What is the most worn sweater number in NY Islanders franchise history?

Some sweater numbers in Islanders history are forever linked to one legend — No. 5 to Denis Potvin, No. 22 to Mike Bossy. But the number worn more than any other in franchise history, No. 16, has taken on a different identity. It’s been passed down through generations, with 27 players wearing it, more than any other jersey in team history.

From Brian Lavender in 1973 to Marc Gatcomb in 2025, the list of players who’ve donned No. 16 is long and intriguing. It includes role players like Jon Sim, Marty Reasoner, and Raffi Torres, and veterans like Andrew Ladd, Craig Berube, and Mike York. Recent seasons have seen it worn by depth players such as Julien Gauthier, Richard Pánik, and Gatcomb.

You can read the full list HERE via Hockey Reference.

But the number’s most iconic wearers are clear: Pat LaFontaine and Žigmund Pálffy. LaFontaine, who wore 16 from 1984–91, became the Isles’ brightest star in the post-dynasty years, posting 566 points in 530 games and cementing himself as one of the NHL’s greats. Pálffy revived the number’s star power in the 1990s, electrifying Coliseum crowds with 168 goals across six seasons.

That makes the jersey’s constant turnover all the more ironic. Many fans believe No. 16 should have been retired long ago in LaFontaine’s honor. A Hockey Hall of Famer, LaFontaine was the face of the franchise during a difficult era, the Isles’ best player in the years immediately following the dynasty. Instead, his number has become the most recycled in team history, worn by nearly two dozen others since he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres.

While the Islanders may never raise No. 16 to the rafters, its history captures the full arc of the franchise: legends, grinders, journeymen, and prospects all carrying the number that connects generations of blue and orange.