NHL AWARDS CEREMONY

June 24, 1999

Jaromir Jagr

JAROMIR JAGR: To win this trophy, you needed to be very lucky. You needed to stay healthy all year long, and of course you needed help from a lot of people, from the coaches, trainers, my teammates, my friends. This year, I had it all. That's why I won it. Thank you, very much.

JAROMIR JAGR: This is probably the best thing happen to me since 1991 when we win the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. It's even more special because Wayne Gretzky is standing behind me right now. Well, I guess I can say anything I want. I want to say, Wayne, thanks for everything you did for hockey. First of all, I want to say thanks to my ex-teammates, players like Paul Coffey, Ron Francis, Mario Lemieux. By the way, I just find out he's my new owner. Congratulations, Mario (laughter). I say thanks to my teammates, my trainers, just to keep me smile all the time and the jokes all the time. I just love it. Just feel better all the time. To my fans in Pittsburgh, all over the world. To my parents, that's the biggest thanks, because without them I wouldn't be standing here right now. Also to the Penguins organization, especially Craig Patrick, putting such a good team together, spending a lot of money (laughter). Well, that's all I'm going to say. Hopefully I can see you next year. Thank you, very much.

JAROMIR JAGR: What do you mean, excited?

JAROMIR JAGR: I was happy I won it, that's all. Getting excited everywhere, even if I score a goal, getting some trophy. It's always nice to get something.

JAROMIR JAGR: Well, I said on the stage, this is probably the best thing happen to me since 1991 when we won the Cup. Just even when I was a little kid, I always dream of something, going to win something big, or to be the best player. You know, here I am right now. It's great.

JAROMIR JAGR: I'm not that kind of player trained to beat somebody, compare to somebody. I'm trying to compare myself to my best. That's what I always do. Things I believe is, you know, if somebody is more talented than you, and he's playing his best, no matter how hard you try, you not going to reach it, you know. I think everybody should just chase their best.

JAROMIR JAGR: I heard that news two hours ago. I said, "That's great." It's great for Pittsburgh because last year, especially in playoffs, I just find out the fans really love hockey in Pittsburgh. They're very excited during the playoffs. They give us a lot of support. Other side, you know, I'm very glad the guy who survive -- who save the Penguins 15 years ago saved them again. That's Mario Lemieux.

JAROMIR JAGR: That's what he said?

JAROMIR JAGR: Wow! (Laughter). That's a good news.

JAROMIR JAGR: Well, I know I shouldn't compare those two trophies, but might sound strange, but the trophy I really love is the trophy I was voted by the players. I don't know if you guys understand that, but those players who I play against every night. If they give me so much respect, I just appreciate it so much. That's the trophy I appreciate the most.

JAROMIR JAGR: I'm happy about it. I'm happy for him. I'm happy for the City of Pittsburgh. You know, the guy who saved them 15 years ago. Without him, if he wouldn't play in Pittsburgh, there wouldn't be hockey in Pittsburgh. He saved them again. Hopefully, you know, we going to get good enough players to win the Stanley Cup together again.

JAROMIR JAGR: I had a lot of special moments this year. Like you said, I played the last game of Wayne Gretzky's career. I scored the overtime goal. I had so much fun in the dressing room around those guys. Probably the most fun I ever had to play hockey. Just everything went the right way. Tonight I won three trophies, you know. Was just lucky year for me.