Jaromir Jagr

In 1995, Jagr signed a five-year deal worth $19.5 million. To continue his comfort zone in Pittsburgh, he moved his mother over to live with him during the season. His first season under his new contract was his breakout year. In eighty-two games, he had sixty-two goals and eighty-seven assists. This set a new record for a right wing as well as for a European-bred player.

Jagr could not match these numbers in 1996-97 because he was out part of the season with an injury. Though he appeared in sixty-three games, he did manage ninety-five points with a high shooting percentage of 20.09. When Lemieux retired in 1997, the Penguins became Jagr's team, further forcing his maturation process. He returned to form in 1997-98, when he again won the Art Ross Trophy.

In 1998, Jagr played for the Czech team in the 1998 Winter Olympic games in Nagano Japan. The team won the gold, with Jagr contributing one goal and six assists in the tournament. During the 1998-99 season, he became the Penguins' captain, and again won the Art Ross Trophy with forty-four goals and eighty-three assists. Despite a groin injury, Jagr played in the playoffs.

By 1999, Jagr was one of the most recognized players in the world. Relatively media shy, he became a little accommodating of the media as he posted impressive numbers. He also had a new contract that was the biggest in the league, $42 million over six years. Jagr did not let the off-ice distraction of the Penguins being in bankruptcy court throw him off his game. The team was saved by Lemieux who became part-owner.

In 1999-2000, Jagr was again dominant, especially at the beginning of the season. In his first thirty-nine games, he put up thirty-two goals. Jagr continued to make the players who played with him better, and again earned the scoring title. In 2000-01 season, Jagr had a Czech coach, Ivan Hlinka, but the pair did not get along during Hlinka's short-lived tenure. Jagr got to play with Lemieux again when he returned as a player in December, but Jagr twice asked to be traded. He still won the Art Ross Trophy, scoring fifty-two goals and sixty-nine assists, but was unhappy in Pittsburgh.