No one else should wear #97, that's McDavid's jersey number!

[blankall]

Gretzky accomplished a bunch of stuff before his number became protected. No one doubts McDavid's skill and potential, but there are about 5-6 players currently playing in the NHL ahead of him more deserving of number protection.

Gretzky wasn't even the only player to wear "99" while he was playing. So did Wilf Paiement and Rick Dudley:

Wilf Paiement Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com
Rick Dudley (b.1949) Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

It wasn't until after Gretzky retired that his number was retired league wide. If you're suggesting the league should preemptively retire McDavid's number league wide, you're getting a little ahead of yourself.

Also, "99" is just more iconic than "97" as a number. People referred to Gretzky by his number. No one is calling McDavid "#97". Most casual hockey fans wouldn't even know McDavid's number.

 

[Langdon Alger]

Are you under 15?

Under 20 for sure I’d say. If this is one of the most disrespectful things he’s ever seen in hockey, I’d guess he hasn’t been a hockey fan for that long.

 

[vancityluongo]

No one in the States has even heard of McDavid, much less what number he wears. His relevance isn't even in the same stratosphere as Gretzky or Lemieux. More people have heard of TJ Oshie than Connor McDavid lmao.

 

[96]

If you had the best player in the game on your team, you'd give a ****

LOL never change Edmonton

 

[CanadianPensFan1]

You have a very blessed life if this is the garbage you are fretting about.

Also, no, people can wear 97.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

If Crosby can share a number with Donald Brashear I think McDavid will be ok.

Logged in to post the exact samething lol

 

[jaysoneil]

He's only 22 years old and has accomplished nothing to warrant a league wide ban of his number.

There's dozens of other players in the league with better resumes. Relax.

 

[jgatie]

First day of school can't arrive quick enough.

 

[Langdon Alger]

He's only 22 years old and has accomplished nothing to warrant a league wide ban of his number.

There's dozens of other players in the league with better resumes. Relax.

A league wide ban of his number would only happen after he retires anyway. If it happens at all.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

This is definitely not something that needs addressing.

Now I certainly wouldn't wear 97 considering it's synonymous with a single player, but you can't prevent teams from giving out numbers just because you don't like it. The argument against Ho Sang wearing 66 was stupid (and voiced by a minority of a minority), but at least the argument there was that Lemieux's number should be retired league-wide if Gretzky's is and not that the number of an active player should be verboten. I don't like the concept of league-wide number retirements in general. Anyone brazen enough to wear a number associated with an elite or all-time talent is opening themselves up to criticism, but the concept of a player being able to own a number across the sport is just absurd.

But oh well, is no one supposed to wear 8 while Ovi is in the league too? C'mon.


Also someone did wear 99 while Gretzky was playing.

 

[Langdon Alger]

This is definitely not something that needs addressing.

Now I certainly wouldn't wear 97 considering it's synonymous with a single player, but you can't prevent teams from giving out numbers just because you don't like it. The argument against Ho Sang wearing 66 was stupid (and voiced by a minority of a minority), but at least the argument there was that Lemieux's number should be retired league-wide if Gretzky's is and not that the number of an active player should be verboten. I don't like the concept of league-wide number retirements in general. Anyone brazen enough to wear a number associated with an elite or all-time talent is opening themselves up to criticism, but the concept of a player being able to own a number across the sport is just absurd.

But oh well, is no one supposed to wear 8 while Ovi is in the league too? C'mon.


Also someone did wear 99 while Gretzky was playing.

And how about all the guys who have worn number 4 since Orr retired? Anyone have a problem with that?

 

[x Tame Impala]

If you had the best player in the game on your team, you'd give a ****

Kucherov plays for the Lightning

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Whether or not it's summer, we don't need threads to discuss "here's what the 5% most ridiculous Tweets today are".