This article was published originally in August 2015 and has been updated in March 2020.
Over the course of the NHL’s history, there have been many records put away into the books, rarely to be broken. It is quite clear who the greatest players ever to take to the ice are. At the top would be Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr, with others trickling below them. Some of the greatest players in history are honored with awards. The Maurice Richard Trophy, which is named after the man who scored 50 goals in 50 games, and 500 all-time, recognizes the player with the most goals per season.
Teams can honor their best players by retiring the jersey Number they wore. The tradition began when the Toronto Maple Leafs retired Ace Bailey’s #6 on February 14th, 1934. Of course, Gretzky’s #99 is the most common number to be retired, as it was honoured by the entire NHL. Lemieux’s #66 hasn’t been retired by the league, but no one has worn it since his retirement, as it is known to be “unofficially retired”.
The #9, aside from those numbers is also the most popular retired number. It has been retired 10 times by 9 teams (New York Rangers resigned it twice). Nine is frequently referred to by many as the best number ever, because of the number superstars who have worn it. Because nine if the most retired number, we will use it to take a look at the best #9’s in NHL History.
The Best Retired Players Who Wore #9Lanny McDonald – Calgary FlamesLanny McDonald and his wonderful moustache scored 544 goals and 1,090 points in 1,111 games for the Leafs, Rockies and Flames. With the Flames, he won one Stanley Cup.
Johnny Bucyk – Boston BruinsBucyk recorded 597 goals and 1472 points over his 1664 game career. He won two Stanley Cups as a player for the Bruins.
Paul Kariya – Anaheim Mighty DucksKariya had a tremendous career, despite never capturing the Cup. In 15 NHL seasons, he scored 402 goals as well as 989 points in 989 games. Ducks should honor his number, or retire it.
Paul Kariya (Photo by: Brian Bahr/Getty Images/NHLI)Bernie Nicholls – Los Angeles KingsBernie Nicholls Played for six teams over his 18-year career, never winning a Cup through 13 postseasons. In 1127 games, he scored 475 goals as well as 1209 points.
The Best Current #9’sJ.T. Miller – Vancouver CanucksThe 15th overall pick in 2011 by the New York Rangers has put together quite the NHL resume so far, scoring 122 goals and 309 points in 504 games. After six solid seasons with the Rangers, where he had two 20-goal seasons, he was traded to Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017-18. Before a cap crunch forced him to be traded to the Vancouver Canucks, he only played in 94 games. That’s where the story gets interesting.
J.T. Miller, Vancouver Canucks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)Miller’s first season with the Canucks has already been a historic one. He’s been consistently their best player night in and night out and has quickly become a leader to the dynamic young core they are building. Henrik Sedin was a fixture on the top line, while Daniel Sedin was a regular on the top-line. His career high of 27 goals and 72 points is unsurpassed.
Jack Eichel – Vegas Golden KnightsThe big centre from North Chelmsford, MA is the Sabres’ most important piece. Without the help of his teammates, he is an elite player in the game. Night in and night out he is the reason you watch Sabres’ hockey. He is the most well-known and highest-paid player on the team and the captain.
Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights, Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers. Eichel was drafted second at the 2015 NHL Draft, just after Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. Eichel has tallied 137 and 200 assists in 354 games.
Ivan Provorov – Philadelphia FlyersSince getting drafted seventh overall in the 2015 Draft, Ivan Provorov has become a generational player for the Flyers. His career numbers speak for themselves – in just four years he’s chalked up an impressive 43 goals and 90 assists. As if the stats weren’t enough to grab anyone’s attention, Provorov has become the league’s next ironman, suiting up in 315 consecutive games since arriving to the NHL.
Ivan Provorov, Philadelphia Flyers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)The Russian-born stud ranks as one of the best and brightest defensemen in the league, with a heat-seeking missile for a shot and highly intelligent decision-making that the most rabid hockey fan doesn’t tend to notice. This #9 could very well see his number hanging in the rafters at Wells Fargo Center when it’s all said and done.
