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Jaromir Jagr went to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring with the Bruins.

(Tom Sczerbowski/USA Today)

Jaromir Jagr is happy to be a member of the Devils, but most of all he is happy to still be playing in the NHL at 41.



"I'm excited. I love the game. I want to keep playing," he said today after reporting for his physical. "I'm excited for the season to start.

“It was a long season for me last year (with the Boston Bruins going to the Stanley Cup Finals). I played probably the most games I ever played—105 games. I didn’t have much time to break, so I didn’t have much time to practice the way I wanted to during the summer. I have 20 days now before the season starts.”

He is not complaining. In fact, he appreciates every minute.

"I think those three years I was in Russia (2008-09 to 2010-11) kind of helped me a little bit to come back and appreciate it more," Jagr suggested. "Probably I wouldn't be playing right now if I didn't go back to Russia. It's tough to say.



"It had been 17-18 years, year after year, with so much pressure. Ten months of hockey, plus the pressure was so much. You have to score every game. It's not easy. Plus me I take everything so personally. That's why I think the three year break in Russia kind of changed me a little bit. That's the reason I'm here in the NHL."



There are some who prefer to play in Russia, namely one former Devils winger.



"We know one guy," Jagr said with a laugh, referring to Ilya Kovalchuk, who left 12 years and $77 million on his Devils contract to sign with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.



"I cannot comment. I'm not in his body," Jagr said. "He's Russian, he's playing home. They love him. He's going to get the same money, maybe more. He's a king in Russia because he's a great player, plus because he left the NHL.



"He's got family and kids. They can be home. They don't have to be in other countries. Plus the team he is playing for is a good team. They're a top class organization. They probably spend more money than NHL teams for their franchise."

Will this be Jagr's last season? Not a chance. Even if no NHL team wants him next year, he'll play at home.

"I said it might be my last year. It depends on how I play," he said. "I don't want to be somewhere where I'm not going to be good or help. Of course I'm going to go back and play in the Czech League. I have to do it.

"I love (the Czech Republic). I love the Czech League. But it's different. 20,000 people here and the playoffs, it's so exciting. (Back home) it's like a singer having a concert and nobody was there. 2,000 people. Or an actor who makes a movie and nobody comes to see it. It doesn't make sense. That's why I like the NHL. You have extra reason to practice, play and be good. Everything means a lot. It's just more exciting."

He said he'd like to play in the 2015 world championships in Prague if he deserves a spot in the Czech national team by that point. He'd be 43.



Jagr scored his first NHL goal against the Devils in 1990. Now he will try to score his first for the team.



"I've played a lot of games against the Devils because they were in the same division as Pittsburgh and the Rangers," he said." It was always tough to score. They had a good defensive structure and Marty was in the net, so it was pretty tough."



Jagr and Martin Brodeur were both drafted in 1990. The Penguins took Jagr fifth overall and the Devils got Brodeur with the 20th overall pick.



"We always talk to each other, in the All-Star Games and when we play each other," Brodeur said. "We're not really close friends but we have that mutual respect of being in the same class of the 1990 draft."



Brodeur said Jagr ranks with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.



"I'm not in that category, but I'm trying my best. No question about it," Jagr said modestly. "I don't think they played at my age."

On playing with Brodeur, Jar said: "I think it's going to be more exciting in the practices. I love to score even in practices and he loves to stop them."



Coach Pete DeBoer said he will not rest Jagr in training camp. Jagr said it will be important to play preseason games.



"It's all about the chemistry with the players," Jagr said. "Any game gets you ready for the season better than practice. There is only one negative about it. Don't get hurt."

Jagr takes care of himself. He said lost 8-10 pounds in the offseason.

"My strength was to play on the boards and protect the puck. So if I lose the weight and if I lose that, I'm going to go back," he said. "I was around 240. Now I'm 230."

Why did he lose the weight?

"I thought I was going to get faster, but that's not the case," he said with a laugh.

Jagr said the Devils' travel schedule is appealing.

"Traveling is probably the easiest. Philly, Rangers, Devils. They changed the traveling a little bit but still I think it's pretty good compared to the other conferences," he said. "I don't mind to fly. I can sleep anywhere. But the toughest thing is, when you fly after a game, you get home three or four o'clock in the morning. When you get older, that screws you up. When you play here, you get home at 12 o'clock."

What are his expectations?

"I don't have any. I just want to be happy and make people happy," Jagr said. "Make those people who brought me here and believe in me happy. That's been my goal for the last three or four years."

At 41 he can help the Devils' kids-- like Patrik Elias and Marek Zidlicky.

"For me it's going to be good because I like to speak Czech. i feel more comfortable when there are Czechs around," he admitted. "The age doesn't really matter. As long as you're willing to work. That's what makes you young, if you keep working.

"I don't want to give an example, but look at Lou. He's a perfect example. He doesn't play hockey but the way he works. Does he look 71? People are dead at 71. I will be, probably. He looks 50.

"The toughest thing is the recovery. Once you push yourself to do it, that makes you happy. I don't want to die. Yet. That's why I keep coming back."