Sweaters numbers are synonymous with players. Most hockey fans can instantly tell you a great player by the number they wear on their back. There are many different stories about how players became associated with the famous numbers. Many odd and interesting facts surround these numbers as well. As we count down the start of the 2023-24 NHL season, we take a look at the story behind the numbers. Today we continue with sweater number 95. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 95
Early 95s
The first time the NHL had a sweater number 95 according to Hockey Reference was when Michel Petit donned it starting in the 1995-96 season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Petit wore the number for one season before moving onto the Edmonton Oilers. Aleksey Morozov was the next one to wear the number in the 1997-98 season. The Russian would wear the sweater number 95 for the duration of his 451-game NHL career. Morozov only played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and netted 84 goals before going back to Ak Bars Kazan.
Sergei Berezin and Olivier Michaud both wore the number while with the Montreal Canadiens in 2001-02. Danny Markov played one season while playing with the Detroit Red Wings after wearing 55 for most of his career. The number would be quiet for a few seasons until a number of players in the 2017-18 season starting wearing the number.
The Top 95
Matt Duchene is the most well-known player to wear the jersey. He had to get creative in coming up with the number. Duchene had often worn the number nine earlier in his carer with the Colorado Avalanche. However, the number was taken when Duchene got shipped to the Ottawa Senators by Bobby Ryan. Duchene also wore the number 19 while on the international level, but that was occupied by Derick Brassard.
Duchene had also worn the number five on different occasions during youth hockey. That and him being in the number nine sweater at different points made a new number. Duchene went with the number 95 sweater and has been in that since his trade to the Senators. He’s worn that number with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators and will keep it with the Dallas Stars.
The Future of 95
There are four players currently wearing the number or slated to for the upcoming 2023-24 season according to Hockey Reference. Andre Burakovsky won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche and has become one of the team’s better players. The Austrian/Swede has been a solid pickup for the Seattle Kraken, but injuries disrupted his season.
Hunter Jones and Vinni Lettieri are also slated to wear the sweater number 95. There isn’t a lot of history about the number, but that can grow over the years. Duchene had some good seasons, but was recently bought out by the Predators. Hopefully a new start in Dallas can revive his career. Maybe some other young players can take the mantle and make that number their own.
Main photo by: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
