NHL Legend Marian Hossa Reflects on Career, Jágr Influence, and Future Plans

The former excellent Slovak forward Marián Hossa is one of the hockey players who managed to assert themselves at the highest level long after they passed the age of thirty. As he stated at a meeting with journalists, Jaromír Jágr, whom he looked up to as a youngster, helped him in part to his hockey longevity and great career.

The three-time Stanley Cup winner with Chicago ended his career in the NHL prematurely due to health problems, while in the last season, 2016/17, during which he celebrated his 38th birthday, he still scored 26 goals and 45 points in 77 games, including the playoffs.

As he stated at a meeting with journalists, Jaromír Jágr, whom he looked up to as a youngster, helped him in part to his hockey longevity and great career. Following the example of the Czech legend, he also began to strengthen his legs with portions of squats.

They met in Prague this week and managed to talk. “Jarda Jagr is a legend. He was kind of my role model. He motivated me. I read his book after he won his second Stanley Cup. I told him how he inspired me because I started squatting like him, so we talked about tom. These are interesting debates,” said the 45-year-old Hossa, who is seven years younger than the still-playing owner of extra-league Kladno.

It did not escape the attention of one of the best Slovak hockey players in history when Jágr recently hung his jersey under the ceiling in Pittsburgh and took his number 68 out of use. “In his case, it was just a matter of time. It certainly would have happened a lot sooner if he was done with hockey. But in Pittsburgh, they decided to do it even though he’s still playing at 52. They probably thought they wouldn’t live to see it any other way ” Hossa laughed.

He himself could enjoy such a celebration and honor as early as November 2022, when the number 81 was retired by the Blackhawks, whom he significantly helped to the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. “I congratulated Jared. It’s a big deal. Who else would did he deserve more than he did? I watched it and that ceremony in Pittsburgh was really beautiful. He’s definitely got the Hall of Fame ahead of him,” Hossa said.

Shortly after Jagr, Chicago also paid tribute to former defenseman Chris Chelios in the same way. “He had a really beautiful reputation. Famous people everywhere like John McEnroe, Cindy Crawford, Kid Rock… When I invite someone, mostly hockey people come, but ‘Cheli’ knows movie and music stars or models. He is a really interesting person and I I’m glad I was able to play with him for a year in Detroit. Even though we didn’t win that time, we had a good year and we have good memories. Now he works for Chicago, so we see each other there a lot. I’m glad he invited me too.”

However, Hossa was happy to be able to exchange a few words with other invited greats in Prague. “It was nice to see them – Uwe Krupp, Sandis Ozolinš, Mariusz Czerkawski, with whom my brother played for a change. We have a lot to talk about. I talked to Jari Kurri, he is a legend, he has five Stanley Cups. Such meetings are always great. I talked to Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier a few days ago. We just met in Chicago. We were on a minibus like that together. I watched them as a young kid. I’m having an interesting week,” Hossa smiled.

He continues to follow the events in the NHL, he has his favorites. “I’ll have a coffee in the morning and look at the results. I watch Patrick Kane a lot, who I’m very close to from my days in Chicago. I love watching Connor McDavid. He’s a special player that doesn’t come around often. It’s extraordinary what he can do with speed. A lot of players are fast, but his hockey IQ combined with his speed is exceptional. Nathan MacKinnon or Auston Matthews are similar. Pasta (David Pastrňák) seems to me to be a phlegmatic person who doesn’t think about anything. His technical skills are great. I like Sidney Crosby, for whom age does not matter. He is a great example that even older hockey players can be among the best.”

He was also very interested in young forward Connor Bedard, the number one pick in the last draft, who was acquired by Chicago. “It’s his first year in the NHL. I met him before the start of the season. I can tell he has a great head. I probably notice other things than the average fan, and when I saw him in training, that was something. I saw on him, how he wants to work on himself. We’ll hear a lot more about him. He has a lot of offensive power and his shot is incredible for his age,” praised Hossa.

He could play himself recently, in 2009 he signed with Chicago for twelve years. Health was against. He made the final point last August with a successful farewell exhibition. “Since then, I haven’t been on the ice. Even without hockey, I’m quite busy. I have three daughters, the youngest is a year and a half. So I have to run after them, but I enjoy it. And besides that, I also have my own business – freezers. And so on I run a sports center in Trenčín. That’s what I do, I’m not bored,” said Hossa.

For the time being, he is not interested in getting involved in events surrounding hockey, for example in a managerial role. “Together with Marián Gáborík, who is also from Trenčín, we helped the club with a financial injection to make it work there. We go to watch hockey, but we don’t get more involved. We leave it to the people who are there. Years ago, I was also attracted to Miro The devil that’s in charge of the union, but that was when I wanted to take a break from hockey. I also got an offer to work for the Blackhawks. It would be something like an ambassador, maybe a little more. We didn’t quite agree yet. We left it open. We’ll see how it turns out,” said Hossa.

He is looking forward to the World Championships in Prague and Ostrava. “It’s really great that he will be in the Czech Republic. Ostrava is a short distance from Slovakia, so a lot of fans will come. It’s too early to make any predictions, but the positive of the Slovakian team is that it has two young stars, the German and Slafkovský. When they join them next, it would be promising. The team continues to be led by Craig Ramsay. I have to say that I enjoy watching it under his leadership. If success comes, it will be beautiful,” said Hossa.

He likes the performance of the team under the experienced Canadian coach. “Maybe they will lose a game, but the dynamics, the skating… The guys know what the coach wants from them. I feel good about it, it’s fast, it’s nice to watch. The players are not afraid that something will go wrong. Craig put his head and heel. I believe that some more success will come. We’ll see if this will be his last championship. I’m very happy to come and watch in person. I’d like to enjoy the atmosphere of the championship as a spectator,” planned Hossa.

He himself experienced the WC in the Czech Republic in 2004. “I have beautiful memories of Ostrava. We didn’t lose once there, we felt at home there. But I don’t have such good memories of Prague, it was worse there. I still regret that. I’m a little sad , that I didn’t win a medal with Slovakia at major events. I have two fourth places, also at the Olympics, but no medal. But life goes on. That’s history,” said Hossa.