The Curse of #19

[Freddie]

The other night someone suggested to me that our program has not had a pure goal scorer since the #19 sweater was retired. I believe his exact words were "every guy who ever wore #19 was a stud...and we have not been the same since it was retired." I felt compelled to do a little research, and here are the results.

Certainly, the three player who wore #19 most recently WERE studs:
Brian Holzinger (91-95) 147 games, 102-83-185
Nelson Emerson (86-90) 178 games, 112-182-294
Jamie Wansbrough (82-86) 164 games, 127-110-237

However, the NINE players to wear #19 PRIOR to that time scored a grand total of 17-45-62 COMBINED over 22 seasons. They include such household names as: Ron Stone, Wayne Sander, Nick Pappas, Ivan Mader, Ron Lozon, Dave Kearney, Paul Hughes, Greg Hatch and the immortal Derek Arzoomanian (best known as the 4th line forward forced to play defense in the 1979 NCAA play-in game at Minnesota...where he got burnt twice by Neal Broten).

Conclusions? I shall leave that up to the sharp, analytical minds that frequent this board.

[rood]

We haven't had a player dominate for a full four years since Holzinger moved on, regardless of number. I had hopes for Cepis after last season but he has been a major disappointment this year.

Of course with the way the NHL works these days it is next to impossible to keep that class of player in college for a full four years.

[bgbill]

When I get in a statistical mode, I'll compare #19 totals to any other number. Seems like Zinger's, Nelly's and Jamie's gross will be higher than any others.
If "19" is good enough for Yzerman....
Thanks for the research, Freddie

[PegCityFalcon]

Top 10 NHLers with 19
1. Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings
2. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
3. Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens
4. Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
5. Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers
6. Rick MacLeish, Philadelphia Flyers
7. Butch Goring, Los Angeles Kings
8. Paul Henderson, Toronto Maple Leafs
9. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
10. Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning

2nd best number behind #9
1. Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
2. Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens
3. Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks
4. Andy Bathgate, New York Rangers
5. Mike Modano, Dallas Stars
6. Ted Kennedy, Toronto Maple Leafs
7. John Bucyk, Boston Bruins
8. Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
9. Charlie Conacher, Toronto Maple Leafs
10. Glenn Anderson, Edmonton Oilers

[rood]

Top 10 NHLers with 19
1. Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings
2. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
3. Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens
4. Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
5. Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers
6. Rick MacLeish, Philadelphia Flyers
7. Butch Goring, Los Angeles Kings
8. Paul Henderson, Toronto Maple Leafs
9. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
10. Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning

2nd best number behind #9
1. Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
2. Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens
3. Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks
4. Andy Bathgate, New York Rangers
5. Mike Modano, Dallas Stars
6. Ted Kennedy, Toronto Maple Leafs
7. John Bucyk, Boston Bruins
8. Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
9. Charlie Conacher, Toronto Maple Leafs
10. Glenn Anderson, Edmonton Oilers

I was going to be impressed with your lists until I discovered that they were pulled off the CBC's website.

If you take out the Summit Series I would take Brian Mullen over Paul Henderson.

I started to do my own list of number 7's but got stuck after Phil Esposito, Ray Bourque and Paul Coffey.

[PegCityFalcon]

Yea 7 is a good number but Bourque was 77

[rood]

He gave up number 7 in Boston when they retired Esposito's number. No one (except the equipment manager) knew he was going to do it until he took off his old jersey during the ceremony to reveal his new number 77.