By the Numbers

In 2017, the NHL turned number "100" into a legacy—unveiling its "100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years" and helping to redefine hockey immortality.

Why is #99 the NHL’s only league-wide retired number? Because Wayne Gretzky didn’t just dominate hockey—he redefined the game of hockey in record-breaking ways.

From Wayne Gretzky’s number "99" to Mario Lemieux's number "66", NHL numbers carry legends. Now Connor Bedard is helping to redefine number "98" in Chicago.

From OHL phenom to No. 1 NHL draft pick, Connor McDavid has become the face of the Edmonton Oilers—and hockey’s most unstoppable force.

Humiliated, traded, reborn. In ’96, Patrick Roy responded to "The Trade" his way—toppling the Red Wings and lifting the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche.

In ’95, one night shattered Montreal: 9 goals, a defiant salute, and Patrick Roy’s exit that reshaped the NHL as a new Stanley Cup championship team was born.

In Edmonton, #94 wasn’t just a number—it was grit, resilience, and heart. Ryan Smyth turned a jersey number into a legend at home in Oil Country and for Canada.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skates 1,000 games as an Edmonton Oiler—loyalty, versatility and quiet leadership and greatness in Oil Country: A look at Oil Country #93.

Wayne Gretzky’s 92-goal season redefined hockey—“50 in 39,” 10 hat tricks, 212 points, and a record that may never be broken. Pure NHL legendary performance.

From Butch Goring to Sergei Fedorov to Steven Stamkos, how #91 became one of the NHL’s modern marks of speed, leadership, resilience—and championship legacy.

The '90 Stanley Cup championship—the Oilers’ reclamation year: No Gretzky, all grit. Messier led Edmonton back to the top to capture their 5th Cup in 7 years.

For the Calgary Flames, “89” means everything. A dominant roster, playoff battles, and the night the Flames silenced the Montreal Canadiens to win it all: 1989.

Celebrating the legendary NHL career of #88: Patrick Kane’s three Stanley Cups, clutch goal-scoring moments, and record-breaking rise to the top of USA hockey.

From birthdate to 3 Stanley Cup banner nights, NHL All-Star Sidney Crosby continues to turn #87 into hockey royalty—on the ice, on the cap sheet, and worldwide.

From an uncommon number to superstar badge: How NHL stars Nikita Kucherov and Jack Hughes are helping to turn #86 into a symbol of elite, game-breaking talent.

Why #85 means something in the NHL: From Petr Klima's memorable 3OT playoff goal in '90 to a modern star redefining swagger, the outlier #85 holds significance.

In '84, the NHL experienced a changing of the guard: Gretzky excelled and the "amazing" Edmonton Oilers toppled a NY Islanders dynasty; an empire was born.

During a turbulent era in Edmonton, #83 became a symbol of skill and hope. How Ales Hemsky helped give the Edmonton Oilers offense a spark.

In 1982, a 77-point Vancouver Canucks team found a way—hot goalie, "Towel Power", and a playoff run proving seasons don’t predict legends; '82 Stanley Cup run.

Throughout his Hall of Fame career, 3-Time Stanley Cup champion, Marian Hossa, turned #81 from an afterthought into one of hockey’s most meaningful numbers.

50 goals is elite. 60 goals is legend. 70 goals is lunar. 80 goals? That’s hockey defying physics—visited only by Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, and Mario Lemieux.

Why ’79 matters: The year the Edmonton Oilers jumped to the NHL from the WHA, unleashed Gretzky and Messier, built a dynasty, and helped change hockey forever.

Why the number "78" is one of hockey’s hidden magic numbers: Lafleur’s 78-game brilliance, the dynasty year of '78, and the Canadiens at their unstoppable peak.

Why #77 is significant in NHL history: How two NHL All-Stars—Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque—turned defensemen into playmaking engines and helped redefine the game.

From the Montreal Canadiens (#43 draft pick in 2007) to Music City and then New Jersey; a look at how P.K. Subban stamped the number #76 into NHL history.

In '75, the Philadelphia Flyers won their 2nd Stanley Cup, and Bernie Parent built the greatest goaltending wall as he won the Vezina and Conn Smythe—again.

From family birthright to NHL spotlight: All-Star Stuart Skinner’s #74 helped carry him from Edmonton's #1 goalie to the Pittsburgh Penguins' new force in net.

Bernie Parent wasn’t just a Hall of Fame goalie—he backstopped the Philadelphia Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cups and made a city believe it was unbeatable.

From undrafted to multiple Vezina Trophies to Stanley Cup-hoisting icon, Sergei Bobrovsky has turned #72 into a Florida Panthers legend—and he’s not done yet.

Still together after 20 years. Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby & Kris Letang are rewriting hockey history—and All-Star "Geno" is turning #71 into a living legend.

In the NHL, 50 is elite, 60 legendary. But 70 goals? That’s the moon—a realm only eight players have ever reached in NHL history.

1968-69 wasn’t just another NHL season—back in '69, the game changed: dynasties confirmed, 100-point scorers born, and Bobby Orr redefining defense position.

