Hockey players can be a superstitious bunch. They eat the same things before games, they put their equipment on the same way every time, and they can get quite attached to the number on their jersey.
But, what happens when two players who prefer the same number end up on the same team? This week, I’m looking at players who had to wear numbers that maybe weren’t their first choice, and we definitely aren’t used to seeing them wear.
One of the most famously polarizing goals in NHL history- fair or not? Argue below.
1. jersey number hull-abaloo
In 1999, future Hall of Famer, Brett Hull joined the Dallas Stars after 11 seasons in St. Louis. It was a move that all but solidified a Stanley Cup Championship for both Dallas and Hull, himself. In fact, Brett Hull would score the Stanley Cup winning goal that year.
But, he did it wearing number 22 instead of his iconic number 16, because Pat Verbeek had been wearing number 16 in Dallas since 1996. Verbeek left Dallas the following year, and Hull was able to switch back to his sweet 16.
A few years later, Hull moved on to Detroit, where he would win his second Stanley Cup. And again, he would do it without his preferred number 16, which had been informally retired since Vladimir Konstantinov’s career-ending limo accident in 1997. So, while we all remember Brett Hull as number 16, he never hoisted the cup wearing his trademark number.
2. started with 13, finnish-ed with 8
Teemu Selanne broke into the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets in 1992 wearing number 13, setting league records for rookie points and goals in a season in the process. Despite making a name for himself wearing number 13, Selanne switched to number 8 when Jets captain Randy Carlyle officially retired.
In 2005-06, the Finnish Flash would again find himself wearing number 13, this time on his second stint with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Ducks defenseman, Sandis Ozilinsh had laid claim to number 8 in Selanne’s absence, but was traded to the Rangers later that season, allowing Teemu to take back his desired digit.
Two different numbers, same legendary player.
A jersey number in exchange for a free vacation sounds like a pretty good deal to us.
3. ferraro gets rob'd
It’s an unwritten rule that if two players prefer the same number, the senior player gets dibs on that number. And that kinda messed up Ray Ferraro’s life for a bit.
By the end of his tenure with the New York Islanders, Ferraro had settled into wearing number 20. But shortly after he signed with the New York Rangers, future Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille was traded to the Broadway Blueshirts, scooping number 20 out of Ferraro’s hands, and leaving him with number 21.
And it would happen again two years later in Los Angeles. Entering his second season with the Kings, Ferraro had to again give up his number 20 to who else, but Luc Robitaille, who returned for his second of three stints in the City of Angels. This time Ray took number 26 as Robitaille paid for a Hawaii vacation for Ray and his family.
4. when sittler had to settle
When Darryl Sittler set the NHL record for most points in a single game (10) with the Maple Leafs, he was wearing number 27. And, when Reggie Leach set the NHL record for most goals in one postseason (19) with the Flyers, he, too, was wearing number 27.
So, when Sittler arrived in Philadelphia via trade in 1982, he had to make do with number 9, as Flyers sniper Reggie Leach had already laid claim to number 27.
The next year, Leach would ship off to Detroit, and Sittler was able to snag his number 27 back.
Where were YOU when Darryl Sittler scored 10 points in a single game?
Lucky number 7?
5. espo '77
One of the most prolific goal-scorers to ever play the game, Phil Esposito wore number 7 for the first 13 years of his NHL career. But, when he ended up with the Rangers in 1975, fellow Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert was wearing numero sept. So, Flipper tried number 12, and then number 5, before finally settling on number 77 to take him to the end of his storied career.
Years later, the Boston Bruins would retire number 7 in Espo’s honour, forcing a young Ray Bourque to switch from number 7 to his now iconic number 77.
6. graves gets mess'd with
With the Edmonton Oilers dynasty coming to a close in 1991, Adam Graves found himself moving from Edmonton to New York City as a new member of the Rangers.
He chose number 11, and wore the double ones for all of one game before Mark Messier arrived in the Big Apple and put number 11 — and the whole team — on his back, carrying them to a Stanley Cup Championship in 1994.
Adam Graves- the last Ranger before Messier to ever wear 11- even if it was only for one game.
Sacrifice your number for a chance at Lord Stanley? If only it were that easy.
7. cup clinching number change?
After his rookie season in 2005-2006, Detroit Red Wings left winger Johan Franzen switched licence plate numbers from 39 to 93.
That change would prove to be key to Detroit’s Stanley Cup win two years later — not because of the mystical powers of the number 93, but because Dominic Hasek swooped into Hockey Town, USA for a second tour of duty.
When the Dominator stepped into the Wings’ dressing room, Franzen deferred to the decorated vet and all-time great, giving him his preferred number 39.
8. ten-se moment in carolina
Ron Francis may be the most underrated player of all-time, but trust me, he was a 10. The problem was, so was Gary Roberts, so when Ronnie Franchise arrived in Carolina in 1998, Roberts was already wearing his number 10.
No matter. Francis switched his number to 21, and continued his journey to become the second greatest set-up man of all-time behind only Wayne Gretzky.
Unable to snag number 9 because of a guy you may have heard of called Gordie Howe, Francis settled for 21 instead.
jersey numbers are an identity
Jersey numbers factor heavily into a player’s identity. That’s why it’s always weird to see familiar players in unfamiliar numbers- and these aren’t the only examples.
When a young Gordie Howe first stepped onto NHL ice back in October, 1946, he was wearing number 17 instead of his now iconic number 9.
“Rocket” Richard wore number 15 until the birth of his daughter in 1943, when he changed it to 9 in honour of his little one weighing 9 pounds at birth. But, those are stories for another time.
And there will be another time. I honestly can’t keep my mouth shut about hockey jerseys and hockey culture. That’s why I put out the 4 Shots with Keener newsletter. Every week I unload my thoughts and feelings on my subscribers and dump them right in their in-box. So, if you want more opinions, tidbits, and hot takes, all you have to do is subscribe- it’s free!
