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 48. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 48
The First 48s
According to Hockey Reference, 118 players have donned sweater number 48 since the records back to the 1950-51 season. Hockey Reference lists Bill Root as the first player to take the number. Root wore 48 with the Philadelphia Flyers in his final season with the team. This happened in the 1987-88 season where he scored one goal in 24 games.
Four players would be the next to sweater number 48 in the 1989-90 season. J.J. Daigneault of the Montreal Canadiens would have a long stint with the Habs and keep the number until 1996. Daigneault would end up getting dealt to the St. Louis Blues, but would switch to 36.
Cameos
Like any other number, there were some players that would wear the number for a short stint. Marc Methot had the number for a season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Colin Miller had 48 for Boston Bruins in his first season. However, he would switch to six in his second year with the club. Jozef Stümpel also had the number for a brief spell with the Bruins.
Many of these younger players get the higher numbers in the first couple of seasons until they establish themselves. Most switch numbers, but others just keep them and make a career out of that number.
The Ninja Hertl
One of the more well-known players that wore sweater number 48 is Tomas Hertl. The San Jose Sharks forward broke into the league in 2013-14 season. Hertl made his prescence known right away with the a between-the-leg goal against the New York Rangers in his rookie season.
The Czech forward has 203 goals in 664 career games. Hertl has been a good goal-scorer when healthy for his team. He’s a two-time 30-goal scorer and one of the more dynamic forwards in the league.
Hertl’s reasoning to wear 48 is pretty simple. The Czech forward said that he took the number because the Sharks gave it to him. It seems like an easy reason, but it’s been one that’s been played out for a number of years.
Other 48s
There have been a number of quality 48s in the NHL. Daniel Briere played 973 games and registered 307 goals in stints with the Flyers and the Colorado Avalanche among other clubs. Briere is now the general manager of the Flyers.
Scott Young carved out a nice career with two Stanley Cups and 342 goals in 1,142 games. Young had a 40-goal season in the 2000-01 season with the St. Louis Blues. Young was one of the most underrated American players in the 1990s and 2000s.
The Future
Players like Matt Grzelcyk have worn sweater number 48 since his career started with Boston in 2016-17. Morgan Frost is looking to be the next great Flyers 48 like Briere was.
Scott Perunovich is trying to make his way as another great Blues player that wore 48. Jordan Martinook had a great Stanley Cup Playoff run with the Carolina Hurricanes. The number has had some great players donning the digits and the future looks good.
Main photo by: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
