On February 25, PatrickMarleau officially had his No. 12 jersey retired by the San Jose Sharks – making him the first player in Sharks’ history to have his jersey retired. It’s a tremendous accomplishment for any player and one of the highest honors a team can give, making it a special night for Marleau and his family.
Nearly two years ago, Marleau wrote his name in the record books when he passed Gordie Howe for the most games played in NHL history – at the time, he had 1,768 games played. He would go on to retire with 1,779 games played, ending a streak of 910 consecutive games played – the 5th-most all-time.
Marleau played 1,607 games with the Sharks, totaling 522 goals, 589 assists, and 1,111 points with the team. In addition to being the Sharks’ all-time leader in games played, he’s also their all-time leader in goals, points, even-strength goals, shots, game-winning goals, power play goals, and shorthanded goals.
Patrick Marleau’s jersey retirement made him the 20th NHL player to have their jersey retired by a team since 2020 – it’s something that doesn’t happen often, making it quite the momentous event when it does happen. As of today, there’s only one team – Winnipeg Jets – who have never retired a jersey number.
“It’s just an unbelievable honor to have. It was surreal. It just flashes before your eyes. Everything I did led up to this moment,” said Patrick Marleau. “I’ve been looking back … seeing all the teammates who came back. When you see their faces and you get talking, the stories and the memories keep flying back.”
As of February, there are now 179 retired numbers in the NHL and 34 more that are either former retired jerseys or honored numbers. Wayne Gretzky (who wore No. 99) is the only player to have his jersey retired league-wide and for good reason – he’s the unquestioned G.O.A.T. when it comes to hockey.
With Marleau becoming the 20th player to have their jersey retired since 2020, let’s meet the other 19 players (one of which is a fanbase):
ChrisNeil was a 6-foot-1, 209-pound right winger who was drafted by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 161 overall pick (6th round) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his entire 15-season career with the Senators between 2001 and 2017, having his No. 25 jersey retired by the team on February 17, 2023.
Neil played in 1,026 career games with the Senators, totaling 112 goals and 138 assists (250 points). He had 96 even-strength goals, 16 power play goals, and 12 game-winning goals in his career. He ranks 20th in the NHL all-time with 2,522 penalty minutes and was known to never shy away from a good fight.
DustinBrown was a 6-foot-0, 210-pound right winger who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings with the No. 13 overall pick (1st round) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his entire 18-season career with the Kings between 2003 and 2022, having his No. 23 jersey retired by the team on February 11, 2023.
Brown played in 1,296 career games for the Kings, totaling 325 goals, 387 assists, and 712 points – including 213 even-strength goals, 106 power play goals, 6 shorthanded goals, and 42 game-winning goals. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion and won the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2013-14.
RyanMiller was a 6-foot-2, 168-pound goalie who was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres with the No. 138 overall pick (5th round) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He spent 11 seasons of his 18-season career with the Sabres between 2002 and 2014, having his No. 30 jersey retired by the team on January 19, 2023.
Miller played in 540 career games for the Sabres and had a 284-186-57 record with the team – including a .916 save percentage, 2.60 goals against average, and 28 shutouts. He was named an All-Star once while with the Sabres, which came in the 2009-10 season when he went 41-18-8 in 69 games played.
MarianHossa was a 6-foot-1, 207-pound right winger who was drafted by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 12 overall pick (1st round) in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of the 2009-10 season and would go on to spend the final eight seasons of his career with the team.
Hossa had his No. 81 jersey retired by the Blackhawks on November 20, 2022. He played a total of 534 games for Chicago, totaling 186 goals, 229 assists, and 415 points. He helped lead the team to three Stanley Cup wins in 2010, 2013, and 2015, totaling 21 goals and 52 assists in the playoffs for Chicago.
15. Mikko Koivu (Minnesota Wild)
The Minnesota Wild will retire Mikko Koivu's #9 on Sunday, March 13th against the Nashville Predators.#MNWildpic.twitter.com/XeF2CdCJ6w
MikkoKoivu was a 6-foot-3, 213-pound center who was drafted by the Minnesota Wild with the No. 6 overall pick (1st round) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the first 15 years of his 16-season career with the team between 2005 and 2020, having his No. 9 jersey retired by Minnesota on March 13, 2022.
Koivu played in a total of 1,028 games for the Wild, totaling 205 goals, 504 assists, and 709 points – including 135 even-strength goals, 60 power play goals, 10 shorthanded goals, and 33 game-winning goals. He scored at least 20 goals on three occasions and at least 10 goals on 12 occasions in his career.
14. Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets)
The Columbus Blue Jackets will retire Rick Nash’s #61 on March 5th, 2022 against the Boston Bruins.#CBJpic.twitter.com/dCbuKD4ixp
RickNash was a 6-foot-4, 211-pound left winger who was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the first nine years of his 15-season career with the team between 2002 and 2012, having his No. 61 jersey retired by Columbus on March 5, 2022.
Nash played in a total of 674 games for the Blue Jackets, totaling 289 goals, 258 assists, and 547 points – including 192 even-strength goals, 83 power play goals, 14 shorthanded goals, and 44 game-winning goals. He was on the 2002-03 All-Rookie squad and won the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2003-04.
PekkaRinne was a 6-foot-5, 217-pound goalie who was drafted by the Nashville Predators with the No. 258 overall pick (8th round) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his entire 15-season career with the team between 2005 and 2021, having his No. 35 jersey retired by Nashville on February 24, 2022.
Rinne played in 683 games for the Predators and had a record of 369-213-75 in net – including a .917 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average, and 60 career shutouts. He was a two-time All-Star, 2017-18 Vezina Trophy winner, and 2020-21 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner with the team.
12. Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers)
The New York Rangers have announced that they will retire Henrik Lundqvist’s #30 at some point this season. pic.twitter.com/2oUaJoj2Wk
HenrikLundqvist was a 6-foot-1, 182-pound goalie who was drafted by the New York Rangers with the No. 205 overall pick (7th round) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his entire 15-season career with the team between 2005 and 2020, having his No. 30 jersey retired by the Rangers on January 28, 2022.
Lundqvist played in 887 games for New York and retired with a 459-310-96 record in net – including a .918 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average, and 64 shutouts. He was a two-time All-Star, was a member of the 2005-06 All-Rookie squad, and won the Vezina Trophy in 2011-12 with a 39-18-5 record.
SergeiZubov was a 6-foot-1, 198-pound defenseman who was drafted by the New York Rangers with the No. 85 overall pick (5th round) in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. He eventually signed with the Dallas Stars ahead of the 1996-97 season and spent the final 12 years of his 16-season career with the team.
Zubov had his No. No. 56 jersey retired by the Stars on January 28, 2022. He played 839 games with the team between 1996 and 2009, totaling 111 goals, 438 assists, and 549 points. He was a one-time All-Star towards the end of his career and won two Stanley Cups – one with the Rangers and one with the Stars.
10. Willie O’Ree (Boston Bruins)
On Jan. 18., 2022 – 64 years to the day of his historic NHL debut – Willie O'Ree's No. 22 was raised to the rafters at TD Garden. O'Ree became the 12th player in club history to have his number retired.#NHLBruins | #BlackHistoryMonthpic.twitter.com/ag0v0UZE1g
WillieO’Ree was a 5-foot-10, 175-pound winger who made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins during the 1957-58 season. He only spent two seasons in the NHL and played a total of 45 games – scoring 4 goals and 10 assists (14 points) – but had two game-winning goals in his short time in the league.
O’Ree is best known for breaking the color barrier in the NHL. He was the first ever black hockey player to play in the NHL, giving him the nickname as the ‘JackieRobinson of hockey.’ He had his No. 22 jersey retired by the Bruins on January 18, 2022 to commemorate his continued dedication to the game.
ChrisPronger was a 6-foot-6, 220-pound defenseman who was drafted by the Hartford Whalers with the No. 2 overall pick (1st round) in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He spent nine seasons of his 18-year career with the St. Louis Blues between 1995 and 2004 and had his No. 44 jersey retired on January 17, 2022.
Pronger played in 598 career games for the Blues, totaling 84 goals, 272 assists, and 356 points with the team. He was named to two All-Star teams as a member of the Blues, also winning the Hart Memorial Trophy and James Norris Memorial Trophy in the 1999-00 season. He won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks.
KevinLowe was a 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman who was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers with the No. 21 overall pick (1st round) in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the next 15 seasons of his 19-year career with the team between 1971 and 1992 and had his No. 4 jersey retired on November 5, 2021.
Lowe played 1,037 career games for the Oilers, totaling 74 goals and 309 assists (383 points) with the team. He helped form a dynasty in Edmonton, winning five Stanley Cups in a seven-season span and won the Clancy Memorial Trophy – he also won a sixth Cup with the New York Rangers in 1993-94.
The Seattle Kraken are the newest franchise to join the NHL, beginning their play during the 2021-22 season. Being a new franchise, they don’t necessarily have any players worth retiring their jersey yet, but they did retire the No. 32 jersey on October 23, 2021 to commemorate them being the 32nd franchise.
