Pavel bure wanted to wear the number 96 to commemorate when he left Russia, similar to how Mogilny did with #89, however coach pat Quinn told him no because he didn’t like high numbers. Are there any other examples of coaches or other teams telling players what numbers they can and can’t have?
by oystertoe
18 Comments
He was much cooler as 10.
Isn’t Lou Lamoriello (in)famous for mandating his teams have no numbers over 29 or something like that right? I don’t think goalies are included in that though
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Between the 96-97 and 97-98 seasons a couple Sens players who wore high numbers were made to change to lower numbers. I don’t remember if it was coach Jacques Martin that pushed the change or if it was the GM.
Radek Bonk changed from 76 to 14.
Alexandre Daigle changed from 91 to 9.
Stan Neckar changed from 94 to 24.
Radim Bicanek changed from 44 to 23.
Denny Lambert changed from 42 to 28.
There may have been others I’m forgetting about, pretty much everyone over #40 was made to change.
What kind of small person gives a shit what number the player wants to wear? It’s a game and if having 69 on your back is fun for the player then let them do it.
Why do coaches hate high numbers?
Patt quinns a little bitch
Its a fucking number pat. Grow up ya baby
Lol Bedard went for the absolute highest number he could
Bure was sooo fun to watch.
Imagine a line of
Bure – Datsyuk – Fedorov
😳
Quinn did allow him to wear #96 after Mogilny joined the team.
Also in 1996, Quinn was singlehandedly responsible for blowing up a particular UFA signing involving some undersized Center who had only scored 900 goals and registering a pitiful 1900 assists (at the time). He insisted on signing the contract the night of the verbal commitment rather than waiting for the next morning. Vancouver missed out on Gretzky and took Messier as a consolation prize and they didn’t qualify for playoffs until he was gone. It’s also important to note that he was fired a year later for “not seeing eye to eye” with the owners. The way I will *always* read this is that Messier wanted to bring Keenan in as coach and GM and the ownership loved Messier so they wouldn’t say no. I can’t stand messier
Pat Quinn also only liked hitting low on the knees
With the Ducks, there is a long history (which started with Brian Burke) of not giving rookies their desired number until they prove themselves, no matter how highly-touted they are. And they frown upon high numbers too.
It wasn’t any specific general manager. Just a precedent set by Brian Burke that has somehow continued to the present day.
If the Ducks had gotten Connor Bedard, I wonder if they would’ve implemented the same rule even for him. There is a non-zero chance of that, considering how rigidly the team has enforced this tradition.
It’s hardly unique nowadays but I remember back in 2005, it could be seen as strange.
Examples:
* Corey Perry: 61 to 10 (and not even considering 94, which he wore in junior)
* Ryan Getzlaf: 51 to 15
* Bobby Ryan: 54 to 9
* Cam Fowler: 54 to 4
* Trevor Zegras: 46 to 11
* Troy Terry: 61 to 19
* Dustin Penner: 76 to 17
* Pat Maroon: 62 to 19
* Chris Kunitz: 38 to 14
* Kyle Palmieri: 51 to 21
* Ryan Carter: 52 to 20
* Nick Bonino: 64 to 13
* Matt Beleskey: 64 to 39
* …and a lot more, all since 2005.
There’s also talk of Mason McTavish changing from 37 to his usual 23, as early as next season (since he is proving himself pretty well). 23 is available.
Wait till Pat Quinn hears about this guy named Gretzky
Why would anyone care about what number players wear?
Coaches/GMs who force their players to adhere to a certain dress code, shave a certain way, style their hair a certain way, wear certain numbers are absolute losers.
These guys are there to play hockey, not model for your old boys club. Imagine getting traded to the isles with Lou and finding out you have to cut your hair, shave, change your number, and get a new wardrobe…
That’s a pretty stupid reason to not allow a player to wear a certain number.