New York Islanders Jersey Number Change List

New York Islanders President and GM Lou Lamoriello doesn’t like big numbers. That means players with numbers above 30 are going to have to change for the 2018-19 season. Here’s a list of those changes.

If you own a New York Islanders jersey with a name and number for a current player you might be a bit nervous. Our new General Manager is famous for his dislike of numbers that are bigger than 30.

We already talked about the various rules that Lou Lamoriello brings to the team as the GM earlier this week. One was how numbers need to be brought back down to earth.

Some fans don’t like the rules. They see it as trivial and without any tangible impact on winning games. And that’s fair. But there’s something to be said about playing for the crest on the front rather than the number on the back.

When it comes to changing the culture around the franchise this type of rule is exactly what Lou was talking about. Instilling that a player while still an individual is part of a team where individualist flair (like a large number) doesn’t matter.

Whos Numbers Have Changed?

With that being said, Lou has started telling players to change their numbers. Remember no numbers above 30, unless you’re a goalie, a veteran, or a temporary player.

So who’s changed their numbers going into the 2018-19 season?

Thomas Hickey 14 to 4

The Islanders returning defenseman dropped his number from 14 to 4 in order for Tom Kuhnhackl to take number 14. I’m not sure why Kuhnhackl is getting a number, I figured he’d be a player that would end up on the scratch pad or the AHL.

Tom Kuhnhackl 34 to 14

Again. Not sure why Kuhnhackl is getting a sub-31 number. The former Pittsburgh Penguin doesn’t fit into the New York Islanders roster as far as I can tell. At best he’ll be a fringe player that sits in the press box most of the time. Seems temporary enough to me.

Josh Ho-Sang 66 to 26

Maybe Josh Ho-Sang is a big Peter Statsny fan? Cause Ho-Sang was seen wearing number 26 at a recent BioSteel camp. Either way, Penguins fans can finally relax on the whole “this is an insult to Mario” thing. Wearing a different number at a BioSteel camp isn’t exactly confirmation, but it’s close.

Adam Pelech 50 to 3

Adam Pelech moves from number 50 to Travis Hamonic‘s number from 2012 to 2017. Maybe that helps Pelech define his spot in the lineup and allows him to step into a Travis Hamonic type role in 2018-19.

Scott Mayfield 42 to 24

Scott Mayfield pulls the tried and tested strategy used by hockey players the world over, he flipped his numbers. The four and two from 42 flip positions and voila Scott Mayfield is now number 24.

Anthony Beauvillier 72 to 18

Beauvillier has made the change to number 18. So maybe that leaked third jersey with the ‘C’ was his and not Ryan Strome’s?

Ross Johnston 52 to 32

Not sure why Johnston took 32. Perhaps he wore it earlier in his hockey career. It also seems to fall outside of Lou’s “numbers under 30” only rule. Maybe this means Ross is only going to play temporarily.

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If you already have a jersey for a player whos number will change I’m sorry for you and your now outdated jersey. But at least you don’t have a framed autographed John Tavares jersey in your office like I do.