Original sentence: Because of Lemieux's achievements over the course of his career, the Hockey Hall of Fame waived its three-year waiting period and inducted him as an Honored Member in the same year he retired.However, the Penguins were unable to match Jagr's individual success with a sustained playoff appearance, with a first round exit in 1998 despite being the second seeded team in the east followed by a second round exit in 1999 this time from eighth seed.In 2000 the Penguins stunned the highly touted Washington capitals 4-1 in the first round only to fall to their rivals the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 in the second round.Just when it appeared that the Pittsburgh franchise was about to either move or fold, the reitred Lemieux proposed to recover his millions of dollars of deferred salary by converting it into equity and buying the team.Lemieux retired in 1997.Off the ice, the Penguins were in the midst of a battle for their survival.The captaincy was formally passed to Jagr and for the next 4 seasons, Jagr won 4 consecutive Art Ross Trophies
Edited sentence: Because of Lemieux's legendary status, the Hockey Hall of Fame waived its three-year waiting period and inducted him as an Honored Member in the same year he retired.Despite a strong on-ice product, the Penguins were in the midst of a battle for their survival.For the next 4 seasons, Jagr, as the captain, won 4 consecutive Art Ross Trophies.He had become one of the team's principal creditors due to years of deferred salary adding up to millions of dollars.He proposed to recover his deferred salary by converting it into equity and buying the team.Jagr was clearly the NHL's most dominant player with the absence of Lemieux.Just as he'd saved the Penguins 15 years earlier, he'd done it again.Just when it appeared that the Pens were about to either move or fold, Lemieux stepped forward with an unprecedented proposal.Lemieux retired in 1997 and formally passed the torch to Jagr as the league's leading scorer