Florida Panthers star and living legend Jaromir Jagr is having the kind of season that makes him seem almost mythic. Now 44 years old, he remains the Panthers’ most productive player and is one away from tying Gordie Howe for third all-time in points in the NHL.

He is meticulous about maintaining his health and goes to great lengths to stay in shape. However, even the Czech superstar has some weirdly unhealthy habits. Like, how about drinking 10 cups a coffee per day? Seriously, this is a thing Jagr say he does… or did.

As he revealed to the Wall Street Journal, the future Hall of Famer started drinking at least 10 cups a coffee a day after kicking his five Diet Cokes per day habit. He lost his taste for Diet Coke last year because he decided to give it up for Lent and no longer cared for it.

A quietly, but very spiritual person, Jagr always gives up something for Lent. And after making the great sacrifice of his beloved Diet Coke last year, those 10 cups of coffee are no more (via WSJ):

“I was drinking 10 a day,” he said. “I felt awful the first few days, I felt like I had no energy at all. I was playing games I didn’t even know I played, the first few games. But then the body got used to it.”

Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent, was Feb. 10 this year. Jagr may have had the caffeine coursing through his veins because he had a game Feb. 12 and had two assists. Then maybe he was feeling the withdrawls and went scoreless over his next two. But since he may not be mortal, Jagr put up eight points over his next six games.

It appears the Legend’s body needed less than a week to adjust to that drastic change. Meanwhile, the rest of us coffee drinkers are in the fetal position just thinking about going without that long.

So how is he finding the extra energy after dropping that daily caffeine intake to zero?

Can't argue with the results. He's averaging over a point per game without those 10 cups of liquid energy, while his season average is 0.78 points per game.

The coffee-free Jagr and the Panthers take on the Colorado Avalanche Thursday night at 9 p.m. ET as No. 68 looks to tie Gordie Howe and keep the team one step ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division standings.

[H/T Deadspin]

Jaromir Jagr made a big sacrifice for Lent this year. (USATSI)
Jaromir Jagr made a big sacrifice for Lent this year. (USATSI)