From 1990s dominance to today’s game, Jaromir Jagr’s iconic #68 defines longevity, elite skill, and an unmatched work ethic in the game of hockey.

Once an uncommon jersey number, #67 found its legend in Max Pacioretty—who helped turn it into a symbol of goals, grit and leadership over a 17-year NHL career.

Why is #66 legendary in NHL history? Mario Lemieux won Stanley Cups, rewrote records, scored memorable goals, and etched a number into hockey immortality.

All-Star Erik Karlsson has made #65 unforgettable, helping to redefine NHL defense with speed, skill, and creativity over nearly two decades of dominance.

Once mostly referred to as simply a training camp placeholder, #64 found meaning through Mikael Granlund—over 900 NHL games, resilience, and a number redefined.

When #63 hits the ice, intensity, grit, and winning follows. From Stanley Cups to Team Canada championships, Brad Marchand turned a jersey number into a legend.

From under the radar to Stanley Cup champion, Brandon Montour has helped turned #62 into a symbol of NHL impact—season by season and shift by shift.

1961 was Chicago’s year at last—Glenn Hall’s "Iron Man" brilliance backstopped the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup championship since 1938.

50 goals is elite. 60 goals is legend. From Wayne Gretzky to Mario Lemieux to Connor McDavid, why the NHL’s rare 60-goal seasons still define greatness.

Why number "59" matters in hockey: a 59-save shutout, a 1959 goalie mask revolution, and modern stars turning an odd number legendary.

Across the NHL, #58 was just a number. In Pittsburgh, NHL All-Star Kris Letang turned it into a symbol of greatness, resilience and Stanley Cup championships.

Why 57 matters: Rocket, Plante, Geoffrion & Béliveau crush Boston as the Montreal Canadiens cement an Original Six dynasty in a 5-game Stanley Cup Final in '57.

Why Wayne Gretzky’s 56 empty-net goals mattered—and what they reveal about trust, awareness, and the quiet parts of greatness in NHL hockey history.

Why #55 is the heartbeat of the St. Louis Blues: Colton Parayko’s trust, skill, grit, 2019 Stanley Cup glory—and Project 55 lifting families beyond the rink.

Not flashy—#54 earned its place in NHL hockey. Stanley Cup champion Adam McQuaid turned an overlooked number into a symbol of Boston Bruins grit and trust.

Picked #53 overall in 1989, NHL All-Star Nicklas Lidström became the Entry Draft's best selection—1,564 games, 1,142 points, 4 Stanley Cups, 7 Norris Trophies.

Adam Foote turned an overlooked number into a Colorado Avalanche icon. How #52 came to stand for toughness, trust, and two Stanley Cups.

Five games, five overtimes, one unforgettable goal—how the '51 Stanley Cup Final between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens became legendary.

Not flashy, not famous—until now. How two NHL All-Star goalies, Corey Crawford and Jordan Binnington, turned #50 into a Stanley Cup goalie legacy.

Not all iconic NHL numbers are flashy. Brian Savage helped make #49 unforgettable in Montreal with grit, goals, and clutch moments.

In the NHL, Rule 48 never hits the scoresheet, but it changed hockey—reshaping how players hit, how refs call games, and how safety fits toughness.

Most remember who went 1st overall. Few remember Draft Pick No. 47—but that’s where the 2010 NHL Draft quietly found Stanley Cup champion Tyler Toffoli.

Underrated, overlooked, and steady as they come—Jared Spurgeon’s path from growing up in Edmonton to Minnesota Wild captain shows why #46 matters.

Not every Toronto Maple Leafs number shines. #45 brings back Jonathan Bernier, big saves, the Winter Classic, and a goalie holding the line in a tough era.

Hockey’s #44 isn’t everywhere—it’s earned. From Chris Pronger’s dominance to Rob Niedermayer’s Stanley Cup, #44 became a symbol of toughness and winning.

From draft-day promise to team captain to a tough goodbye, Quinn Hughes and #43 left a mark Vancouver Canucks fans won’t forget.

From overlooked draft pick to trusted captain, David Backes’ #42 defined honest, heavy St. Louis Blues hockey—and a decade St. Louis won’t forget.

In the NHL, #41 wasn’t flashy—it was earned. Meet the goalies whose grit, longevity, and wins turned a quiet number into a legacy.

Why #40 matters in Ottawa: Patrick Lalime turned an overlooked number into calm, wins, and franchise-defining moments.

#99 and #66 are legendary NHL numbers. But for ’90s fans, #39 means one NHLer: 2-time Stanley Cup champion Dominik Hašek—unorthodox, unstoppable, unforgettable.

From 227th pick overall to beloved All-Star, Pavol Demitra made #38 a symbol of quiet brilliance—one smart play, one perfect moment at a time.

Before highlights and hype, there was #37—Trevor Kidd. A steady 1990s goalie whose calm consistency earned trust across the NHL.

John Gibson made an uncommon number iconic. From Anaheim to Detroit, #36 has come to mean consistency, composure, and trust in net.

