Sweaters numbers are synonmous 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 98. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 98
The First Sweater Number 98
Brian Lawton of the Minnesota North Stars was the first player to don the 98 sweater in the NHL. He wore the number for two seasons in 1984 and 1985. According to Hockey Reference, six players have or will wear the 98. (We’ll get to Connor Bedard in a bit.) Scott Morrison’s book By the Numbers reveals the reason Lawton went with 98. Lawton wanted to wear nine, but it was taken by veteran Dennis Maruk. The New Jersey native then chose 98, which he regretted.
Lawton earned the unfortunate nickname “Notch,” which meant he was a notch below the number 99 Wayne Gretzky. The ribbing would be relentless when the North Stars played the Edmonton Oilers. Lawton would eventually switch to the number eight and ended up bouncing between a wide variety of numbers. He would wear 11, 17, 7, 29 and finally his favourite number nine in his only season with the San Jose Sharks.
The Current King of 98
Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Mikhail Sergachev is the current best to wear the number. He originally wore 22 with the Montreal Canadiens, but switched over after he was traded. The 25-year-old defenceman has won two Stanley Cups and has been a key cog for the Lightning’s recent run. Sergachev inked a big-money extension last off-season and will look to be a fixture in Tampa for years to come.
He’s scored 10 goals twice in his career, but has been solid of the back end. The Russian defender won back-to-back Stanley Cups to put himself ahead of other current era 98s like Jesse Puljujärvi and Victor Mete.
The Future King of 98
However, Sergachev will have to deal with a new contender to his best 98 crown. Phenom Connor Bedard was taken number one at the most recent NHL Draft and he’s got a high ceiling. Bedard lit up the WHL with the Regina Pats and was the first player in his league to be granted exceptional player status. The North Vancouver native has also shown the world his potential on the international level. (Let’s all bask in the glory of the goal against Slovakia. Heck, let’s just enjoy about 15 minutes of greatness from Bedard.)
Bedard has worn other numbers during his tenure on Team Canada. He wore the number 16 sweater when he helped Team Canada win gold at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championshps. However, he chose 98 because he saw Mathew Barzal tear up British Columbia before joining Seattle in the WHL. The 99 sweater of Gretzky is off-limits, so Bedard went with the next closest number of 98. The rest is history as you can say.
The Future of 98
Bedard seems to have the tools to make sweater number 98 his own. The youngster has been raved about as a generational talent and he seems to fit that label. He could make his number as popular as 99 or the next number coming in the countdown.
Sergachev has taken the number and made it his own. However, it may only be a matter of time before Bedard is the king of the 98s. The Chicago Blackhawks have a dynamic forward ready to take them back to the glory days of the early to mid 2010s. Bedard may inspire a generation of players to ask for the number 98 in the same fashion Gretzky created a generation of 99s.
Main photo by: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
