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 49. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 49
The First 49s
According to Hockey Reference, 106 players have worn sweater number 49. Hockey Reference lists Marc D’Amour as the first player to take 49 with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1988-89 season. It was only for one game and that would be the last game of his career. Four players would next take the number in the 1990-91 season. Kip Miller, Luc Gauthier, Ross McKay and Shayne Stevenson each took sweater number 49 in that season.
Joe Juneau would start his Boston Bruins career with the number 49 in the 1991-92 season. The Quebec native would score five goals in 14 games during his rookie campaign. He would switch to his trademark number 90 the season after. Juneau would have short stints with 28 and 39 in his career.
Cameos
Like any other number, there are some players that briefly wore the number. Ryan Ellis started his career with the Nashville Predators in 32 in the 2011-12 season. Ellis would switch over to four in his remaining years with Nashville. Rich Peverley played the same season with that number for the Bruins. Joel Farabee would don the digits in the 2019-20 season for the Flyers. However, he would move onto 86.
The other Gretzky, Brent Gretzky, wore sweater number 49 with the Tampa Bay Lightning for his 13-game career. Shawn Thornton wore the number for 13 games in his rookie season with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Barber
Ivan Barbashev has gotten off to a great start in his young career. The Russian has two Stanley Cups already to his name with one from the St. Louis Blues and the other from the Vegas Golden Knights. Barbashev has always been a good depth forward, but he really stepped up his game in the most recent season. The Moscow native provided seven goals and 11 assists and earned some Conn Smythe consideration.
Barbashev has a simple reason on why he wears sweater number 49. He was given the number at Blues training camp and just decided to keep it. He did get to cash in on his great post-season performance and looks to be part of the Knights future plans.
Other 49s
Brian Savage was one of the first players to be a well-known 49. Savage played 674 games and scored 192 goals for four different teams. Victor Rask played 506 games in sweater number 49 for three teams.
Michael Leighton appeared in 110 games in goal with most coming with Philadelphia and Chicago. Samuel Girard has worn 49 since coming over from the Colorado Avalanche.
The Future of 49
Noah Cates seems to be part of the Flyers plans has been a decent player in two seasons in Philadelphia. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard has shown some flashes for the Montreal Canadiens while other young players are looking to make a name with the number 49.
Barbashev seems to have jumped out to being the best 49 after his great start and two Cups. However, there are some young players looking to wrest the mantle away, but they’ll have work to do.
Main photo by: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
