It’s debate time! Nothing riles up hockey fans quite like debating which of their favorite players deserves to have their jerseys retired.
Did the player play for their team long enough? Did they make enough of an impact? Were they winners? How many awards did the player receive?
Those are just some of the questions that need to be answered when trying to decide if a player is worthy of having his jersey number retired. And since we’re supposedly in for a major snowstorm, perhaps this column will give you all something to discuss while you’re trying to stay warm indoors.
But first, let’s dive into the rules…
One, only players who are CURRENTLY ACTIVE in the NHL are able to be considered for this exercise. Two, players are only eligible to have their numbers retired by the team they are currently on as of January 15, 2024. Three, rookies are ineligible due to their lack of time in the NHL. Four, any player whose contract is still active and stashed on LTIR, but who have not actually played a game during the 2023-2024 season is ineligible.
As a side note, we will not be forcing any decisions during this hypothetical exercise. If a team does not currently have a player who could reasonably be in the jersey retirement debate then we will not select a player from that club.
ANAHEIM DUCKS: N/A
Not an ideal way to start our exercise off but there’s nobody on the Ducks’ current roster who gives off the slightest hint of one day being worthy of having their jersey retired. Sure, Mason McTavish screams “future captain” and Troy Terry has had a couple of nice seasons, but neither has done anything yet to put themselves in this conversation.
Since the Ducks are in a rebuild, this really shouldn’t come as any surprise. The nucleus of the next great Ducks team has yet to fully form. Perhaps once it does we’ll have a better idea regarding if any of those players will be worthy of this honor.
ARIZONA COYOTES: N/A
Yikes, maybe this wasn’t the best idea to do a column on, after all, we’re 0-for-2 so far! The Coyotes have been a revolving door of players for over a decade now as the team attempts to finally build itself a stable foundation. Clayton Keller has been a nice player but nowhere near the type to one day have his number retired. Let’s check back in once the Coyotes have a new arena and a core of players locked up for a handful of years.
BOSTON BRUINS: David Pastrňák and Brad Marchand
Finally! We can breathe again. Not only do we finally have a viable candidate, but we actually have TWO! Pastrňák and Marchand are both multi-time All-Stars. Each has played in his fair share of playoff games for the Bruins. They both have multiple Top-10 Hart Trophy finishes. Marchand is the current Captain and a one-time Cup champion. Pastrňák is one of the NHL’s most prolific goal scorers. Either or both could one day see their jerseys raised to the rafters at TD Garden.
BUFFALO SABRES: N/A
As much as I’m tempted to say somebody like Tage Thompson could one day be in this conversation, he just isn’t there. Not yet anyway. Two great seasons don’t get your jersey retired. However, if the Sabres ever see their fortunes turn for the better, I fully expect Thompson to be right in the middle of the turnaround.
CALGARY FLAMES: Mikael Backlund
This is an interesting case. On the one hand, Backlund doesn’t have the numbers or the hardware to suggest he’ll one day have his number retired by the Flames. On the other hand, he’s spent his entire career with the Flames, he’s currently their Captain and he’s been the very definition of a loyal soldier in Calgary. He’s the type of player who fans and teammates will miss once he’s gone. The Flames organization will likely keep him around for special appearances and that could lead to having his own jersey retirement night down the line.
CAROLINA HURRICANES: Jordan Staal
Like Backlund with the Flames, Staal has been a loyal soldier for the Hurricanes for a long time. Sure, he isn’t a career-long Hurricane (he spent his first six years in the NHL as a Penguin), but nobody in Carolina holds that against him. He’s been Team Captain since 2019 and he’s left an indelible mark on the franchise and the community. I fully expect his jersey to go to the rafters one day.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: N/A
If it weren’t for the “no rookies rule” I’d likely have gone with Connor Bedard, but he’s ineligible so we can forget about him. Since the Blackhawks are still in the early stages of their rebuild it shouldn’t surprise anyone that they don’t have a player worthy of this honor currently on their roster.
COLORADO AVALANCHE: Nathan MacKinnon
The Avs’ first overall pick in 2013 has more than lived up to his billing. He delivered a Cup to Colorado in 2021-22 and was the Calder Trophy winner in 2013-14. He’s one of The League’s preeminent players and a no-doubt jersey retirement candidate as soon as he hangs up his skates (which won’t be for many years).
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: N/A
Another rebuilding team and another team without a player currently on the roster who could reasonably be part of this conversation.
DALLAS STARS: Jamie Benn
As much as I’m tempted to say Joe Pavelski, the man known as “Pavs” just hasn’t played for Dallas long enough to warrant this honor. Although, he should one day see his jersey get retired by the Sharks. Benn has spent his entire career with the Stars, he’s a one-time Art Ross Trophy winner, a multi-time All-Star, and the face of the franchise. When his career is over he’ll likely be in the neighborhood of 1,000 career points. Maybe the Stars will retire his jersey, maybe they won’t. I’d guess it’ll be the former.
DETROIT RED WINGS: N/A
Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond could well build themselves into the types of players who get their jerseys retired, but they’re not there yet. Patrick Kane will have his jersey retired in Chicago, not Detroit. And while Dylan Larkin has been a nice player for the Red Wings, he’s not in the conversation as of this moment.
