Our mission to preserve the history of pro hockey through the sweater uniform numbers players wear is to objectively come up with a list of the greatest players at each number based on their career performance. This look is based on facts and statistics gathered as of 1/1/2022.
Let us start our journey on identifying the greatest number 5s in NHL/WHL history by looking at the players that wore the number that are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
- Didier Pitre
- Bernie Geoffrion
- Doug Harvey
- Harry Howell
- Phil Esposito
- Leo Boivin
- Buddy O'Connor
- Marcel Dionne
- Guy Lapointe
- Harry Watson
- Al Arbour
- Rod Langway
- Larry Murphy
- Mark Howe
- Denis Potvin
Our next bit of recognition is of the players who have had the number retired by clubs that they played for along with the date of the number being officially retired. For the number 5 they are:
- Bill Barilko Toronto Maple Leafs October 17, 1992
- Dit Clapper Boston Bruins February 12, 1947
- Bernie Geoffrion Montreal Canadiens March 11, 2006
- Rod Langway Washington Capitals November 26, 1997
- Guy Lapointe Montreal Canadiens November 8, 2014
- Nicklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings March 6, 2014
- Bob Plager St. Louis Blues February 2, 2017
- Denis Potvin New York Islanders February 1, 1992
Denis Potvin
Born October 29, 1953, in Ottawa, Ontario, was Hockey Hall of Fame Defensemen, Denis Potvin. This legend was the number one overall selection in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft by the New York Islanders. Potvin would go on to have a productive NHL career scoring 310 goals, with 742 assists, and becoming a seven-time All-Star. Denis is also a three-time James Norris Memorial Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.
Phil Esposito
Born February 20, 1942, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, was Hockey Hall of Fame Center, Phil Esposito. This legend was an eight-time NHL All-Star who won five Art Ross, two Ted Lindsey Awards, and two Hart Memorial Trophies. Esposito is best known for his time with the Boston Bruins; however, he started his NHL journey with the Chicago Black Hawks. On the other side of his career, after playing in Beantown, he was a member of the New York Rangers. Esposito's career was so impactful that he was honored on the NHL's 100th Anniversary - 100 Greatest Players.
Dit Clapper
Born February 9, 1907, in Newmarket, Ontario, was Hockey Hall of Fame Right Wing/Defenseman Dit Clapper. This legend was a three-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Boston Bruins and a six-time NHL All-Star. Along with teammates Dutch Gainor and Cooney Weiland, they made up the original Bruins line that was called the "Dynamite Line." Clapper set a few scoring record marks during the 1930s. Dit was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947 as the first member to be alive at the time of induction.
