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NHL players have some freedom to choose their jersey numbers, but not unlimited choice. League rules prohibit certain formats, No. 99 is retired across the NHL, and a player’s preferred number may already be worn or retired by their club. Players change numbers when they join a team, a number becomes available, or they want one with personal meaning.
What jersey numbers can NHL players wear?
The NHL Official Rules for 2025–26, Rule 9.2, require each player listed in the lineup to wear an individual identifying number at least 10 inches high on the back of the sweater. The rule specifically bars formats including 00, ½, .05 and 101. It establishes that a player’s choice has formal limits, but does not by itself list every number that may be used. Read Rule 9.2 in the NHL Official Rules.
Two further restrictions are distinct from that rule’s examples. NHL.com reports that No. 0 and No. 00 were taken out of circulation beginning in the 1996–97 season because they confused the league’s digital database. It also reports that Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99 was retired league-wide at the NHL’s 50th All-Star Game in 2000. NHL.com’s history of Nos. 0 and 00; NHL.com’s account of No. 99.
A club retirement is different: it applies to that team, not automatically to every NHL club. A number can also be unavailable simply because a teammate already wears it. No. 66, for example, was not retired league-wide when Joshua Ho-Sang wore it; Mario Lemieux said, “Players can choose whatever number they want.” That was Lemieux’s comment, not the wording of an NHL rule, and it does not override league restrictions or team-level availability. NHL.com’s report on Ho-Sang wearing No. 66.
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Why do players change numbers?
They join a team where their old number is unavailable
A familiar number may already belong to a player at the new club or may have been retired there. When Timo Meier joined the New Jersey Devils from San Jose, he changed from No. 96 to No. 28. The Devils’ account cites availability and veteran arrivals among the reasons players change numbers. New Jersey Devils feature on why players wear their numbers.
A number opens up, or the player’s role changes
Charlie Coyle first wore No. 63 with Minnesota after arriving through the AHL, then moved to No. 3 when it became clear he would make the NHL roster out of training camp. A number change can therefore reflect circumstances changing after a player arrives, rather than a new preference. Minnesota Wild feature on player numbers.
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The player wants a number with personal meaning
Some numbers connect to a family member, role model or personal preference. The reasons vary by player; there is no single explanation that applies to every change. The Minnesota Wild and Devils features include players’ own explanations of their choices. Minnesota Wild feature; Devils feature.
Teammates or clubs arrange a different number
A player may ask for a number and work out an alternative with its current wearer. In an account of Seattle’s initial roster, the Kraken described one player keeping No. 6 while another accepted a different number after joining. That is an example of a club-specific arrangement, not evidence of one universal NHL process. Seattle Kraken’s account of its jersey numbers.
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Is there a standard process or deadline for changing numbers?
The cited rule and club examples do not establish a single league-wide allocation process or a universal in-season deadline for changing numbers. The official rulebook located for this explanation is the 2025–26 edition; a later 2026–27 edition and any current-season change procedure are not established here. The Seattle example illustrates one club’s approach, not a rule binding every team.
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