Jaromir Jagr hints at retirement.

I was genuinely beginning to believe that National Hockey League legend Jaromir Jagr would play hockey at the professional level forever, with the living legend showing no signs of slowing down despite being 50 years old, but recent comments by Jagr have now put that admittedly impossible belief in doubt.

Over the weekend the future Hockey Hall of Famer spoke to the media in his home country of Czechia and revealed that his focus on ownership of the Kladno Knights of the Czech Extraliga was taking up so much of his time that he no longer truly has the desire to get back on the ice and play. In fact Jagr said that he would perhaps consider playing at a later date in the season, but only due to the fact that he had already made a promise to do so.

"It's certainly not close, not at all," said Jagr of returning to the ice.  "To be honest, I don't even feel like it. Only if the Winter Classic, which I promised, was still to be held, I would probably have to force myself to go play. Otherwise, it doesn't pull me back at all."

That is quite the statement considering that Jagr has been playing hockey professionally since the 1988-89 season when he began his career with the team that he now owns, Kladno. It may even be that Jagr will never again lace up the skates professionally, especially considering the fact that the Winter Classic he referenced is currently still up in the air.

When he was asked if he might retire from professional play, Jagr admitted that it was indeed a possibility.

"It's possible," admitted the former NHL superstar. "But as I say, I'll see how it goes with the Winter Classic. Maybe I'll get a kick out of it, I really don't know. But really - right now I don't have the motivation and I don't even feel like it. I would have to sacrifice a lot. Diet, regeneration, training."

If this is indeed the end Jagr has had one of the most remarkable careers of any hockey player in the history of the sport.