Fansided

Wayne Gretzky thinks the NHL should retire Gordie Howe’s #9

ByAnthony Gallo|
Hockey: Casual portrait of Hall of Famer Gordie Howe (L) with Los Angeles Kings Wayne Gretzky (R) in locker room victorious, holding pucks with number of career points after breaking career points record during game vs Edmonton Oilers at Northlands Coliseum.Edmonton, Canada 10/15/1989CREDIT: David E. Klutho (Photo by David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X38959 TK2 R20 F8 )
Hockey: Casual portrait of Hall of Famer Gordie Howe (L) with Los Angeles Kings Wayne Gretzky (R) in locker room victorious, holding pucks with number of career points after breaking career points record during game vs Edmonton Oilers at Northlands Coliseum.Edmonton, Canada 10/15/1989CREDIT: David E. Klutho (Photo by David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X38959 TK2 R20 F8 )

Wayne Gretzky thinks the NHL should retire Gordie Howe’s #9

The man known as ‘The Great One’, has indicated that if he was involved with the league, he would make them retire Gordie Howe’s number 9, something that is only been done for himself.

The NHL retired Gretzky’s number 99 when he retired in 1999, meaning nobody will get the chance to dawn his signature number. Gretzky, who attended Howe’s public visitation on Monday, told ESPN that, “if I had my way, I would do it. But that’s for the league. I’m not involved with the league right now.”

Gretzky is a huge Howe fan, meeting him at age 10 and doing anything he could to emulate Howe’s success. He also mentioned that whatever the league has planned for Howe, it will be really special and unique.

“I don’t think anybody helped promote, support the game, the sport or our country better than Gordie Howe,” added Gretzky.

The Detroit Red Wings held a public visitation for Howe at their Joe Louis arena, with people like Gretzky, former Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman and many others paying their respect to Mr. Hockey.

Before Gretzky, Howe had the most goals and points in NHL history and played for 26 NHL seasons from 1946-1971 and then again in the WHA from 1973-1980. He played for the Red Wings and Hartford Whalers, and for the WHA’s Houston Aeros and New England Whalers.

The Red Wings retired Howe’s number 9 back in 1972, a year after he retired from the game, the same year he was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame. Howe touched many people’s lives in hockey. He showed that no matter where you’re from, if you work hard, you can be great. He also showed that superstars can be physical players as well as talented.

If his number is to be retired, that would be a great honor and one that he does deserve. He did a lot for the game of hockey and it is hard to say if we will ever see a player play as long as Howe did. He was a true legend for the game.

For more NHL coverage, visit our NHL hub page.

Home/NHL