[Originally posted on Fear The Fin on 3/20/2011
I've been thinking about this for a while: which jersey numbers are most common in the NHL? Is number 20 really a "goalie number?" Which is most common for a forward? What about defensemen? Of course, some numbers have been retired by some teams, and one number has been retired by the league. I'll include those numbers as I find them.
Players who only played a few games will be ignored, and I'll put that cutoff at 10 games for skaters and 3 games for goalies, as of 3/19/2011. Also, teams will be listed in order alphabetically, except Winnipeg will be listed as PHX and be between PHI and PIT.
All right, found a slight problem. The official pages for teams who made trades during the season have already deleted contributions from their trade partner. Seriously, go look it up. I couldn't find Ben Eager 's old number. I couldn't find Ian White 's old number. I couldn't even find Dan Ellis' old number, even though I knew it to be 22 (because he was too, too rich ha!). All you'll get is numbers for new teams. If you're disappointed in this news, get over it.
1. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 16 Goalies
Retired Numbers: CHI G, DET G, MIN fans, MON G, NYR G, PHI G, TOR G, TOR G
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA G, BUF G, CBJ G, NJD G, NYI G, PHX G, PIT G, VAN G, WAS G
2. 0 Forwards, 16 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS D, BUF D, CAR D, MON D, NYR D, STL D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI D, DAL D, EDM D, FLA D, LAK D, NJD D, PIT D, TAM D, TOR D, VAN D
3. 1 Forward, 23 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS D, CAR D, CHI D, CHI D, EDM D, MON D, NJD D, NYR D, STL D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, BUF D, CAL D, COL D, CBJ D, DAL D, LAK D, MIN D, NAS F, PHI D, PHX D, SJS D, TOR D, VAN D, WAS D
4. 5 Forwards, 23 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS D, MON F, NJD D, PHI D, TOR F and D, TOR F and D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, ATL D, BUF D, CAL D, CAR D, CHI D, COL D, CBJ D, DET D, EDM F, FLA D, MIN D, NAS D, NYI D, NYR D, OTT D, PIT D, TAM F, VAN D, WAS D
5. 3 Forwards, 22 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS D and F, MON F, NYI D, STL D, TOR D, WAS D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, ATL D, CAL D, CAR D, CHI D, DET D, EDM D, LAK D, MIN D, NAS F, NJD D, NYR D, OTT D, PHI D, PIT D, STL D, TAM D, VAN D
6. 3 Forwards, 21 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: DET F, TOR F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL D, BUF D, CAL D, CAR D, CHI D, COL D, CBJ D, DAL D, EDM D, FLA D, LAK D, MIN D, MON D, NAS D, NJD D, NYI D, PHI D, PHX D, PIT D, TAM F, VAN D, WAS D
7. 10 Forwards, 12 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS F, BUF F, DAL F, DET F, EDM D, MON F, NYR F, PHI F, STL 4 Fs, TOR D, TOR D, WAS D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAL D, CHI D, LAK D, MIN F, NAS D, NJD D, NYI F, PIT D, SJS D, TAM D
8. 12 Forwards, 8 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS F, DAL F, OTT F, STL D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, BUF F, CAL F, CHI D, DET F, LAK D, MIN D, NAS D, NJD F, NYI D, NYR F, SJS F, TAM D, TOR D, WAS F
9. 25 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS F, CAL F, CAR F, CHI F, DET F, EDM F, MON F, NYI F, NYR F, NYR F, PHX F, TOR F, TOR F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, BUF F, COL F, CBJ F, FLA F, MIN F, NAS F, NJD F, OTT F, PIT F, SJS D, TAM F, TOR F
10. 24 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: CAR F, DET F, MON F, PHX F, TOR F, TOR F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, CAL F, CHI F, COL D, CBJ D, DAL F, EDM F, FLA F, NAS F, NJD F, NYI D, NYR F, OTT F, PHI F, PIT F, SJS F, STL F, TAM F, VAN F, WAS F
11. 23 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BUF F, EDM F, NYR F, STL F, VAN F, WAS F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, CAL F, CAR F, CBJ D, DAL F, DET F, FLA F, LAK F, MIN F, MON F, NAS F, NJD F, OTT F, PHI F, PHX F, PIT F, TOR F
12. 18 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: DET F, MON F, MON F, VAN F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS D, BUF F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, LAK F, MIN F, NAS F, NJD F, NYI F, NYR F, PHX F, SJS F, STL D, TAM F
13. 13 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, CAL F, DAL F, DET F, EDM F, FLA F, LAK F, MON F, NAS F, OTT F, PHI F, PHX F, TAM D, VAN F
