Why the Blackhawks wear their numbers: From Seth Jones 4 to Connor Bedards 98

There are going to be Chicago Blackhawks fans wearing Nos. 19 and 88 jerseys for likely the next 50-plus years. But in time, they’re going to be less of them. It was the same way with Stan Mikita and company.

With the Blackhawks drafting Connor Bedard this year, the shift has happened quicker than usual. Bedard’s No. 98 jerseys are already all over the place.

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Unlike some young Blackhawks players who have come into the NHL in recent years, Bedard wasn’t just given his number. He was able to pick it, and there is a reason behind it. From Seth Jones’ 4 to Bedard’s 98, these are all the reasons why this season’s Blackhawks wear their number.

Seth Jones, 4: I had 4 when I was younger, growing up. And then I went to Portland to play junior, an older guy had 4, so I had to go 3. And I just kept 3 through Nashville and Columbus. And 3 is obviously retired here (for Pierre Pilote). I asked for 4 and they were a little hesitant to give me that (because Niklas Hjalmarsson wore it). They got back to me probably a day later and said, “The only reason we’ll give you 4 is because you’re here long term,” and things like that. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t get 4.

Connor Murphy, 5: There’s a couple (of reasons). Nick Lidstrom was always my favorite player. And then my dad (Gord Murphy) wore No. 5. He played 14 years in the NHL and always wore it, so I followed that.

Ryan Donato, 8: I was 9. Joshua 1:9 is my favorite Bible verse. There weren’t many options when I came here. They were low, and I’m not really a high-number guy, so I picked 8. I’m fine with it.

Taylor Raddysh, 11: Actually, this is my first time wearing 11. When I got traded here a couple years ago, it’s what they gave me and I just stuck with it since then. I don’t mind it right now and will probably leave it right now.

Boris Katchouk, 14: It’s the number they gave me and I rolled with it.

Jason Dickinson, 16: I was happy giving (Nick Foligno No. 17 this season). I want him to wear something he’s comfortable with, something that meant something to him. It was a no-brainer for him; 17 meant nothing to me personally, so it was just a number. If he has a connection to it, I’m happy to oblige. Me and Foligy kind of look the same, (have a) similar build, we’ve got the similar helmet. He’s got the Bauer version, I’ve got the CCM version. We’ve both got the beard. Sometimes I see myself on clips, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m not 17 this year.’  … (Sixteen) was the number I had the first year in Dallas. There was a familiarity with it. The only other number that I was considering was 11, but Raddy’s had it for a couple years now. There’s no need for me to take it from him. He looks good in it. He’s doing the number justice.

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Nick Foligno, 17: My dad (Mike Foligno) wore it. I was always wearing 16, actually, growing up, my mom’s favorite number. I was a mama’s boy. But then 71 was given to me in Ottawa, obviously with his time with the Leafs, and the trainers were laughing, and I was just happy to have a number, so I kept it. It’s kind of nice to be able to pay tribute to him, obviously wearing it my brother and I both. … Seventy-one was a lot easier (to get). I didn’t wear 17 until I went to Boston, and Taylor Hall didn’t clue in that I wore 71 until halfway through the year. Kind of ticked me off, no. I’m not too superstitious. It’s cool I get to get that number. I appreciate Dickey (Jason Dickinson) making the move to 16. It’s special to be able to wear it. I think it’s more for my family, my kids. They recognize the number, so it’s special in the household.

Nikita Zaitsev, 22: My parents bought me a jersey with 22 when I was like 6 years old. No, (there wasn’t a reason why they bought 22). I think it was the only jersey they found. I’ve never switched it.

Philipp Kurashev, 23: When I was young, I always wanted No. 13. Then the first chance we got, I was 9, 10 years old, maybe even younger, we got to choose our number. And I told my friend because he wanted 13, like, I want 13. I even bought him some candies or something. He said he’s not going to take it. He got to choose first, and he took 13. So I was one of the young guys and there were like three numbers left and 23 was one of them. I just chose it. Since then, I try to take it every time I have a chance to.

