From No. 8 to No. 98: Seven Numbers Defined By Active NHL Players

From Erik Karlsson's No. 65 to Sidney Crosby's No. 87 and Connor McDavid's No. 97, there are a few numbers where you can't separate their association with certain NHL players.

Jersey numbers are a big thing in hockey and always have been. There's meaning to almost every one of them. 

When it comes to certain NHL players, all you need to do is mention a number, and everyone knows who you're talking about.

Let's look at seven numbers that you instantly connect to a certain player in today's NHL: 

The number is so connected to him that there's even a nickname for him based on it — the 'Great Eight.' 

Single-digit jerseys are tough to tie to one player in NHL history — for example, the No. 9 can be tied to 'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe, Maurice 'Rocket' Richard and Mike Modano, to name a few. Other memorable No. 8s are long-retired names, such as Cam Neely and Teemu Selanne, but there's a good chance that if you ask people who's the best player to wear the number, Alex Ovechkin is a front-runner. 

Look around the Capital One Arena, and you'll see a sea of No. 8 Ovechkin jerseys. It's been a part of him well before his debut in the league, and it was the number he wore when he raised his first Stanley Cup and won nine 'Rocket' Richard Trophies, three Ted Lindsay Awards and three Hart Trophies. It was also the number on his back through three men's World Championship victories. It's the same number he'll continue to sport as he chases Wayne Gretzky for the most goals all-time in NHL history. 

Ovechkin's claim to No. 8 does have a worthy challenger in Cale Makar. At 25 years old, Makar's already won a Stanley Cup and has a Conn Smythe and Norris Trophy to his name as one of the faces of the Colorado Avalanche. 

Seeing where Makar is when he's in his late 30s will be fun to follow.

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There have been three constants on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster from 2006 onward: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. The blueliner of the trio has easily become the most recognizable player in the NHL who has worn No. 58. 

Since his debut in the NHL, Letang's made No. 58 his own in a career where he's won three Stanley Cups, played in more than 1,000 games and sits fifth all-time in points for the Penguins franchise. Others to have worn the number include David Savard and Michael Bunting, but neither player has stood out in the way Letang has.

When you think of the No. 59, Josi comes to mind, as well as Jake Guentzel and Tyler Bertuzzi — or Chad Larose for Hurricanes fans. But of all the No. 59's, no other player has accomplished more individually in the NHL than Josi. 

Nashville's captain has spent his entire career with the organization and is the all-time franchise leader in points (613) and assists (452). In 2020, he became the first Swiss-born and first Predators defenseman to win the Norris Trophy. Before Erik Karlsson's 100-point campaign in 2022-23 (more on him next), Josi's 96-point season was the most for a defenseman since Phil Housley's 1992-93 campaign. 

In March 2023, Josi became the second-fastest active blueliner to reach the 600-point mark, doing so in his 823rd game.

Sure, he doesn't have a Stanley Cup win like Guentzel, but the 33-year-old Josi stands out as the ultimate No. 59.

No. 65 might be the most training camp/call-up number on this list, but it has become the number that, for good reason, is attached to Erik Karlsson. 

Karlsson long ago established himself as one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL, becoming one of the biggest cogs for the Ottawa Senators and the San Jose Sharks. 

The accolades in Ottawa likely make him a candidate to have his number retired there someday. Karlsson holds the franchise records for points in a season by a defenseman, all-time points by a defender and the most points and assists in one post-season from a blueliner.

In San Jose, Karlsson set the franchise record for longest point streak in 2022-23 and became the first defender to record a 100-point season since 1992-93.

Even before his time in the NHL, No. 87 and Sidney Crosby were a match. Wearing the number of his birth date, 8/7/1987, since his days in the QMJHL with Rimouski, he put it and himself on the map well before his days of leading the Pittsburgh Penguins.

From the days of 'Sid the Kid' to now being an icon of the Pittsburgh Penguins, there's no player more associated with the number than Crosby. 

He has more than 1,200 games played and more than 1,500 points. He's got three Stanley Cups along with endless league and international hardware, including two Olympic gold medals, two Hart Trophies, two Art Ross Trophies and three Ted Lindsay Awards. And even still, the 36-year-old Crosby leads the Penguins in scoring this season with 22 points in 18 games. 

No. 87 may not have been a commonly used number before Crosby announced himself to the hockey world, but now, it will never be forgotten when he decides to call it time on his playing career. 

There's more than one player currently in the league wearing No. 97, and it was first attached to Jeremy Roenick. But when it comes to a current-day player, the number is firmly associated with Connor McDavid.

At only 26 years old, Edmonton's captain already has 866 career points to go along with five Art Ross Trophies, three Hart Trophies and four Ted Lindsay Awards. Last year, he won his first Rocket Richard Trophy via a 64-goal campaign. 

On top of the hardware has been the endless highlight-reel goals, and in a year in which McDavid's start has been a little slower than most seasons, his goal on Nov. 15 in the Oilers' 4-3 overtime win over Seattle reminded us that another explosion of offense can come at any time.

When No. 97 streaks into the offensive zone with only a goaltender to beat, it still remains the most must-see thing in the NHL. 

No. 98 might be one of the most hit-or-miss numbers for an NHL prospect to wear, but Connor Bedard might be the first star to have a sustained run of success wearing it. 

Other players, like Brian Lawton and Jesse Puljujarvi, have worn it before changing jersey numbers. There's also Mikhail Sergachev, a strong defenseman who's worn the number during his seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning so far. But Bedard might be the first player to truly dominate in the No. 98. 

We already saw Bedard's brilliance in the WHL with Regina, where he had two 100-point campaigns, with his best being a 71-goal, 143-point output in 2022-23. 

So far, Bedard leads the Chicago Blackhawks in scoring as his career kicks off, and he's already had a couple of highlight-reel goals just 17 games into his NHL tenure. 

It's still very early, but Connor Bedard looks like the one who'll take No. 98 to heights never before reached.