14. 14 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BUF F, STL F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, CHI D, COL F, CBJ D, DAL F, EDM F, FLA F, LAK F, MON F, NJD F, NYI F, PHX F, PIT F, VAN F
15. 18 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, CAL F, CAR F, CHI F, CBJ F, DAL F, FLA F, LAK F, MIN F, MON F, NYI F, OTT F, PHI F, PIT F, SJS F, VAN F, WAS F
16. 28 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BUF F, DET F, LAK F, MON F, MON F, PHI F, STL F, VAN F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, CBJ F, DAL F, EDM F, FLA F, MIN F, NAS F, NJD F, NYR F, OTT F, PHX F, PIT F, SJS F, TAM F, TOR F, WAS F
17. 23 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: CAR F, EDM F, TOR F and D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, BOS F, CAL F, CHI F, CBJ F, DAL F, DET F, FLA F, LAK F, MIN F, MON F, NJD F, NYI F, NYR F, OTT D, PHI F, PHX F, PIT F, SJS F, STL F, VAN F, WAS F
18. 16 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BUF F, CHI F, LAK F, MON D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, CBJ F, FLA F, NJD F, NYR D, OTT F, PHI F, PIT F, TAM F, TOR F, VAN D, WAS F
19. 25 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: COL F, DAL F, DET F, MON D, NYI F, VAN F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, BUF F, CAL F, CAR F, CHI F, CBJ F, FLA F, LAK F, MIN F, NJD F, NYR F, OTT F, PHI F, PHX F, PIT F, SJS F, TAM F, TOR F, WAS F
20. 16 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: LAK F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BOS F, BUF F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, CBJ F, DAL F, DET F, FLA F, MIN F, MON D, NAS D, NJD D, NYR F, PHI D, PHX F, SJS F, STL F
21. 17 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: CHI F, PIT F, TOR D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, BOS D, BUF F, CAR F, DAL F, MIN F, MON F, NJD F, NYI F, NYR F, OTT F, PHI F, SJS F, STL F, TAM F, VAN F, WAS F
22. 17 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: NYI F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL F, BOS F, BUF F, CAR F, CHI F, CBJ D, EDM F, LAK F, MIN F, MON F, NAS F, NYR F, PHI F, PHX F, SJS D, VAN F, WAS F
23. 11 Forwards, 7 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: MON F, NYI F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, ATL F, BOS F, COL F, DAL F, DET D, EDM F, LAK F, MIN F, NJD F, NYR F, PHX D, STL D, TOR D, VAN D, WAS D
24. 10 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS F, STL F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL D, CAL F, CBJ F, DAL F, DET D, MIN F, NAS F, NYI D, NYR F, PHI D, PIT F, TAM F
25. 12 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: PHX F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, BUF F, CAL F, CAR D, CHI F, CBJ F, LAK F, MIN D, NAS F, NJD F, OTT F, PHI D, PIT F, STL F, WAS F
26. 21 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BUF F, CAL F, CAR F, COL F, CBJ F, DET F, EDM D, FLA F, LAK F, MON F, NAS F, NJD F, NYI F, NYR F, OTT F, PHX F, PIT F, STL F, TAM F, VAN F, WAS F
27. 9 Forwards, 8 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: PHX D, TOR F, TOR F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BUF D, CAL D, COL D, DAL F, FLA F, LAK F, NAS F, NYI D, NYR D, PIT F, STL D, VAN F, WAS D
28. 14 Forwards, 7 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: VAN D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, BUF F, CAL D, CHI F, COL F, CBJ F, DAL D, DET D, EDM F, LAK F, NJD D, NYI F, NYR D, PHI F, PHX F, PIT F, STL D, TOR F, WAS F
29. 6 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 5 Goalies
Retired Numbers: MON G
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA G, ATL D, BUF F, CAL D, CHI F, COL F, DAL F, EDM G, FLA G, NAS F, NJD D, PIT G, SJS F, STL G, VAN D
30. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 16 Goalies
Retired Numbers: CAL G, LAK G
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS G, BUF G, CAR G, CHI G, COL G, DAL G, DET G, FLA G, NJD G, NYR G, PHX G, SJS G, STL G, WAS G
31. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 10 Goalies
Retired Numbers: EDM G, NYI G, PHI G
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL G, COL G, DET G, MON G, NYR F, OTT G, OTT G, SJS G
32. 8 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 4 Goalies
