were vibrating as he lit up American Airlines Center with 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) on opening night. It's still early and I don't know what this season holds for the team I love (and photograph), but I am certain of this: it's exciting for me, as a storyteller, to get the chance to document a sentence or two of Jagr's legendary story.

Jagr's opening night performance earned him the game's 1st star

When asked about his 4 points, Jagr told the media, "Don't get used to it."

Despite his caution to the contrary, I really think I could get used to this.

// UPDATE //

I came across this Facebook post the other day that highlights why we are lucky to have Jagr in Dallas. My favorite quote is this one:

"It's not a flawless style, it's not a handsome style, but it is "our" style."

- Jaromir Jagr on the Dallas Stars recent success

Let's hope those successes continue.