Jarred Tinordi, 25: I think when I got picked up last year, Parchy (Troy Parchman) gave me a list of numbers I could choose from. I think (Sam) Lafferty was wearing 24. I’ve worn 24 before. I’ve worn 5 awhile, and Murph was wearing 5. I was like, you know, it’s a new team, let’s just start with something completely new — 25 it was.

Lukas Reichel, 27: They just give it to me. It’s actually funny, like my brother (Thomas Reichel), he plays in the DEL in Germany, and he’s also 27. So, it’s a good thing, and I think it looks cool. I like that number.

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Petr Mrazek, 34: To be honest, when I was coming to Detroit, I was going to wear a different number. But that was my rookie year wearing No. 34, we won the Calder Cup with it in Grand Rapids. Since then, I’ve kept it. I had to change it in Toronto, but otherwise 34.

Arvid Soderblom, 40: They just gave me 40, and I was like, that’s kind of a cool goalie number. I kind of like it and keep wearing it ever since. There’s no meaning at all to it.

Colin Blackwell, 43: I was 63 in college, and when I turned pro, someone had 63, and they just gave me 43, and I kind of rolled with it. I was like, it was maybe a sign, I’ll stick with it. There weren’t too many guys in the league who had it, and I thought I might as well make my own name for myself.

Wyatt Kaiser, 44: I came here, they gave me 44 and I like it, so I’m staying with it. I’ve been 5 growing up, but I like wearing 44.

Reese Johnson, 52: They just gave me that number, 52. That’s when you know they want you hitting a lot of bodies out there, I guess. Actually, I like it. I’ve never been a huge number guy. Whatever they’ll give me, I’ll take. It’s been good.

Kevin Korchinski, 55: I got the number and went with it. To me,  a number doesn’t really matter. It’s more about putting on the jersey. That’s the special thing for me. I got 55 and I rolled with it.

MacKenzie Entwistle, 58: You know what? It’s just the number they gave me at camp, so there’s nothing really behind it.

Cole Guttman, 70: This one was just given to me. I always wore 19 growing up. (Nineteen) was definitely not going to happen. I’ll leave that for (Jonathan) Toews. I like 70 for now. I think it’s good.

Taylor Hall, 71: I got traded to Boston, and I was kind of just looking for a new number, a fresh start. I could have worn 91. I could have gone with 11 or something like that. And 71 just looked cool. It was a number I’ve never really worn, never worn a number with a 7 before, and I liked it. I’ve been used to seeing my name written up on the board as 71, so I didn’t want to switch when I came here.

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Alex Vlasic, 72: I was at development camp, and I went into the equipment room, and one of the guys just said, “I got some bad news, Blackwell wants your number.” I was like, all right. And then I had a couple weeks to kind of figure it out and look at some of the options. … I was looking at the options, 72 looked pretty good. It was my first-ever number, as well, so a little connection to that. But nothing that drew me to it, except that I like the number.

Andreas Athanasiou, 89: It was just my favorite number as a kid. I always wanted to wear that number. I used to watch some guys who wore 89. But I just liked the number, the way it looked. (Alexander) Mogilny played on the Leafs. I used to watch Patrick O’Sullivan in the OHL. He used to wear 89 for Mississauga (IceDogs). I used to go watch those games. And then Mogilny for the Leafs, I grew up watching him. I’ve worn different numbers everywhere, whatever. I kind of like to wear a high number.

Tyler Johnson, 90: I’ve worn No. 9 my whole life, aside from the years where it was retired or a teammate had it, because it was my mom’s hockey number. I had to switch to 90 because (9 is retired here for Bobby Hull).

Corey Perry, 94: I wore 94 in junior. Obviously, I wore 10 my whole career. When I went to Montreal, it was retired, so I went back to it. Coming here, it was one of those things that I couldn’t wear 10 right away, so I went back to 94. I’ve had, I guess, success in that number, and I’m comfortable with it, so it is what it is.

Connor Bedard, 98: I just picked it when I was like 6 years old, liked it, and no one had it at the time in the NHL, so I thought that was kind of cool. Yeah, I think when I was young, drew the higher number, and it stuck with me.

(Top photo of Connor Bedard: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

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