Sweater 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 68. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 68
A Great First Impression
According to Hockey Reference, 26 players have worn sweater number 68. The first player to take the number in NHL history is the best player to have the number. That man is Czech great and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr. The great forward chose the number 68 because of some pretty deep reasons. Jagr chose the digits because it represented the year 1986, which is significant to people in his country. That year was the beginning of the Czechoslovakian revolution against Communist forces from the Soviet Union.
Jagr would come over to North America in the 1990-91 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He would become a fan favourite and endear himself to the Steel City faithful. The Kladno, Czechia native would win a pair of Stanley Cups with the Penguins. He’d win five Art Ross Trophies, a Hart Trophy and three Lester Pearson Awards. Jagr would go onto play 24 seasons in the NHL and rack up 766 goals.
The forward would continue his playing legacy in Europe and buy his hometown Rytíři Kladno club. He would suit up for his own club to keep people coming through the turnstiles. Let’s hope Jagr is done playing so he can finally get his Hall of Famer honours that he richly deserves. However, Jagr is still listed on the playing roster, so he could take the ice if needed.
Other 68s
Mike Hoffman is likely the most well-known player to don sweater number 68. Hoffman first wore the number in the 2011-12 season with the Ottawa Senators. The Kitchener, Ontario native has worn 68 his entire career that’s spanned 12 seasons. Hoffman has 218 goals in 679 games, but Jagr casts a big shadow on the number.
Other players that have recently donned the number are Victor Olofsson with the Buffalo Sabres and Melker Karlsson with the San Jose Sharks. Olofsson is a three-time 20-plus goalscorer and been a big source of offence for the Sabres. Karlsson has gone back home to his native Sweden to play with Skelleftea AIK.
Ziggy Palffy had the number for 10 games with the New York Islanders. However, he’d switch over to 16 and his career would take off. Yannick Weber also had sweater number 68 when he broke in with the Montreal Canadiens. The Swiss blueliner would shift over to six with the Vancouver Canucks.
The Future of 68
There are some players listed with 68 on Hockey Reference. However, they’ll have to put together one hell of a career to surpass Jagr. These young players probably looked up to him and played as him in numerous video games.
Sweater number 68 is probably the most desired number in the Czech Republic. Jagr is a legend no matter what the number.
Main photo by: Robert Laberge /Allsport