Retired Numbers: WAS F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA D, CHI F, CBJ G, DAL G, FLA F, LAK G, MIN G, MON F, NJD F, NYR F, PHX F, STL F, TAM D
33. 6 Forwards, 7 Defensemen, 4 Goalies
Retired Numbers: COL G, MON G
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL D, BOS D, CAL D, CAR D, DAL D, DET F, EDM F, LAK D, NAS F, OTT G, PHI G, PHX F, STL D, VAN F
34. 4 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 2 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BUF D, CAL G, COL F, MON F, NJD D, TOR F, TOR G, VAN F
35. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 13 Goalies
Retired Numbers: CHI G, NYR G
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS G, CAL G, CBJ D, DET G, EDM G, MON G, NAS G, NYI G, PHI G, TAM G, TOR G, VAN G
36. 8 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BUF F, CAR F, CHI F, COL D, NYI D, NYR F, OTT D, PHI F, STL F, TOR D, VAN F
37. 7 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: ATL F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, COL F, DAL D, FLA F, NYI F, TOR F
38. 5 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 1 Goalie
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA G, BOS F, NYI D, NYR D, OTT F, PHX F, TOR F, VAN F
39. 6 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 2 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, ATL D, CAR F, COL F, DET F, NAS G, NYI G, NYR F, OTT D, SJS F, TAM D
40. 6 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 4 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS G, BUF G, CAL F, COL F, CBJ F, DET F, EDM G, NYI F, OTT G, SJS D, VAN F
41. 1 Forwards, 4 Defensemen, 3 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM D, MIN D, OTT G, PHI D, STL G, TAM G, TOR F, VAN D
42. 7 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BUF F, EDM F, NYI D, NYR F, STL F, TAM F, TOR F
43. 4 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 1 Goalie
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : DET F, EDM D, FLA D, MIN F, NYR G, SJS F, TOR F
44. 3 Forwards, 11 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS D, BUF D, CAL F, CAR D, COL D, DAL D, DET F, LAK D, MON D, NYR D, PHI D, PIT D, SJS D, TAM F
45. 4 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 1 Goalie
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, LAK G, MON D, NYR F, PHI F, PIT F
46. 5 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F, BOS F, EDM F, MIN D, MON F, STL D, TOR F
47. 1 Forward, 4 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS D, FLA D, NYI D, TAM D, TOR F
48. 3 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : COL D, MIN F, PHI F, PIT F, TAM D
49. 4 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS F, EDM D, OTT F, TAM F, VAN F
50. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 3 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL G, CHI G, CBJ F, TOR G
51. 3 Forwards, 3 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, CHI D, CBJ D, DET F, NAS D, NYI F
52. 2 Forwards, 6 Defensemen, 1 Goalie
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : COL D, CBJ D, DET D, FLA D, MON F, NYI G, OTT F, PHX D, WAS D
53. 3 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR F, LAK D, MON F, NAS F, PHX D
54. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS D, COL F, VAN F
55. 4 Forwards, 8 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS D, BUF F, COL F, DET D, MIN D, MON D, NAS D, OTT D, PHX D, SJS F, STL F, WAS D
56. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none
57. 3 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BUF D, MON F, NYI F, STL F
58. 2 Forwards, 2 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM D, MON F, NYI F, PIT D
59. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR F, NYI F, TOR D
60. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 3 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR G, MIN G, NYI G, SJS D
61. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR F, CBJ F, SJS D
62. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none
63. 5 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, BOS F, BUF F, DAL F, FLA F
64. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ANA F, SJS F, STL D
65. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : OTT D
66. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: PIT F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none
67. 3 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI F, EDM F, MON F
68. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : MON D
69. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none
70. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 1 Goalie
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : WAS G
71. 5 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR F, CBJ F, NAS F, OTT F, PIT F
72. 3 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BUF F, PIT F, SJS F
73. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS F
74. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : NAS F, STL F, WAS D
75. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : FLA F, MON D, STL F
76. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : MON D
77. 1 Forward, 5 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: BOS D, COL D
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CAR D, EDM D, STL F, TAM D
78. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : SJS F
79. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : STL F
80. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : ATL F
81. 4 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI F, DAL F, MON F, TOR F
82. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI F
83. 2 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM F, WAS F
84. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : TOR F
85. 3 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM F, FLA F, WAS F
86. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : NYR F
87. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : PIT F
88. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CHI F
89. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : EDM F, PHX F, WAS D
90. 2 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : DET F, WAS F
91. 6 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : BOS F, DAL F, EDM F, NYI F, PHX F, TAM F
92. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none
93. 5 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: FLA GM, TOR F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : CBJ F, DET F, NYI F, PHI F
94. 3 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : LAK F, MON F, NYR F
95. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none
96. 2 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : DET F, MIN F
97. 0 Forwards, 1 Defenseman, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : NYR D
98. 0 Forwards, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: none
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none
99. 1 Forward, 0 Defensemen, 0 Goalies
Retired Numbers: all teams F
Active Numbers (2010-2011) : none
In conclusion, certain numbers appear to be meant for specific positions. The numbers 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 26, 63, 66, 71, 91, 93, and 99 appear to be used most often for forwards. Numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 44 seem to be used most often for defensemen. 1, 30, 31, and 35 are the numbers used most often by goalies.
Four teams - Minnesota, Toronto, St. Louis, and Florida - have done strange things with their retirements of numbers. Minnesota retired the number 1 in honor the of the fans. Uh, yeah. Toronto has had many great players get their jersey numbers retired, but then un-retired. These new jersey numbers are considered "honored," but still in circulation for current players. Perhaps a pledge of respect is needed if a newer player wishes to use the honored number. St. Louis didn't exactly retire number 7, but four relatively great players have worn it for the Blues and it's now more or less out of circulation. Florida retired number 93 in honor of their general manager. Yes, really. Bill Torrey did equally wonderful things for the New York Islanders (who honored him, but didn't give him a number) and the Florida Panthers, in building a contending team via the draft shortly after arriving to kickstart a brand new team.
In all, I learned far more about jersey numbers than I thought I'd ever want to know. I can honestly say that I'm happy the Phoenix Coyotes have continued to honor the retired numbers of those who passed through the Winnipeg Jets franchise. I wish that the Colorado Avalanche had done the same. Dale Hawerchuk's name deserves to be hanging in someone's rafters. I also wish that the NHL would retire number 66 league-wide. There hasn't been an initiative to do it, to my knowledge, but no one with any talent has worn it since Super Mario's retirement.
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