NHL Jersey Numbers Trivia (Famous #9s, #99, etc.)
Jersey numbers become inseparable from the players who wear them. Gretzky's 99 is retired league-wide, while numbers like 87, 97, and 8 are instantly recognizable to modern fans. Understanding number history means knowing which players made specific digits iconic and which numbers carry franchise significance. This trivia covers the most famous jersey numbers in NHL history and the legends who wore them.
The Untouchable Number
Q: Which player's number 99 has been retired league-wide by the NHL?
A: Wayne Gretzky.
Q: Which team did Wayne Gretzky wear number 99 for first in the NHL?
A: The Edmonton Oilers.
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Legendary Number 9s
Q: Which Detroit Red Wings legend wore number 9 and is often called "Mr. Hockey"?
A: Gordie Howe.
Q: Which Montreal Canadiens icon wore number 9 and is known as "The Rocket"?
A: Maurice Richard.
Q: Which Chicago Blackhawks great wore number 9 and was a scoring star in the 1960s?
A: Bobby Hull.
Read more: All 32 NHL Teams Ranked by Defense (2025-2026 Season)
Modern Superstars
Q: Which Edmonton Oilers star center wears number 97?
A: Connor McDavid.
Q: Which Pittsburgh Penguins captain wears number 87?
A: Sidney Crosby.
Q: Which Washington Capitals winger is famous for wearing number 8?
A: Alex Ovechkin.
Q: Which Colorado Avalanche superstar center wears number 29?
A: Nathan MacKinnon.
Q: Which Tampa Bay Lightning captain wears number 91?
A: Steven Stamkos.
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Q: Which Toronto Maple Leafs star center wears number 34?
A: Auston Matthews.
Q: Which Blackhawks winger wore number 88 and scored the 2010 Cup-winning overtime goal?
A: Patrick Kane.
Q: Which Penguins center wears number 71 and has won multiple Cups and a scoring title?
A: Evgeni Malkin.
Read more: Hockey Terms to Know for Online Betting (NHL)
Goaltender Numbers
Q: Which New York Rangers goalie wore number 30 and is nicknamed "The King"?
A: Henrik Lundqvist.
Q: Which New Jersey Devils goalie wore number 30 and holds many goaltending records?
A: Martin Brodeur.
Q: Which Canadiens goaltender wears number 31 and has multiple Vezina-level seasons?
A: Carey Price.
Q: Which Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings goalie wore number 39 and was called "The Dominator"?
A: Dominik Hašek.
Defensemen Numbers
Q: Which Boston Bruins defenseman wore number 33 and stood 6'9" tall?
A: Zdeno Chára.
Q: Which Rangers defenseman wore number 2 and captained the team to the 1994 Cup?
A: Brian Leetch.
Q: Which Oilers defenseman wore number 7 and is considered one of the greatest offensive defensemen ever?
A: Paul Coffey.
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Q: Which Blackhawks defenseman wore number 2 and won two Norris trophies and a Conn Smythe?
A: Duncan Keith.
Captain Numbers
Q: Which Detroit Red Wings captain wore number 19 and led the team to three Cups?
A: Steve Yzerman.
Q: Which Colorado Avalanche captain in the 1990s and 2000s wore number 19?
A: Joe Sakic.
Q: Which Los Angeles Kings captain wears number 11 and led them to two Stanley Cups?
A: Anze Kopitar.
Read more: All 32 NHL Teams Ranked by Offense (2025-2026 Season)
Twin Numbers
Q: Which Vancouver Canucks twins wore numbers 33 and 22?
A: Henrik Sedin (33) and Daniel Sedin (22).
Power Forwards
Q: Which Calgary Flames legend wore number 12?
A: Jarome Iginla.
Q: Which Philadelphia Flyers captain wore number 88 and was a dominant power forward in the 1990s?
A: Eric Lindros.
Selke Winners
Q: Which Bruins forward wore number 37 and became synonymous with the Selke Trophy?
A: Patrice Bergeron.
International Stars
Q: Which Finnish superstar winger wore number 8 for most of his career and scored 76 goals as a rookie?
A: Teemu Selänne.
Q: Which Maple Leafs legend wore number 13 and became synonymous with the 1990s Leafs?
A: Mats Sundin.
Why Numbers Matter
Jersey numbers become part of player identity. Gretzky IS 99, Crosby IS 87, Ovechkin IS 8. Numbers create instant recognition and marketing value. Retired numbers honor legends and remind current players of franchise history every time they look at the rafters.
The Science of Number Selection
Players choose numbers for various reasons. Birth years (Crosby's 87), childhood heroes (McDavid's 97 honoring his birth year), family connections, or simply what's available. Understanding number choices adds personal context to player stories.
Retired Numbers and Franchise History
Teams retire numbers to honor legends, creating permanent tributes. The practice started with hockey and spread to other sports. Rafters filled with retired numbers signal franchise success and give current players something to aspire toward.
Read more: NHL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Hockey Season
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