There's only one number retired across the NHL: Wayne Gretzky's No. 99.
It's widely known The Great One donned 99 to honor his childhood idol, Gordie Howe, whose No. 9 is equally as famous.
Howe's passing came late in the playoffs, and it's likely the NHL will honor his immeasurable stature throughout next season, but If it were up to Gretzky, no one would ever wear the number again.
"I'm pretty biased, if I had my way I would do it," Gretzky told reporters at Howe's visitation Tuesday. "That's for the league, I'm not involved in the league right now. I'm sure whatever they choose to do is going to be very special, because Gordie deserves something really special and unique.
"I don't think anybody helped promote the game, the sport or our country better than Gordie Howe. He was proud to be Canadian, he was proud of being from Saskatchewan. And I don't think the NHL is going to overlook how important he was to the game. I'm sure they're going to do something really special for him."
Howe's No. 9 is iconic as they come, but it's also been worn by Hall of Fame legends Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Bobby Hull, Johnny Bucyk and Mike Modano, among others inspired by Mr. Hockey.