They also had 32,000 fans place deposits for tickets on the first day tickets became available – another reason why they chose to have the No. 32 jersey retired. They went on to have a 27-49-6 record in their first season and are already off to a better start this season – they’re currently 35-21-6 through 62 games.
— WPLG Local 10 Sports (@Local10Sports) March 7, 2020
RobertoLuongo was a 6-foot-3, 215-pound goalie who was drafted by the New York Islanders with the No. 4 overall pick (1st round) in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He spent two stints with the Florida Panthers between 2000 and 2006, and 2014 and 2019 – totaling 11 seasons of his 19-year Hall of Fame career.
Luongo had his No. 1 jersey retired by the Panthers on March 7, 2020. He played in 572 games for the Panthers and had a 230-241-73 record with the team – including a .919 save percentage, 2.61 goals against average, and 38 shutouts. He also spent a quality eight seasons with the Vancouver Canucks.
5. Butch Goring (New York Islanders)
Number 91 Butch Goring, the final member of the 4-consecutive Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders has his number raised to the rafters.
ButchGoring was a 5-foot-9, 170-pound center who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings with the No. 51 overall pick (5th round) in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft. He spent the next 11 seasons with the Kings before joining the New York Islanders, where he played for six seasons between 1980 and 1985.
The Islanders retired his No. 91 jersey on February 29, 2020. He played in 332 games for New York, totaling 87 goals and 108 assists (195 points) during that time. He was a key contributor of the Islanders’ impressive and historic four-peat, winning a Stanley Cup each season between 1980 and 1983.
JohnTonelli was a 6-foot-1, 200-pound left winger who was drafted by the New York Islanders with the No. 33 overall pick (2nd round) in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft. After three years in the WHA, he spent the next eight seasons with the Islanders and had his No. 27 jersey retired by the team on Feb. 21, 2020.
Like ButchGoring, Tonelli was a member of the Islanders’ historic four-peat between 1980 and 1983. He played in 594 career games for New York, totaling 206 goals and 338 assists (544 points). He was also a two-time All-Star for the team, had a 42-goal season, and amassed 30 goals on three occasions.
3. Chris Phillips (Ottawa Senators)
“I’m really at a loss for words, it’s a very special feeling.”
Chris Phillips speaks with the media following his jersey retirement and reflects on seeing number 4 raised to the rafters. pic.twitter.com/Ie5eeBxNoE
ChrisPhillips was a 6-foot-3, 219-pound defenseman who was drafted by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 1 overall pick (1st round) in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his entire 17-season career with the team between 1997 and 2015, eventually having his No. 4 jersey retired by Ottawa on February 18, 2020.
Phillips played in 1,179 career games for the Senators, totaling 71 goals and 217 assists (288 points) during that time. He might not have some of the accolades other defenseman have and isn’t in the Hall of Fame, but he was a reliable player for Ottawa and was a fan-favorite during his time in the league.
DanielSedin was a 6-foot-1, 190-pound center who was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks with the No. 2 overall (1st round) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his entire 17-year career with the team and had his No. 22 jersey retired on February 12, 2020 – same day they retired his twin brother’s jersey.
Sedin played in 1,306 career games for Vancouver between 2000 and 2018, totaling 393 goals, 648 assists, and 1,041 points. He was a two-time All-Star, 2010-11 Art Ross Trophy winner, 2010-11 Ted Lindsay Award winner, and 2017-18 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner throughout his career.
HenrikSedin was a 6-foot-2, 183-pound center who was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks with the No. 3 overall pick (1st round) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft – they selected him and his brother back-to-back in that draft and also retired his No. 33 jersey on February 12, 2020, the same day as his brother Daniel.
Sedin played in 1,330 career games for Vancouver between 2000 and 2018 – retiring at the same time as his brother. He totaled 240 goals, 830 assists, and 1,070 points and was a two-time All-Star, 2009-10 Art Ross Trophy winner, 2009-10 Hart Memorial Trophy winner, and two-time Clancy Memorial Trophy winner.
NHL Players Who Should Have Their Jersey Retired
Having your jersey retired in the NBA doesn’t always go to the best players of all-time because a lot of them ended up changing teams several times in their career – if not often. The truth is very few NHL players stick around with one team long enough to be considered an all-time great for that franchise.
A good example of someone who should have his jersey retired, but hasn’t, is SergeiFederov – who spent 13 seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. JacquesLemaire spent 12 years with the Montreal Canadiens and who could forget about the 11 years JaromirJagr spent with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Players today who should be considered for jersey retirement in the future include PatriceBergeron of the Boston Bruins, SidneyCrosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, AlexOvechkin of the Washington Capitals, AnžeKopitar of the Los Angeles Kings, and PatrickKane of the Chicago Blackhawks.
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