Why NHL goalie #35 means more than a number—Esposito, Brodeur, and Rinne turned it into a symbol of trust, toughness, and greatness.

From Vanbiesbrouck to Kiprusoff to Dafoe, goalie #34 earned its legacy the hard way—through heavy workloads, big saves, and trust.

Why goalie #33 still means greatness: Patrick Roy’s Stanley Cups, confidence, butterfly style, and clutch legacy that changed hockey.

From Kelly Hrudey’s grind to Jonathan Quick’s glory, #32 became the heartbeat of the Kings’ crease—effort, trust, and championships.

From Ed Mio to Grant Fuhr, Oilers goalies made #31 legendary. Five netminders, one iconic number, forever in the rafters.

Number 29 became more than a jersey—Marc-André Fleury turned it into an icon of joy, clutch saves, and two decades of unforgettable hockey magic.

Jack Roslovic’s fresh start in Edmonton is quietly paying off. Wearing #28, he’s becoming the under-the-radar spark the Oilers didn’t know they needed.

Ron Hextall didn’t just wear #27—he transformed it. A fiery rookie, a fearless puck handler, a Flyers icon. The number still echoes his intensity.

From Stastny’s breakout to St. Louis’s grit and Dahlin’s rise, number 26 keeps shaping eras—proof that a jersey number can carry a legacy.

How did jersey #25 become hockey’s quiet powerhouse? From clutch goals to lasting legacy, Joe Nieuwendyk helped turn the number into an icon.

Chris Chelios’ legacy isn’t just trophies—it’s the quiet power of #24, the number that followed his toughest battles and every Stanley Cup win.

In hockey, number 23 isn’t flashy, but its wearers shaped hockey with clutch moments, quiet grit, and steady excellence—proof that greatness isn’t always loud.

Mike Bossy didn’t just score goals—he transformed jersey number "22" into an icon. A look at the legend whose precision and poise defined an Islanders era.

Number 21 isn’t just a jersey digit—it’s a legacy worn by icons like Mikita, Salming, and Forsberg. Here’s why it still hits hard in hockey history.

Hidden in plain sight, the number “20” is hockey’s quiet heartbeat—from steady jersey legends to the three 20-minute bursts that shape every game.

#19 hits different in the NHL—and legends Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic are two reasons why. Two captains, two dynasties, one iconic number built on champions.

Denis Savard wasn’t just a star—he was the spark. From dizzying spin-o-ramas to 100-point seasons, #18 made hockey feel magical every time he touched the ice.

Number "17" isn’t just a number in Edmonton—it’s Jari Kurri, clutch hockey, and the heartbeat of a dynasty. Relive how one player turned two digits into legend.

Grit over glamour defined Edmonton Oiler #16. Kelly Buchberger’s toughness, leadership, and loyalty turned a late draft pick into an enduring Oilers legend.

Number 15 isn’t just a jersey—it's Milt Schmidt: Bruins legend, WWII hero, Art Ross winner, and the blueprint for hockey greatness.

Jersey #14 isn’t flashy—but it’s worn by players with grit, skill, and heart. From Keon to Shanahan, discover why this number always makes fans pay attention.

How #13 went from superstition to symbol: the creativity, heart, and legacy Johnny Gaudreau stamped on one of hockey’s most iconic numbers.

From Jarome Iginla’s fire to Yvan Cournoyer’s speed, five legends turned the humble #12 into one of hockey’s most quietly iconic numbers.

Why #11 still sends a jolt through hockey: the legacy, the leadership, and the legend who turned a number into an identity—Mark Messier.

Jersey Number "10" isn’t just a number—it’s a legacy shaped by icons, steady leaders, and game-changers whose stories still echo through NHL history.

Hockey’s iconic number "9" was built by legends—Richard, Howe, and Hull. Three superstars, one number, and a legacy that still defines greatness.

Ovechkin at 40 is still pure electricity—hat tricks, milestones, swagger. Number 8 isn’t just a jersey number; it’s a living, roaring legend on ice.

The number 7 is hockey’s legendary digit—fueling Game 7 drama, iconic Bruins moments, and record-shattering feats that still leave fans in awe.

The number 6 isn’t flashy, but it’s everywhere in NHL lore—from the Original Six era to iconic defensemen and legends who made the number timeless.

The number 5 is quietly everywhere in the game of hockey: 5 skaters, the dreaded five-hole, and the unforgettable number "5" worn by Maple Leafs Bill Barilko.

Number 4 isn’t just a digit in hockey—it’s Béliveau’s class, Orr’s brilliance, and Lowe’s grit. Three NHL legends, one iconic number.

Legends in the crease: How Bower, Plante, and Luongo turned the humble #1 into hockey’s boldest badge of grit, innovation, and calm confidence.

Legends in the crease: How Bower, Plante, and Luongo turned the humble #1 into hockey’s boldest badge of grit, innovation, and calm confidence.

Legends in the crease: How Bower, Plante, and Luongo turned the humble #1 into hockey’s boldest badge of grit, innovation, and calm confidence.