Panthers grateful for lasting legacy of Jagr's tenure

NEW YORK -- The Florida Panthers won't soon forget the impact Jaromir Jagr made during his time with their team.
Jagr was reassigned by the Calgary Flames to Kladno in his native Czech Republic on Monday, likely signaling the end of a legendary career in the NHL. He had signed as an unrestricted free agent with Calgary on Oct. 4.

From 2015 to 2017, he played alongside forwards Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau with the Panthers. Jagr had 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in 79 games in the 2015-16 season, helping Florida win the Atlantic Division.
The New Jersey Devils traded Jagr to the Panthers for two draft picks on Feb. 26, 2015.
\[RELATED: Jagr's offensive production places him among greats in NHL history\]
"When he got traded to our team, I think we were all very surprised and excited," forward Nick Bjugstad said after practice Monday at Barclays Center. "He came in and he didn't act like he was an all-star or a future Hall of Famer; he just acted like one of the guys.
"Just seeing him, his work ethic, all the stuff that he did off the ice that was hockey specific was pretty helpful for all us guys. Obviously playing with Barkov and Huberdeau, those guys have taken off ever since. Everyone benefited from him, whether it was just chatting with him on the bus or watching him play in the corners. That's what I'll take most out of it.
"He's a good friend, good guy, good player. He had a great career, obviously, longer than mostly anyone in the League. He's got to be proud about that. You can only pray to play as long as he did and be as effective as he was. It was definitely an honor to be able to play with him."
Huberdeau, a first-round pick by the Panthers (No. 3) at the 2011 NHL Draft, scored an NHL career high 20 goals with Jagr as a linemate in 2015-16. He has 16 goals and 31 assists for 47 points in 47 games this season.

Barkov, the No. 2 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, had 59 and 52 points in the two full seasons Jagr was in Florida. This season, he has 15 goals and 28 assists for 43 points in 46 games. He played in the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Sunday.
"I played with him for two years. At first, it was kind of crazy, playing with a player like him," Huberdeau said. "But I think he made it such an easy task. It didn't matter if he was a legend, he didn't care. He was trying to help us young guys and give us confidence. I just appreciate everything he did for us.
"He was a great teammate. Playing with a legend, that's the thing I can tell my kids, playing with a guy like him, a Hall of Famer. Second all-time in points, it's crazy. Such a great career. I'm really happy for him."