We are now in the time of year when the news comes in very slowly and very far in between. That means we have to look for anything worth discussing, and we have landed on jersey numbers. I know super exciting stuff, but with a new Hawk roster this fall, there are lots of numbers to talk about.
Let's start with the new guys.
Forward Craig Smith will be rocking number 15 this season; this will be the same number he wore with Dallas last year and will become the 33rd player to wear the number in Hawks history, with the last being Joey Anderson (more on that in a bit). Notable 15s in Hawks History: Artem Anisimov (2016–2019) and Tuomo Ruutu (2004–2008).
Defenseman Alec Martinez will be wearing the number 25; this will be the first time he has worn this number, as he was 23 for the Knights and 27 for the Kings. He will become the 21st player to wear the number in Hawks history, which was last worn by Jarred Tinordi last season. Notable players to wear 25 Viktor Stalberg (2011–2013) and Cam Barker (2006–2010)
Goaltender Laurent Brossoit will have his number 39 that he has worn with the Jets and the Knights. He will become the 12th Hawk to wear the number, and the last time it was worn was by Luke Philip last season. Notable 39s in Hawks history are the late Jimmy Hayes (2012–2013), Cristobal Huet (2010), Nikolai Khabibulin (2005–2009 and 2013–2014), Tyler Arnason (2002–2006), and Jim Playfair (1989).
Defenseman Artyom Levshunov will be making his NHL debut wearing the number 55; the question just becomes: when will that debut be? 55 was worn last season by Kevin Korchinski, and this will be the 9th time this number has been worn by a Hawk. It was famously worn by Eric Daze (1995–2006) and Ben Eager (2008–2010).
Forward Tyler Bertuzzi will be wearing the number 59, the same number he has worn this whole career. This will only be the 4th time this number has been worn in Hawks history, with the last time being Rob Klinkhammer in 2011.
Forward Patrick Maroon will be wearing the number 77 for the Hawks this season and will be the 3rd Hawk to wear the number with Kirby Dach (2020-2022) and Paul Coffey (1999).
Defenseman TJ Brodie will be wearing the number 78 for the first time in his career. He will be the first player to wear the number for the Hawks.
Forward Teuvo Teravainen will be wearing the 86 that he wore in his first stint with the Hawks and only sharing the number with Mike Hartman (2021-2023).
Forward Ilya Mikheyev will be wearing the number 95 for the Hawks this season and will join Dylan Sikura as the only players to have worn the number in Hawks history.
A new season means new numbers for returning players, and there are a few notable changes.
Defenseman Kevin Korchinski will be changing from 55 to 14 and will be the 43rd Hawk to wear the number. Boris Katchouk last wore the number (2022-2024), and the number has been worn by players such as Chris Kunitz (2019), René Bourque (2006-2007), and Theo Fleury (2003).
Forward Joey Anderson goes from the number 15 to the number 22 and will become the 30th player to wear the number. Last worn by Nikita Zaitsev (2023-2024), he will join Jordin Tootoo (2017), Jamal Mayers (2012-2013), and Troy Brouwer (2009-2011).
Forward Lukas Reichel will go from 27 to 73, a number he regularly wears when playing for Team Germany. The only other time 73 was worn was in 2021, when it was worn by Brandon Pirri. This is an interesting number change, as it comes after Jeremy Roenick was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Could the Hawks be getting ready to retire the number, or is Reichel just looking for anything to help change his mojo out there?
If you made it through this whole blog, I thank you. I will try to get more creative as we get into the dog days of summer and the news becomes even harder to come by. Until then, enjoy your weekend, and as always, Go Hawks.
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