Jagr named Panthers' Masterton Trophy nominee
The Florida Panthers announced their nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy on Friday, and many would agree with goaltender Roberto Luongo about the selection of the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."
"It can only be Jaromir Jagr, right?" Luongo said, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald. "I mean, if there's one person who is dedicated to the game, it's him. He's on it 24/7. You have to if you're going to do what he does at that age."
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Despite being the oldest player in the NHL, Jagr is leading the Panthers in scoring with 61 points as his team sits first in the Atlantic Division. The 44-year-old credits his success to simply enjoying what he does everyday.
"You have to love the game if you're going to play at a high level," said Jagr. "Sometimes if you love (the game) and sacrifice everything for it, the worst thing is not seeing any results for whatever reason.
"This year, even when I was traded here last year, I've been able to play with really good players. That's made my motivation even higher. The better you feel, the better you play."
Jagr has repeatedly stated he does not want to retire, and Panthers co-owner Doug Cifu has stated he wants to have him back, but the pending free agent says he will not discuss his contract situation until season's end.
The local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' association nominates a candidate from each team for the Masterton.