Few things in professional sports carry as much grandeur as an iconic jersey number.
In National Hockey League circles, No. 99 is immediately recognizable as belonging to one legendary player. The same goes for 66 and 87.
On the flip side, 9, 19, and 91 are seemingly just as prestigious because they’ve had so many incredible players wear them. And with more and more numbers being retired around the NHL, players are increasingly having to turn to different digits to stand out from the crowd.
This all begs the question: How about No. 0? It’s a common choice of NBA All-Stars, including Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, and Jayson Tatum. MLB players wear it regularly.
Even its variant number, No. 00, is commonly worn in both the NBA and MLB. And just this week, the NFL changed its rules to allow players to wear No. 0 — with Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley announcing shortly thereafter that he would switch to the number.
The NHL formerly allowed players to wear both No. 0 and 00, but nobody has worn either since Marty Biron suited up for the Buffalo Sabres in 1995–96 with the double-zero on his back. The league subsequently outlawed the practice the following season.
But if players in other leagues can wear 0, why can’t NHL stars? Mike McKenna and Frank Seravalli discussed the topic on Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff Live.
Frank Seravalli: After watching the NFL change their tune earlier this week, what would you think about the NHL allowing players to wear the No. 0 on jerseys?
Mike McKenna: I’d love it. I mean, it’s a number! Who cares? I see it in racing all the time. I go to the local dirt track, you’ve got No. 007 out there or 01 or 05. You know what, I think it’d be cool. I know the reason [they outlawed it] is it confused the NHL’s digital database years ago in ’96–97, after Marty Biron was the last guy to wear it. I dunno, I wouldn’t mind it a bit. It has history in the league before. What do you think?
Seravalli: Yeah, there must be a way to do it now with the technology to ensure that doesn’t happen. I’m all for the 00. I think the singular 0 is weird, but the 00, why not?
McKenna: Yeah, John Davidson wore it the whole ’77–78 season. And then Phil Esposito told him to change it.
You can watch the full episode here …
As a fervent sports enthusiast with an in-depth understanding of various leagues and their historical contexts, I've closely followed the dynamics of iconic jersey numbers across different professional sports. My passion for the subject has led me to explore the nuances of jersey number traditions and the impact they have on the identity of legendary players.
The article in question delves into the significance of jersey numbers in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the intriguing absence of the number 0 and its variant 00 in recent years. Drawing from my comprehensive knowledge base, I can shed light on the historical context and reasons behind the NHL's prohibition of these specific jersey numbers.
The piece highlights the iconicity of certain jersey numbers in the NHL, such as No. 99, associated with the legendary Wayne Gretzky, and No. 66 and 87, which immediately evoke images of other notable players. Moreover, the article touches upon the trend of players opting for unconventional numbers as more traditional ones become retired, leading to the emergence of questions surrounding the possibility of reintroducing No. 0 in the NHL.
The author references NBA and MLB players regularly donning the No. 0, citing notable names like Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, and Jayson Tatum. The mention of the NFL's recent rule change allowing players to wear No. 0, with the Jacksonville Jaguars' Calvin Ridley promptly announcing his switch to the number, serves as a contemporary backdrop to the discussion.
To further support the argument for the reintroduction of No. 0 in the NHL, the article brings attention to the league's previous allowance of both No. 0 and 00, a practice that ceased after Marty Biron wore the double-zero for the Buffalo Sabres in the 1995–96 season. The subsequent ban on these numbers was reportedly due to complications with the NHL's digital database.
The conversation between Mike McKenna and Frank Seravalli on Daily Faceoff Live adds a personal touch to the narrative, with McKenna expressing enthusiasm for the idea of NHL players wearing the No. 0. He dismisses the significance of the number, drawing parallels with racing where unconventional numbers are a common sight. The discussion touches on the technological advancements that could potentially address the past issues with No. 0 and 00 in the NHL, emphasizing the possibility of revisiting this tradition.
In summary, the article explores the intriguing topic of jersey numbers in the NHL, with a focus on the absence of No. 0 and 00. It draws parallels with other major sports leagues, discusses historical precedents, and advocates for the reconsideration of allowing players to wear these unconventional numbers.
