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 87. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 87
The First 87s
According to Hockey Reference, only nine players have worn sweater number 87. The first to don the number was enforcer Donald Brashear. He first wore the number in the 2001-02 season with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Bedford, Indiana native had worn 35 and eight during stops before Philadelphia. He would keep the number for the rest of his career that would last 1,025 games. Brashear would score 85 goals and rack up 2,634 penalty minutes.
Soon-to-be Hall of Famer Pierre Turgeon wore 87 when he was with the Colorado Avalanche. Turgeon had worn 77 throughout his NHL career, but he took sweater number 87 for two seasons in Denver. The top pick of the 1987 NHL Draft finished with 515 career goals in 1,294 games.
The King of 87
The next man to wear sweater number 87 is the player most synonymous with the number. Sidney Crosby was born on Aug, 7, 1987, which works out to 8/7/87. He signed a contract in 2012 that would give him an $8.7 million cap hit. The number 87 is a major part of the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar captain.
Crosby was born in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia and has been the best player in the world for a number of years. The surefire Hall of Famer has won three Stanley Cups, two Hart Trophies, two Conn Smythe Trophies, two Maurice Richard Trophies and two Art Ross Trophies. Crosby is likely going to go down in history as the greatest to wear sweater number 87. However, he’ll likely go down as one of the greatest to wear any number in NHL history.
The Future of 87
There’s no doubt that Crosby has inspired a number of players. Six of the nine players that have worn sweater number 87 have come after Crosby. There are probably plenty of younger players in pee wee and midget that wear Crosby’s jersey number. In the NHL, Liam O’Brien had worn the number for four seasons.
Other current young players that are with the number are Martin Kaut, Kristian Reichel and Aidan Dudas. Maybe the next Crosby is waiting in the wings ready to emulate his idol.
Main photo by: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