EDMONTON OILERS: Connor McDavid
Is there a more obvious answer than this? McDavid is already an All-Time great and he’s not slowing down any time soon. The only question is if McDavid will leave the Oilers as a free agent when his contract is up in a couple of years. But either way, the number 97 won’t ever be worn by another Oilers player.
FLORIDA PANTHERS: Aleksander Barkov
The Panthers’ current Captain has been one of the best 200-foot players in the NHL since he was 20 years old. He’s the face of hockey in Sunrise and a beloved teammate. He’s almost a point-per-game player throughout his career and while there’s no hard criteria to have your jersey retired, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Panthers eventually bestowed the honor upon him several years after he retires.
LOS ANGELES KINGS: Anže Kopitar and Drew Doughty
Do me a favor, take a short trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and put some money down on this double jersey retirement. That’s how much of a lock these two players are to see their jerseys raised to the rafters eventually. Each is a two-time Cup winner and each has put together a highly decorated career. The cherry on top for each will be seeing their jerseys retired by the only organization either has ever played for in the NHL.
(Editor’s Note: We are not advocating for any actual wagers to be made. This is just a figure of speech).
MINNESOTA WILD: N/A
Marc-Andre Fleury will have his jersey retired one day, it just won’t be by the Wild. Mats Zuccarello has been a nice player for Minnesota but he isn’t in the jersey retirement conversation. The Wild often fit into the murky middle ground of the NHL, so it’s no wonder they don’t really have any solid candidates for this honor.
MONTREAL CANADIENS: N/A
For a team as steeped in history as the Canadiens, there’s a certain level a player must reach to even sniff this conversation. Currently, there are no players on their roster who fit the bill. But when the next great Canadiens team comes around, you can be sure there’ll likely be a player or two worthy of this honor.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS: Roman Josi
One of the greatest Swiss-born players in NHL history and one of the top defensemen of this era, Josi will likely see his jersey raised to the rafters in Nashville when the time comes.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Jack Hughes
The current Devils’ superstar re-writes the franchise’s history books on a seemingly nightly basis; when healthy. The problem is that his small physical stature leads to him being out for weeks at a time when he gets hurt. If he can luck into a streak of good health then this becomes a no-brainer.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS: The “Identity Line”
Ok, I’ll admit, this one is a bit of a cop-out on my part. But hear me out. For most of the last decade-and-a-half, the Islanders have counted on their fourth line of Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck to set the identity of the team. Individually, neither of these players would be worthy of this honor. But together they could and should be.
NEW YORK RANGERS: Chris Kreider
For a team that infamously waits an absurd amount of time to bestow the jersey retirement honor on its former players, Chris Kreider is the only player currently on the team who even comes close to being worthy. Lately, it seems like every time Kreider scores a goal or collects an assist, he climbs up the organization’s All-Time list. Sadly, Frank Boucher, Bill Cook, Bun Cook, Brad Park, and others are still waiting their turn, so “Kreids” could be in for a long wait.
OTTAWA SENATORS: N/A
Maybe one day the answer will be Brady Tkachuk, but for now, nobody on the 2023-24 team is in the conversation.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: N/A
See Ottawa Senators, minus the part about Brady Tkachuk.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: Sidney Crosby
One of the greatest players of All-Time, “Sid The Kid” is a shoo-in to have his jersey number retired by the Penguins. He is the lock of all locks. Get your tickets now Penguins fans.
SAN JOSE SHARKS: N/A
See Chicago Blackhawks, minus Connor Bedard.
SEATTLE KRAKEN: N/A
Seattle hasn’t been in the NHL long enough to have any players who have made enough of an impact for this honor. Check back in a few years.
ST. LOUIS BLUES: N/A
A young, rebuilding team with a lot of moving parts. Maybe Jordan Binnington will turn things around and get his career back on the course that led to him lifting The Cup as a rookie in 2018-19. If that happens, the mercurial goalie could one day receive this honor
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: Steven Stamkos
Yes, Tampa and its longtime Captain are currently at odds regarding his pending free agency. But regardless of whether Stamkos actually leaves the Lightning or not, there will be a jersey retirement held in his honor shortly after his career ends.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: Auston Matthews
Arguably the best pure goal-scorer in today’s NHL, Matthews is the face of the Leafs and one of The League’s top players. When it’s all said and done, I expect him to be spoken about in the same breath as many of the legendary Leafs who came before him.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS: N/A
Putting aside a surprising turnaround by the Canucks this season, Vancouver doesn’t have any players who currently fit the bill. J.T. Miller might one day put himself in this conversation, but the odds aren’t in his favor.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Jonathan Marchessault
An original “Golden Misfit,” Marchessault is the franchise leader in goals and points. One day, when the Knights have been around long enough and Marchessault is retired, it would make sense for the team to make him the first player in its history to have his jersey retired.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS: Alex Ovechkin
An All-Time great, he might even become the greatest goal-scorer in history, Ovechkin’s jersey is 110% going to the rafters inside Capital One Arena.
WINNIPEG JETS: Mark Scheifele
This second iteration of the Jets franchise has seen a fair few players put together distinguished careers. And while Scheifele doesn’t top the career lists in the major categories, he’s close enough to be in the discussion as one of the best players in team history. As such, his jersey could very well be retired one day.
Phew! That’s enough exercise for one day. Let us know if you agree or disagree with any of these selections.
