Blackhawks: Should Marian Hossa’s number be retired?

Marian Hossa helped the Chicago Blackhawks win three Stanley Cups during the 2010s. The question becomes, should Hossa’s jersey number be retired?

The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t had another player wear 81 since Marian Hossa‘s last game in 2017. The most recent jersey number controversy came with Steve Larmer, where fans have speculated if he’s number should be retired.

With Hossa, there shouldn’t be a question. He spent eight years in Chicago, scoring 186 goals with 229 assists for 415 points in 534 games. In the playoffs, Hossa added an additional 21 goals and 52 assists for 73 points. That also came with six game-winning goals in the playoffs.

Of the Blackhawks from the 2010 team that made it through the 2015 Stanley Cup run, Hossa is right up there with Patrick Sharp, Brent Seabrook, and Duncan Keith on fringe guys that will probably have their numbers retired.

There’s an argument to be made when Hossa is brought up, on how the Blackhawks haven’t had touched the playoffs since Hossa’s last game in 2017. Obviously, he’s not the only reason why the 2018 Blackhawks weren’t good, but he was a huge key to the success of the team in the 2010s.

Losing Hossa was losing a first-line forward who helped create offense and made players around him better. Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa where a lock on offense during the early-to-mid 2010s. That first line in Chicago was powerful.

Still, if it’s up to me, Hossa gets his number retired the second he can officially retire from the NHL. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer in my book, which could add the likelihood of the Blackhawks retiring number “81” for him.

Winning three Stanley Cups and helping improve the team in eight seasons deserves some recognition by the team, besides when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame. No other Blackhawk should ever wear 81 again. That’s Hossa’s number for life.