Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,146
When Robinson's number was retired, anyone currently wearing 42 was allowed to retain it until they retire. I believe a couple of people still do. Mariano Rivera and someone else maybe? No reason the NHL couldn't do the same thing.
In some sense, the fact that it's also Beliveau's number just increases the reason to retire it league-wide.
However, where does it end? What about #9? That belonged to Howe, Richard and Hull. Three players who all belong on top 10 lists. I think the idea with Gretzky is that he wore an obscure number and he's almost unanimously regarded as the best to ever play the game. After that, it kind of gets to be a can of worms regarding the rest of the names doesn't it? Where do you draw the line?
I think that's why they stopped the rule of waiving the three year wait for HHOF induction. Gretzky was the last one. Since him there have been maybe one or two players (Roy, Bourque) who might have deserved to have their waiting period waived, but that's it, and even that's pushing it a bit. I think it's good when take stuff like that out because you'll never have everyone happy