The Ottawa Senators’ No. 17 Jersey: A History of Misfortune

Ridly Greig may well be the most talented player to don the No. 17 jersey for the Ottawa Senators, but his tenure in that number was brief, lasting just 20 games before he switched to No. 71. A deep dive into the Senators’ history reveals that No. 17 stands out as perhaps the most unfortunate jersey in the franchise’s history. According to the club’s all-time sweater database, 19 different players have worn No. 17, making it the most frequently assigned number in the team’s history.

The Senators’ jersey number history shows some intriguing patterns. Following No. 17, the second most commonly worn number is No. 27, which has been worn by 17 players, with William Eklund likely to make it 18. Numbers 10, 23, and 28 round out the top five, each worn by 16 players.

Despite the numerous players who have worn it, No. 17 has not brought long-term success to its holders. Not a single captain, all-star, or franchise cornerstone has emerged from this number. Instead, No. 17 has become a sort of organizational hand-me-down, with history largely unkind to those who have chosen to wear it.

While it might be a stretch to label Ottawa’s No. 17 as cursed, the track record of its wearers raises eyebrows. The list of players who wore No. 17 and left little impact is long and disheartening. Jody Hull was the first to wear it with the expansion Senators in 1993, but he departed after just one season. Bill Muckalt followed suit in 2002, recording zero goals in 70 games, an impressive feat in its own right.

Eric Lacroix wore No. 17 in 2001 and saw his NHL career end after just nine games. Muckalt’s legacy continued with Fillip Novák, who managed no points in 11 games, and Denis Hamel, who had a strong AHL career but struggled in Ottawa with only four goals in 43 games while wearing the number.

David Legwand made a similar decision in 2015, switching from his established No. 11 to No. 17, but he too was gone after just one year. Nate Thompson recorded 11 points in 43 games, while Brian Gibbons played 20 games and scored 14 points, only to see his NHL career stall thereafter. Max McCormick, who had previously worn No. 89, switched to 17, but his time in Ottawa dwindled to just 14 more games.

Even Jonathan Davidsson, acquired in the Matt Duchene trade, only played six games in No. 17 before heading back to Sweden. Alex Galchenyuk, once a star with the Canadiens, had a brief stint of just eight games before being traded away. Adam Gaudette’s first run with the Senators in No. 17 ended without him sticking around, and when he returned, he opted for No. 81 instead, leading to his best NHL season with 19 goals.

For those few players who managed to last more than one season in No. 17, the results were mixed at best. Dave McLlwain and Tom Chorske each scored 55 points over their respective tenures, while Chris Murray and Colin Forbes had modest contributions. Filip Kuba, however, stands out as the only one to make a significant impact while wearing No. 17, enjoying a four-year stint with the Senators before his career took a downturn.

In total, 12 of the 19 players who wore No. 17 lasted just a single season. Of the remaining six, only Kuba could be considered a true success. The rest were either depth players or veterans nearing the end of their careers, failing to secure a lasting role within the franchise.

Whether it’s mere coincidence or something more, No. 17 has become synonymous with disappointment in Senators history. For any future player offered this number, it might be wise to consider alternative options.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.