Test Your Knowledge of NHL Jersey Numbers!

9. 66. 87. 99. These are just some of the classic jerseys numbers that have become so linked with a certain player that we don’t even need to see their name. From Howe to Gretzky to Crosby, generations of star players have impacted the game in such a way that we immediately connect them to the number on their backs. Do you know which star players began their careers wearing a different number? Or who has worn some of the more obscure numbers in league history? Prove how well you know NHL jersey numbers by challenging yourself to this fun and detailed quiz!

By Matt Johnson Issue with this quiz?

Qusetion: 1 of 25

Which of these numbers has NOT been retired by the Boston Bruins?

Qusetion: 2 of 25

Why does Jaromir Jagr wear number 68?

Reference to Prague Spring

Age his father played sports until

A combination of his two favourite numbers

Because it is unique

Qusetion: 3 of 25

Which of these non-traditional goalie numbers is currently being worn by an NHL goalie?

Qusetion: 4 of 25

Why does Sidney Crosby wear number 87?

Reference to the 1987 Canada Cup

His father's number growing up

Number of points in his first year of bantam hockey

Reference to his birthday

Qusetion: 5 of 25

Which of these franchises does not have a retired number?

Vegas Golden Knights

Nashville Predators

Minnesota Wild

Seattle Kraken

Qusetion: 6 of 25

Before switching to 12, what number did Jarome Iginla begin his career wearing?

Qusetion: 7 of 25

Which of these numbers has NOT been retired by the Montreal Canadiens?

Qusetion: 8 of 25

Which of these NHL legends did NOT wear number 9?

Lanny McDonald

Henri Richard

Andy Bathgate

Dick Duff

Qusetion: 9 of 25

Which of these numbers has NOT been retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Qusetion: 10 of 25

Which of these numbers has NOT been retired by the Chicago Blackhawks?

Qusetion: 11 of 25

Which of these numbers did former NHLer Nikolai Antropov NOT wear during his career?

Qusetion: 12 of 25

After wearing number 9 for his career with the Dallas Stars, what number did Mike Modano wear with the Detroit Red Wings?

Qusetion: 13 of 25

Why did Eric Lindros wear 88?

Cam Neely was his favourite player

In reference to his sister's birth year

In memory of John McCauley

His junior number 8 was taken

Qusetion: 14 of 25

Before switching to 9, what number did Jack Eichel begin his career wearing?

Qusetion: 15 of 25

What is the only number retired league-wide?

Qusetion: 16 of 25

What number did Felix Potvin briefly wear for the New York Islanders before switching?

Qusetion: 17 of 25

Which of these 2000s NHL stars has NOT yet had his number retired?

Rick Nash

Shane Doan

Henrik Lundqvist

Jason Spezza

Qusetion: 18 of 25

What is the highest number ever worn by a goalie in the NHL?

Qusetion: 19 of 25

Which goalie most recently wore number 60?

Chris Driedger

Jose Theodore

Kevin Poulin

Louis Domingue

Qusetion: 20 of 25

Which of these numbers has NOT been retired by the New York Rangers?

Qusetion: 21 of 25

Which of these numbers has NOT been retired by the Detroit Red Wings?

Qusetion: 22 of 25

Why does the NHL not allow players to wear 0 or 00?

NHL thought it looked bad

Digital databases couldn't handle them

Official scorers were confused

0 and 00 were referee numbers

Qusetion: 23 of 25

Which NHL star wears their number in reference to their birth year?

Connor McDavid

John Tavares

Ryan O'Reilly

David Pastrnak

Qusetion: 24 of 25

Which of these second-generation NHL players currently wears the same number as his father?

William Nylander

Sam Reinhart

Brady Tkachuk

Brendan Lemieux

Qusetion: 25 of 25

Which pair of numbers did Hall of Famer Chris Chelios wear during his NHL career?

4 and 24

7 and 23

7 and 24

4 and 7

End Quiz & See Results

Matt Johnson

Matt is a part-time freelance writer and lifelong sports fan with a BA in clinical psychology. He has written copy in a variety of styles and forms, ranging from short-form captioning to medium-length listicles to long-form album reviews. As a passionate (and long-suffering) fan of the Leafs and Blue Jays, Matt’s love of sports has taken him from a post-graduate sport and event marketing program to the professional world as he is currently working for his local pro basketball team. You can find some of his writing in his portfolio writers.work/mattjohnson and follow his jersey concept page @mj94designs on Instagram.