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 36 Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 36
The First 36s
According to Hockey Reference, 260 players have worn sweater number 36 since since jersey records were kept in the 1950-51 season. Hockey Reference lists Ken Richardson of the St. Louis Blues as the first player to don the digits. Richrdson wore the number for 16 games in the 1978-79 season. It would be the final 16 games of his career, but Richardson had wore 15 and 25 before.
Three players would next wear the number in the 1980-81 season, including Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke with the Philadelphia Flyers. Clarke had worn 16 for most of his career, but would don 36 for that season. He would switch back to his old number 16. Reid Bailey and Greg Adams would also take on the number 36 for that season.
Cameos
There are always a number of players that wore sweater number 36 that would go onto have decent to good careers. However, these were with other numbers, Clarke certainly qualifies as a cameo under the rules of having the number for a short spell. Fellow Hall of Famer Glenn Anderson wore the number as he helped the New York Rangers lift the 1940 Stanley Cup curse. Travis Hamonic started his New York Islanders career as a 36 before switching back over to three. Nils Hoglander was 36 for his first number with the Vancouver Canucks.
Grant Ledyard played his two seasons with the Boston Bruins as sweater number 36. Current Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault was given the number for his first with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Marty McSorley had the number with the Blueshirts as well. Michael Nylander wore 36 as his first number with the Hartford Whalers. Alexei Zhamnov carried the number with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Goal-scoring Hobbit
NHL.com picked Mats Zuccarello as the best player to wear sweater number 36 in its update poll. The Norewegian went by the last name of Zuccarello Aasen in the Olympics, but shortened it up when he came to North America. He was number 48 at the point in the 2010 Vancouver Olympucs.
Zuccarello didn’t immediately catch on with the Rangers until Alain Vigneault gave him a shot. However, the undersized forward would become a fan favourite on Broadway. However, he would be traded during the Rangers great clear out of a few seasons ago. Zuccarello is now with the Minnesota Wild and has two straight seasons of at least 22 goals.
He was issued the number in high school and the number just stuck with him. Zuccarello said there’s no special meaning, but he loves the number.
Other 36s and the Future
Sweater number 36 seems to strike a cord with the rougher players in the league. Tough guys like Matthew Barnaby, Patrick Kaleta, Zac Rinaldo, Dave Bolland and others have worn the number. Solid defenceman J.J. Daigneault also had the number for much of his career as did Dmitry Yushkevich.
However, there have been some other good players that have donned the digits. Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson has been good despite the team around him not being the best. Fellow goalie Jack Campbell has had some good moments in that number also. Mike Eagles wore the number for many seasons after being 10 and 11.Jannik Hansen was also 36 for Vancouver for a number of seasons. Jussi Jokinen played 951 games, mostly with the number.
Main photo by: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
