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Crazy Eights: The best players to wear No. 8 in NHL history

By Dave Stevenson

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Happy August 8, everyone! Let’s take a look at the best players in NHL history to wear the crazy eights.

Eight is one of the most popular jersey numbers in the NHL. During the 2017-18 season, 17 players wore it. Overall, more than 400 skaters have worn the vertical double zeros.

Some of the best players to ever lace up skates have proudly worn No. 8.

In honor of it being August 8, let’s countdown the eight best players to wear Cal Ripken Jr.’s number.

8. Drew Doughty

The Los Angeles Kings defenseman has worn the No. 8 since joining the league in, you guessed it, 2008. His jersey is among the top sellers in the NHL. Doughty won the Norris Trophy in 2015-16 and has thrice been a finalist for the award. He has been the Norris runner-up on two occasions. Doughty’s affinity with the number eight extends off the ice, as he recently signed an eight-year deal with the Kings.

7. Joe Pavelski

The San Jose Sharks captain has worn No. 8 after switching from No. 53 after his rookie season. He’s even worn it while representing the United States on international ice. Entering the 2018-19 season, Pavelski has played in 888 games. He has scored 317 goals to go along with 697 points.

6. Mark Recchi

Mark Recchi was criminally kept out of the Hockey Hall of Fame until 2017, when he was finally voted in. He’s one of the nine Hall of Fame players to wear No. 8 and he did so for the longest. Aside from a 10 game stint with the Philadelphia Flyers, a 20-game stint with the Carolina Hurricanes, and his tenure with the Boston Bruins, Recchi wore No. 8 for his entire career.

5. Cam Neely

Why didn’t Recchi wear numero ocho with the Bruins? Because the Bruins retired it for Cam Neely. He wore it with them from 1987 to 1996. Neely made it to four All-Star teams while wearing the number. He currently serves as the Bruins’ president.

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