Filip Forsberg – Nashville PredatorsBefore he ever played an NHL game, the Nashville Predators acquired Filip Forsberg in a lopsided trade that sent Martin Erat and Michael Latta to the Washington Capitals. Since then, he’s developed into the Predators’ most consistent and lethal scorer, netting at least 20 goals in every full season, including two 30-goal campaigns.
Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators) Filip has scored 166 goals and 353 assists in 458 NHL games. During the Predators’ run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, he played a key role, finishing with 16 points in 22 games. He’s also famous for successfully attempting ‘The Svech,’ lacrosse-style goal, which he did on Jan. 14, 2020 against the Edmonton Oilers.
Clayton Keller – Arizona CoyotesClayton Keller hasn’t wasted any time in making his case as one of the better young players in the league. The Arizona Coyotes’ forward is already the fifth-highest scorer in a 2016 NHL Draft class, which also includes Patrik Laine, Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk.
Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)He’s also shown a high degree of durability to go with his scoring output as well – despite his 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, he’s yet to miss a game in his NHL career. His play already has earned him an eight-year contract extension, so we’ll be seeing a lot more of Keller in the desert in the coming years.
The Five Best #9’s in NHL History5: Mike Modano – Dallas StarsOften regarded as the best American to ever play, Modano won one Stanley Cup with the Stars. He scored 617 goals in his career and 1520 points in 1675 matches, during an era where scoring was declining. Modano, who was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars first overall in 1988, made his NHL debut during the 1989 playoffs.
Mike Modano (Dallas Stars), 2004 (Photo: Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images). Modano’s most successful season was 1993-1994, when he scored fifty goals. Modano is the American born player with the greatest number of goals, points and games.
4: Glenn Anderson – Edmonton OilersGlenn Anderson played wing on the best line of all-time with Gretzky and Messier. Anderson won six Stanley Cups during his career, scoring 591 goals and 1313 point in 1354 games. Anderson was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame on September 9, 2009. Anderson was twice a Canada Cup winner and in 2009, the Edmonton Oilers retired his number 9. Edmonton selected Anderson as the 69th overall pick in 1979. He played 16 NHL seasons with the Blues and Rangers, as well as the Oilers.
3: Bobby Hull – Chicago BlackhawksHull played 1,182 games in the NHL, scoring 672 goals and 1,299 points for the Blackhawks, while he also coached the Winnipeg Jets in the WHA at the same time he played for them.
Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks. (THW Archives). He won one Stanley Cup. Hull won three Art Ross Trophys for the most individual points in any season. He also received two Hart Memorial Trophies as league MVP and a staggering 10 First All-Star Team selections. Over his 23 playing seasons, Hull became one of the leagues best and only player’s to ever play over a span of four decades.
2: Maurice Richard – Montreal CanadiensRegarded as one of, if not, the best goal scorer in NHL history. His total of 626 goals was a record for the Habs in 1111 games, which led to an incredible eight Stanley Cups. Richard was a First Team All-Star seven more times, and won the Hart Trophy from 1946 to 47.
His most notable accomplishment was his 1957 Lou Marsh Trophy win as Canadian Athlete Of The Year. Richard’s piercing eyes, which he kept focused on the ice while attempting to approach his opponents, made him a feared figure. One year after his retirement, Richard was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
1: Gordie Howe – Detroit Red WingsThe ageless wonder played an unheard of 26 NHL seasons, as well as six more in the WHA. Howe scored 869 goals in 1924 and had a total of 1010 points. The 87-year old Howe is one of the most revered players of all time. Howe’s incredible career can be summed up through his list of seemingly unbreakable records.
It’s obvious that the number 9 is the best name. Gordie Howe is one of the best to ever take the ice and played until he was 52 (THW Archives)He’s played the most regular season games ever, with 1767, and also the most with one team, at 1687. He’s played the most NHL seasons, ties with Chris Chelios, at 26, and also the most consecutive 20-goal seasons with 22, spanning from 1949 to 1971. He is the right-winger with the most points (1850) and goals (801), in history. With an incredible 23 All-Star Game appearances, Howe is the greatest All-Star Game participant. At 52 years old, Howe was also the oldest person to play an NHL hockey game. As players aged 40 push it, this record will not be broken.
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