Across the NHL: Retired sweater numbers by franchise
Infographic showing which players have been honored by an NHL franchise by having their jersey numbers removed from circulation. Details (and Bonus) under the cut 👇
Current as of 01.01.2026
Numbers that have been removed from franchise circulation for reasons other that to honor of a former player are: Minnesota #1, Vegas #58, Seattle #32, and Florida #37 and #93.
When teams have retired a number in honor of multiple players (such as Toronto #7, King Clancy and Tim Horton) all listed twice.
The nine players who have had their numbers retired by multiple teams are: Bobby Hull (Chicago, Winnipeg*) (not to be confused with Brett Hull, St. Louis); Gordie Howe (Detroit, Hartford) (not to be confused with Mark Howe, Philly); Wayne Gretzky (LA, Edmonton; also league-wide); Ray Bourque (Boston, Colorado); Mark Messier (Edmonton, New York); Patrick Roy (Montreal, Colorado); Tim Horton (Toronto, Buffalo); "Red" Kelly (Detroit, Toronto), Scott Neidermayer (New Jersey, Anaheim).
The Atlanta Thrashers removed from circulation Dan Snyder's #37 after his death; it was not officially retired, but never re-issued before the franchise moved to Winnipeg
Bill Masterton (North Stars #19) remains the only player in NHL history to have died as a direct result of an on-ice injury.
Though Stars Neal Broten and Mike Modano played for the franchise in both Minnesota and in Dallas, only Neal Broten's #7 was retired in North Stars colors, in reference to his 12 years (out of 14) with the North Stars. (Modano spent 17 out of his 22 years with the franchise in Dallas.)
Numbers retired before franchise relocation are only listed if the number was not returned to circulation after the move.
Graph showing which jersey numbers have been retired by the most NHL teams (02.02.2026)
Notes below the cut.
* Wayne Gretzky's number was retired league-wide in 2000; however, the Oilers and Kings have individually retired #99 in his honor.
- When players have had their numbers retired by more than one team (i.e. Tim Horton, Patrick Roy), both teams are counted in the total.
- When a player's number was retired by a franchise that later relocated, their number is not counted if it returned to circulation after the move (i.e. Bill Masterton, North Stars, yes; Rick Ley, Whalers and Peter Stastny, Nordiques, no).
7 Detroit Red Wings Numbers That Should Be Retired
Yesterday, the Detroit Red Wings announced the numbers newcomers Frans Nielsen, Thomas Vanek, and Steve Ott will wear when they make their Hockeytown debuts. Additionally, the team announced that Teemu Pulkkinen and Alexey Marchenko will switch to new numbers for the 2016-17 campaign. Check...
If an NHL number is retired does that mean no player on any team can use it or just the players on the specific team? Also does the same policy apply to the NWHL or are the two seperate on retired numbers?
Just to start: The NWHL and NHL are two separate entitites completely and when one thing happens it doesn’t directly effect te other league. The NWHL may mirror it in ways as it tries to establish a relationship. But let it be known that the NHL did nothing to help this league grow, only individual teams (besides the women’s winter classic, where the NHL threatened multiple times to get rid of it to force the leagues to do what they wanted, which isn’t much of a relationship). and that the NWHL was created by women, for women. The only other league that had a huge helping hand was the NWSL, another women’s league. and even the CWHL had a bigger part. So yeah. just saying. I don’t want people giving credit to the NHL for this when they are basically ignoring it’s existence.
ANYWAY. back to the real question.
The only number retired league wide that no one can use is number 99, becuase of wayne gretzky. Otherwise it’s on a team by team basis. For instance, the montreal canadiens have 14 retired numbers which is the leagues most compare that to the San Jose Sharks who have none.Â
There are a total of 6 players who have their numbers retired by two or more NHl Teams (not including gretzky):
Bobby Hull by Chicago and Winnipeg
Gordie Howe by Detroit and Carolina (Although not official no hurricane is allowed to wear his number anyway).
Ray Bourque by Boston and Colorado
Mark Messier by NYR and Edmonton
And Patrick Roy by Colorado and Montreal.
Again these only apply to the teams that retire.
Fun fact: Minnesota retired the number 1 for the fans. And that’s their only one. cause minnesota
Hey there! So I just learned today that different numbers on football jerseys can be specific for certain types of players (like offense can't wear any number that is in the 30s or something?? I can't completely remember). Does that also happen in hockey at all, or are numbers all free range, and a goalie can be whatever number a defenseman is and a defenseman can be whatever number a forward is? Thank you!!!!!<3
The only restrictions on numbers in hockey are:
a. you can’t use a retired number and
b. it can only be two digits.
Now there are certain numbers like 30, 31, and 1 that tend to be goaltneders and then numbers like 4 tend to be defensemen. but this is more to do with the player trends then anyone saying “oh this position needs this number.”
as for retired numbers there is 99 which is Wayne Gretzky, so no one can use that, because it’s retired league wide. Otherwise every other team can have anywhere from no retired numbers to way too many lmao. And then you also will have a situation where a player comes to a team who is already a legend and a person already on that team will change their number so that person gets to keep their number.
ONE TIME, fun fact, the Bruins retired the number 7, for Phil Esposito when Ray Bourque was the current number 7 for the bruins. and Esposito told him he could finish his career in boston with the number that it wasn’t a big deal but during the ceremony Bourque removed his number 7 jersey and put on a number 77 jersey. The bruins went on to retire 77 for Bourque as well.
