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 72. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 72
The First 72s
According to Hockey Reference, there have been 53 players that have worn sweater number 72. The first player according to Hockey Reference was John Tonelli when did so with the Chicago Blackhawks. This was during the 1991-92 season as Jeremy Roenick already had 27. Ron Hextall was the next to take on the number. The former Philadelphia Flyers goalie needed a new number when he headed to the New York Islanders. Hextall went with 72, which was a flip-flop from his normal 72. He wouldn’t wear the number for long as he went back to the Flyers.
The next player to wear the number may arguably be the best to wear the number. Mathieu Schneider ironically filled the 72 void left by Hextall with the Isles. Schneider would have the number in two years with the club and kept it with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The New York native would wear a myriad of numbers in his lengthy NHL career that saw him score 223 goals in 1,289 games.
The Number One Cop on the Force
Sergei Bobrovsky rolled onto the scene with the Flyers in the 2010-11 NHL season. However, Bobrovsky was wearing number 35, but he would switch number to 72 when he was sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Russian goalie didn’t give a reason why he chose 72 when asked years ago. However, he would make a trade with Frank Vatrano to acquire the number when the netminder signed his mega-deal with the Florida Panthers.
There were some struggles at times, but Bobrovsky got locked in and helped the Panthers make the Stanley Cup Final. He may be making $10 million per season, but that deep Stanley Cup Playoff run takes the sting out of that price tag. The Russian can be one of the best goalies on the planet when his game is on.
Other 72s
Erik Cole flipped over to sweater number 72 when he was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens and kept it on other clubs. The recently-retired Patric Hornqvist had the number for a few seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. As mentioned before Vatrano wore the number with the Boston Bruins and Florida before giving it to Bobrovsky.
Andreas Athanasiou wore the number with the Detroit Red Wings before switching to 28 then 22 and 89. Travis Boyd has worn sweater number 72 with four different teams.
The Future of 72
There are a number of good players that have the number right now. Tage Thompson has become a potent goal-scorer with the Buffalo Sabres and Filip Chytil has become a solid contributor to the New York Rangers. Thomas Chabot is a vital cog for the Ottawa Senators. Joonas Donskoi is wearing the number with the Seattle Kraken.
There are probably a few young goalies that are taking 72 just for Bobrovsky alone. Greatness often inspires the next generation.
Main photo by: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
