This is probably the hardest to pick of any of these!
How can you go wrong with any of these, and if any of Hull, Howe, or Richard wore almost any other number they would run away with it. No question.
On Gordie Howe...
Mr. Hockey. Often considered the greatest of all players wearing any number. Is there anything else needed to be mentioned? But just for fun... * 26 NHL Seasons * 6 WHA Seasons * 23 NHL All-Star Games * 4 Stanley Cups * 6 Hart Trophies * Top 5 in NHL Scoring for 20 Consecutive Seasons. * First to score over 1000 goals (NHL and WHA Combined) * Set all the scoring records imaginable. * Oldest to play in NHL Game * Played in 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. * Played in 1,967 Consecutive games for the Red Wings. * SHOULD have a trophy named after him
On Maurice Richard...
In my mind the only other player from the older era who can really be in the conversation. * 18 NHL Seasons * 8, Yes EIGHT Stanley Cups. * 50 Goals in 50 Games in 1944-45! (simply unreal) * First NHLer to score 500 * 13 All Star Appearances * He is legend in every true meaning of the word. * Has a Trophy named after him.
On Bobby Hull....
Because Hull defected to the WHA he will never get the publicity from within the NHL he deserves. People will deny that, but I have found it to be a reality... The Golden Jet was spectacular to say the least.
* 23 Combined NHL/WHA Seasons. * 10 Time NHL All Star. * First to score more than 50 goals in the NHL * They made a rule that you couldn't curve your stick to much because of him. * Had a 118 MPH Snapshot with a wooden stick in an era that goalies didn't always wear masks! * Had a team named after him
on Andy Bathgate....
A hell of a player who wore a number that really hurts his chances!
* 17 NHL Seasons * Played on a not so great Rangers team and still managed to tie Bobby Hull in Points in 61-62 * Nagging knee injuries really affected his numbers. * One of the first big time Trade deadline moves sent him to the Leafs in 63-64 and he helped them to win a Cup that year. * some call him one of the best playmakers of his era. * 973 Points in 1069 Games
Good luck picking this one!!!
I will be back with a rumor blog prior to the podcast at 1pm where I will be writing about some Patrick Roy stuff I uncovered yesterday while chatting with some league sources...
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— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) April 26, 2016
There will also be a Patreon podcast at 2pm today.