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 59. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 59
The First 59s
According to Hockey Reference, a total of 54 players have worn sweater number 59. The website lists Tom Fitzgerald as the first player to wear the number in 1988-89 season. It was Fitzgerald’s rookie season with the New York Islanders. He’d wear 59 for 23 games, but switch to seven the next season. Fitzgerald played 1,097 career games and is now the New Jersey Devils general manager.
Dave Karpa would be the next to try on the 59 sweater with the Quebec Nordiques from 1991 until 1994. Karpa would switch to 15 in the 1994-95 season, but that wouldn’t last long. He would get traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and he’d take 15 after that. Another early wearer of sweater number 59 would be Sergei Krivokrasov with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1992-93.
The Roman Emperor
One of the more famous players to take sweater number 59 is Roman Josi. The Swiss star is a Norris Trophy winner and the Nashville Predators captain. Josi had always worn 90 in his native country because that’s his birth year. However, he was assigned 59 when he came to Smashville.
Josi rolled with it and kept the number. He’s quietly become one of the best blueliners in the league. The Predators star is a great quarterback on the power play, but is also one of the best defenders in the league. Josi helped will Nashville to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2021-22 season. This Roman is one you should acknowledge.
Jake The Snake
Another great 59 is Jake Guentzel of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Nebraska native has been one of the team’s better scorers since his debut in the 2016-17 season. Guentzel was handed 59 in his first training camp much like Josi did. However, there’s some cool coincidences with the number.
Guentzel wore 20 in high school and in college. He donned the number 19 in juniors and all those numbers added up to 59. Pittsburgh has a history of players with high numbers making an impact. Guentzel is just another one of those players for the Penguins.
Other 59s and the Future
Tyler Bertuzzi has been a solid 59 in his young career and he’ll take the number with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Chad Larose donned sweater number 59 for a number of seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. Calen Addison wore the number for two seasons with the Minnesota Wild, but switched to two for this coming season.
There are a number of current players with sweater number 59 that are playing well. That number is popular in Tennessee and in Western Pennsylvania. The history of the number seems to only be getting better.
Main photo by: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
