Seeking to balance out his attack, in the early 1950s, Detroit Red Wings coach Tommy Ivan briefly experimented with Jimmy Peters at center between Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, in place of Production Line regular Sid Abel.
Years later, when he was coaching the team, Abel put center Jimmy Peters Jr. between Howe and Lindsay when he was called up to play for the Red Wings.
While the circumstances aren’t identical, Kevin Klima can somewhat relate.
DET @ NYR – 2/14/1999
Petr Klíma – 3-0 Red Wings #LGRW pic.twitter.com/MOURxZ1HYN
— Red Wings Goals In Order (@RedWingsVids) March 16, 2025
In training camp with Kladno of the Czech Extraliga, Petr Klima’s son is in his first season with the club. During early camp scrimmages, he’s been skating on the same line as NHL legend Jaromir Jagr.
“My dad played with him,” Kevin Klima told Czech website iSport. “Playing with Jágr on the line was a good experience.”
Red Wings Star Played With Jagr
A two-time 30-goal scorer for the Red Wings, Petr Klima wound up on Jagr’s line with the 1996-97 Pittsburgh Penguins toward the end of his NHL career.
Kevin Klima, 28, never imagined he would be getting this chance.
“I didn’t expect him to play for this long,” Klima said of Jagr, 53, who is 25 years his senior.
Jaromír Jágr se společně s Kladnem připravuje na svou 38. profesionální sezonu v kariéře.👏🏼🤩🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/qCiF9KE3E8
— Deník Sport (@DenikSport) July 28, 2025
Jagr, who maintains 20% ownership in the Kladno club, still hasn’t made a firm decision on whether he will be playing this season. If he does, it will be his 38th consecutive campaign in pro hockey. With 1,921 points, he ranks second all-time on the NHL career scoring list.
Jagr collected 5-11-16 totals in 39 games for Kladno last season.
Klima is among 15 new faces in camp with Kladno. There have also been 13 departures from last season’s roster.
The most well-known name among the latter group is forward Eduards Tralmaks. The Latvian winger led the Czech Extraliga last season with 23-28-51 numbers. He signed a contract with the Red Wings in the spring.