No. 1 is Making a Comeback
- Four NHL goalies wore No. 1 on opening night this season — DeSmith, Comrie, Swayman, and Elliott — up from just one in 2019-20.
- No. 1 peaked at 16 NHL goalie wearers in 2001-02 and has steadily declined, hitting a historic low the year Luongo's number was retired.
- Roberto Luongo wore No. 1 for his entire 19-season NHL career with the Islanders, Canucks, and Panthers, calling it the definitive goalie number.
- Younger goalies are increasingly avoiding No. 1, with Eric Comrie noting that 'no one likes tradition anymore' as a driving reason.
- Brian Elliott reclaimed No. 1 with Tampa Bay after four seasons in Philadelphia where he was unable to wear it, signaling nostalgia still exists for the number.
Jeremy Swayman photo: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire
The No.1 is making a comeback in the NHL this season, but it’s hardly dramatic.
There were four goalies on opening night NHL rosters wearing the No.1 this season: Casey DeSmith of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Eric Comrie of the Winnipeg Jets, Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, and Brian Elliott, who returned to the number with the Tampa Bay Lightning after not being able to wear it the past four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers.
That may seem like a small total given the history of the number and position, but it’s actually up from just two last season (Marcus Hogberg, who is back in his native Sweden now, and DeSmith) and only one (Thomas Greiss) to start the NHL season with it in 2019-20.
“The new kids feel it’s old and not cool,” Roberto Luongo said with a chuckle.
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