Knights Without Jagr

While the title of this article could be misheard as the title of a romance novel when said aloud, it seems that there's a major shake-up happening in the Czech Extraliga as the Rytíři Kladno, aka the Kladno Knights, are about to change ownership. As you may know, the Knights are currently owned by hockey legend and Kladno native Jaromir Jagr, but it seems he's getting out of the hockey ownership game after it was announced today that Jagr will sell a majority stake in the club to Czech businessman Tomáš Drastil who wants to restore the glory of the Kladno franchise and its youth team. This may seem like big news, but it seems this may have been coming sooner than later.

According to the idnes.cz website, Drastil "will acquire 80 percent of the club, while Jágr is to keep 20 percent" once the business deal is complete. Nothing has been signed or completed yet, but both Drastil and Jagr will start the process in the near future with the hopes that this deal can be completed quickly. News broke in late November that Drastil was interested in buying the hockey club from Jagr, and it appears that will now happen.

Drastil confirmed in an interview with Rudolf Muzika of denik.cz on November 27, 2024 that "he has made a specific offer to the current 100% owner of the Knights, Jaromír Jágr" and was waiting on a response from the former NHL star. Muzika also confirmed the rumoured rift between Jagr and the city with Kladno mayor Milan Volf telling Muzika that he was in favour of a change in ownership.

Speaking about Jagr's comments that the city had stopped supporting the club, Volf matter-of-factly told Muzika,

"I'll repeat for the last time that this is nonsense. We only stopped the five million subsidy for the A-team of adults, because it basically doesn't matter if we put it there or not, the result is always the same. We subsidize the youth with 8.5 million, we pay thirty million for the operation of the stadium, which we also renovated. By a sober estimate, the income from the stadium generates roughly 10 million for hockey, where we are talking not only about ice rentals, but also, for example, skyboxes, VIP and representative areas or public skating. We also pay security and organizers for matches, but the money earned from entrance fees or the sale of refreshments goes to the club's treasury. That's good, we want to help, but then no one can accuse us of not supporting them."

Based on today's news, it appears that Volf will get his wish as Jagr will take a backseat to Drastil in the club's ownership, and it seems the Czech businessman has a plan for the Kladno Knights when he takes over operations. Drastil told denik.cz on November 22, 2024,

"My vision is based primarily on long-term work with youth and the return of youth hockey to where it belongs. Kladno has always and historically raised successful representatives and if the club is to be successful in the long term, it must be successful in working with youth. And when I see how our teamwork with youth in Slaný has been successful, I believe that I will be able to assemble the right team of hockey professionals and enthusiasts in Kladno and to cement that team. Kladno needs to become a catchment club again, which can be achieved by creating a so-called umbrella and cooperating with smaller clubs in the surrounding area."

Drastil is also on record as saying that the Kladno Knights will not move out of the city, stating that "[i]t is the biggest diamond in the city of Kladno and must stay". He will need to negotiate a new arena lease deal with the city of Kladno, but Volf appears willing to work with Drastil after his past experiences in working with Jagr.

"With all due respect to Jaromír Jágr for what he has achieved in his career, but he is in charge of the hockey stick, not hockey. Negotiations with him are very complicated, almost impossible for me, because we are not moving anywhere and I only see an outstretched hand. Jarda and I met for the last time before the play-offs and then I waited in vain for him to come and solve the situation," Volf told Muzika.

Business aside, we already know that Jagr has committed to making this season his last as a player, but it would appear that he's going to leave the hockey spotlight altogether with the sale of the Knights to Drastil. According to the idnes.cz article, "Jágr's family has been managing the traditional Kladno club since the autumn of 1994, and he himself has been managing it since 2011. Six years later, he became a 100% owner. Since then, Kladno has spent a total of three seasons in the first league, and in the last three extra league seasons, they have always ended up in the relegation zone."

Perhaps that last part about relegation will change under new management as Drastil is a 44 year-old businessman who "is a partner in a number of companies and currently does business abroad, mainly in the United States." Drastil's son, Simon, plays hockey with the Dallas Stars Elite 15-Only team where he's a defender while Tomáš's TGM Fotbal company "purchased a forty percent stake in the joint-stock company that owns the Vysočina Jihlava football club". In short, it would appear that Tomáš Drastil is well-connected and well-funded as he looks to add the Knights hockey club to his portfolio.

When questioned about the financial commitment needed to raise the Kladno Knights back to prominence, Drastil was clear about having the necessary means to realize his vision, telling denik.cz, "Yes, otherwise I wouldn't go into it and enter into negotiations." With a deal reportedly struck between Drastil and Jagr, it appears we're going to find out if that vision will bear fruit in the coming years.

Much like another Penguins superstar who sold his majority stake in a hockey club, the Kladno Knights will have a new boss beginning next season. Jagr will still be involved thanks to his 20% ownership stake, but, like Mario Lemieux, he'll play a far smaller role in the operations and decision-making process than before. Tomáš Drastil will sit at the desk in the big office and we'll see where he leads the Knights.

Maybe we'll see Jaromir Jagr actually retire and enjoy the game from the other side of the glass now? Time will tell!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!