A minor Twitter controversy erupted over Nikita Gusev choosing to wear number 97 in the NHL. Does it disrespect Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers?
To have your number retired in the NHL enshrines your place in the hockey world forever. It’s an honor reserved for a few, perhaps even a more exclusive club than having your name engraved on the Stanley Cup. When your jersey goes up into the rafters, you’re immortal.
But what about the players who haven’t had that honor, well the ones who haven’t had it yet? What about the active players who everyone expects that once they hang up their skates, their jersey number will join the likes of the greats way above the ice? And for the rest of the players, is there some sort of unwritten code of conduct you have to follow?
Well according to Dean Vice, a radio producer from Alberta, there are a few rules that should be followed. Vice wasted no time in calling out newly acquired New Jersey Devils forward Nikita Gusev. It was announced almost immediately after his trade that Gusev would wear #97:
How disrespectful. Nobody wore 99 while Gretz was still playing. Nobody wore 66 when Mario played. Connor is on that level. https://t.co/R9xILcFTSU
— Dean Vince (@deanvince) July 30, 2019
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For Devils fans, it might be odd seeing a player wear a number that high. Former general manager Lou Lamoriello had strict rules about players wearing high jersey numbers. Of course, the exception was made to accommodate Jaromir Jagr and his famous 68.
To Vice’s credit, the Lemieux and Gretzky scenarios are two good examples to point out. However, Gretzky and Lemieux both went on to have storied carriers and multiple cup championships between them.
Connor McDavid might be the next “great one”, but it’s hard to judge a fourth-year player with one playoff appearance to the same degree. It is an odd sentiment, especially considering how many NHL players wear certain numbers so they can wear the same ones as their heroes and players they watched growing up.
Wayne Gretzky originally wanted to wear number 9 to match great Gordie Howe. That number on his junior team was taken, so he “doubled” the number to his iconic 99.
Some Devils fans took to Vice’s criticism with amusement. Hockey writer Greg Wyshnski took it as an opportunity to jokingly compare Sidney Crosby to Donald Brashear. However, it was Jay Zawaski, a producer for the Chicago Blackhawks, that had the perfect response to Vice’s misplaced criticism.
While hockey is a sport rooted in tradition, Vice seems to be talking about a controversy that has yet to exist. Former Vegas Golden Knights player Vadim Shipachyov faced a similar dilemma when he was asked if he would wear number 87.
For those who don’t know, that’s Crosby’s number. It’s also the number Shipachyov wore in Russia when he made the ill-fated moved to the NHL. NHL.com pointed out in the article that four other players have worn the number during Crosby’s tenure.
As for Gretzky, two other players shared the number 99 with him during his playing days in the 1980s. The number 99 has since been retired league-wide. Gretzky was the first NHL player to wear 99, however.
Every hockey player wants to honor the greats and their legacy. Still, if any unwritten rules about Jersey number selection exist, Gusev isn’t infringing on them. Gusev has something to prove, but it isn’t because of his jersey number.