I had an idea awhile back: to go through every jersey number in Edmonton Oilers history and rank the best player that wore the number the best. There are some really easy ones, Gretzky for 99 or McDavid for 97 and some really obscure ones, like the ones in the 60s.
This is solely based on my personal preferences. I’ve included a short blurb on each player.
#1. Ron Tugnutt
I mean the list for number one is kinda bare and even though I really liked Joaquin Gage as a kid (His name is cool!) and you have Grant Fuhr, I’m going with Tugnutt. He was not with the Oilers for very long, but of everyone not named Fuhr, he had probably the best career.
Honorable Mention: YEAH JOAQUIN GAGE!
#2. Lee Fogolin
I think this one is very close with Eric Brewer but I give the nod to the former Oilers captain. By all accounts, Fogolin was that steady defenceman of the early Oilers earning a couple Stanley Cups with the team. Brewer was an olympian with the Edmonton Oilers and won three gold medals in the world championships. It’s tough, but I’ll give it to Lee. Also gets bonus points for passing on his C to Gretzky.
Honorable Mention: Eric Brewer
#3. Al Hamilton
This one was really easy considering he’s the only Oiler to wear number three. First number to be retired. He’s a no brainer.
#4. Kevin Lowe
This one is tough because it’s Lowe vs Hall and I am a huge Taylor Hall fan. If Hall was not traded, this was his for the taking. Sadly, he was. This is for Kevin Lowe the hockey player. I don’t care about his effects as General Manager or President, I’m looking strictly his value on the ice. He was a member of all five Stanley Cups, won an additional one in New York. A proud member of the “Hall of Very Good, but not quite Hall of Fame”.
Honorable Mention: Taylor Hall.
#5. Steve Smith
The 80s are striking hard here! Smith, even with his famous gaffe on his birthday in 1986 is a head above the others here. A reliable stay at home defenceman, he was a key part of that Oilers blue line. Won three cups with the Blue and Orange.
Honorable Mentions: Ladislav Smid, Tom Poti, Doug Hicks.
#6. Jeff Beukeboom
The highest amount of players so far on this list, with 15 people wearing the number six with the Oilers. Hard not to go with the hard hitting Beukeboom. Seriously the name Beukeboom and being a hard hitter was destiny. He was a part of three Oiler cup winning teams and winning an additional one with the Rangers in 94.
Honorable Mention: Jaroslav Spacek? Ryan Whitney? It’s a lean list.
#7. Paul Coffey
Easy. Hall of Fame Defenseman. Played for nine different teams, but spent most of his time in Edmonton. Winner of four Stanley Cups, including three in Edmonton.
Honorable Mention: Jason Arnott. Not a personal favorite but had a nice NHL career. Scored Stanley Cup clinching goal back in 2000.
#8: Joe Murphy
There’s a lot of #8s, with 22 coming in, but there’s not a lot of outstanding Oilers. Sure, Lumley wore it, but more famous for 20, Geoff Sanderson was in his final year in the NHL. Nod goes to Joe Murphy who was part of the 1990 kid line with Klima and Graves. The Kid Line was dynamite for the 1990 Stanley Cup run so here’s to you Joe.
Honorable Mention: Ray Whitney. Oh what could have been if the Oilers didn’t place him on waivers…
#9:Glenn Anderson
Another Hall of Famer makes it an easy choice. His number is hanging on the rafters. Long overdue Hall of Fame induction back in 2009, Anderson was only 3 goals short of 500 in his career.
Honorable Mention: Bill Guerin. Traded for Jason Arnott, Guerin was solid in Edmonton before heading to Boston.
#10. Esa Tikannen
The finnish pest was one of the leagues best agitators of all time. Could get under the skin of opponents with ease. Good luck if you could understand anything from Tikannen. Fun fact: Ryan Smyth wore this number very briefly.
Honorable Mention:Shawn Horcoff. Former Captain, unfair whipping boy due to contract.
#11. Mark Messier
Only Edmonton Oiler to wear the double ones. Ultimate leader with a win at all cost attitude. Intense is an understatement. Messier won six Stanley Cups in his NHL career and is the only NHL player to captain two different Stanley Cup winning teams.
#12. Adam Graves
While there’s a high number of number twelve wearers, only a few names stood out. Although Graves did better things with the Rangers, he was part of that spunky kid line of the 1990 cup run. It’s a shame the Oilers lost him when they did. Jimmy Carson is a close second, had a good year stat wise and then took off.
Honorable Mention: Jimmy Carson
#13. Andrew Cogliano
Not many thirteen wearers makes this close between Cogliano, Barker and Ken Linesmen. HA, just kidding, Barker does not come close. I take Cogliano because he played more games with the Oilers, while Linesmen did win a cup with the Oilers in 84. Cogliano is awfully useful with Anaheim right now.
Honorable Mention: Not Cam Barker, Ken Linesmen.
#14. Craig MacTavish
This is like the Lowe and Hall one for number four, where MacTavish is only going to be the all time best 14 for only a bit longer, if Jordan Eberle sticks around with the Oilers. MacT was famous for his helmetless play and contributed on a few Stanley Cup winning teams. Like Kevin Lowe, only judging MacTavish based on his playing days, not his management duties.
Honorable Mention: Jordan Eberle.
#15. Frederik Olausson
Now this is a really lean list of players: out of the 27 players that wore number 15, not one player wore the number for more than two seasons. I chose Olausson because I enjoyed watching him as a kid. He had a nice little NHL career with over 1000 games played and 500 points.
Honorable Mention: Chad Kilger
#16. Kelly Buchberger
Buchberger was a part of two Stanley Cup winning teams with the Oilers and wore the C as captain for four seasons before being claimed in the expansion draft by Atlanta. Known for his gritty play, Oilers fans loved his work ethic. An easy choice at 16.
Honorable Mention: Pat Hughes, Jarret Stoll
#17. Jari Kurri
One of the best Finnish players of all time, Kurri was Gretzky’s right hand man. An amazing sniper, Kurri was underrated in his defensive ability. Has his number retired by the team, making this another very easy choice.
#18. Craig Simpson
Simpson was the key piece in the Paul Coffey Trade back in 1987 and is currently the last 50 goal scorer in franchise history. Simpson was a fast skating sniper that fit in well with the high octane Oilers. Was a part of two Stanley Cup winning teams.
Honorable Mention: Ethan Moreau, who played 11 years in Edmonton including four as captain.
#19. Marty Reasoner
Another slim picking list with 19 players wearing number 19. I chose Marty Reasoner for his work ethic and his dead pan sense of humor. He was a fan favorite and to Craig MacTavish, a Joe Sakic lite.
Honorable Mention: Boyd Devereaux
#20. Dave Lumley
Lousy Lummer! Dave Lumley was a part of the 1984 and 1985 Stanley Cup Winning teams. A sparkplug player that primarily on the third and fourth lines, Lumley showed some scoring ability as he potted a career high 32 goals in 1981-82.
Honorable Mention: Martin Gelinas, Radek Dvorak.
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