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Jersey numbers?
Is it fair to say that when Wayne Gretzky chose to wear #99 back in 1979 that NHL jersey numbers became less than traditionial? I seemed prior to that, with some exceptions, that most numbers issued were lower and didn't get past the 30s. Is that accurate? I've always been curious.
Mistype: it should read, "It seemed".
Allow me to add this. Other than goalies using numbers in the 30s and 1, again with exceptions like 40, 43, 60, were there traditionial numbers for forwards and defense?
Numbers became less than traditional long before Wayne Gretzky
Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge wore non-traditional numbers in New York after being traded from Boston.
In 1968-69, the Montreal Canadiens started handing out numbers in the 30s and 40s as the number of retired numbers started piling up..
By the end of the 1973-74 season, 44 of the 101 available numbers had been used in a regular season NHL game.
Hearty
Wilf Paiement first wore #99 ten weeks AFTER Wayne Gretzky. Paiement wore #9 with Kansas City and Colorado and when he was traded to Toronto, Dan Maloney was wearing #9 so Paiement went with #99 (and the time the trade was made, Paiement had almost as many points than Gretzky). paiement continued to wear #99 until March 1982 and then wore it for several games with Quebec until Michel Bergeron ordered him to change it (to #27).
Wayne Gretzky's Jersey Retirement Cermony as an Edmonton Oiler in Skyreach Center