OK first of all I know the kid has only played one game and has a long way to go before he is on the team, but with that being said we know he won't be wearing 45 if he is on the roster come October 9th. In Barrie last year he wore 19 as well as on Team Cherry in the prospects game. He wore 23 at the U-18 tourney as well but I assume he couldn't get 19 there for whatever reason.
So the question is what number will he wear as a Jet??? Jim Slater has 19 so that is probably not an option, I don't like 23 on him either though.
What I would love to see is Mr. Hawerchuk giving Scheifele his blessing to take over his old number 10... I hope he doesn't take a number over 20 so that would leave according to the current roster online 2, 3, 7, 10, 11 and 13.
I hope Little wouldn't be too mad..
Thoughts???
Many teams do not allow players to select a number until after they have become established as NHLers, so for all we know he may be forced to use 45 if he starts the year with the team. (LAK Scott Parse wore 67 his rookie year, switched to 21 last year, CGY Troy Brodie was forced to keep his TC number of...66, first player since Mario to wear it when he made the team out of camp last year).
Also, OP, you say things like "he wore 23 but I don't like him with that number so he should choose another". Seriously?
Last edited by Holden Caulfield: 09-21-2011 at 09:07 PM.
I like 45 on him! Though I think he will end up changing it. I think 91 is a strong possibility, many players will flip there numbers if they can't get their first choice.
I think he could look good in # 7. That said, it wouldn't surprise me if he would keep # 45.
For what it's worth though, I really want TNSE to send him back to junior. By next september he should be that much stronger and even more ready to battle with professionals.
If he made the team I'd expect him to keep 45. If he did get to choose I don't see why he wouldn't take 23 if that was his backup after 19 in the past. 91 would be an outside possibility too, if he's married to 19 but can't have it. When Cally was a rook he wore 43 and now is 24; like a lot of other posters said, rookies usually have to stick with their camp # unless they're a big name.
If he made the team I'd expect him to keep 45. If he did get to choose I don't see why he wouldn't take 23 if that was his backup after 19 in the past. 91 would be an outside possibility too, if he's married to 19 but can't have it. When Cally was a rook he wore 43 and now is 24; like a lot of other posters said, rookies usually have to stick with their camp # unless they're a big name.
I think history would show far more players switch their number than keep the assigned one.
I think history would show far more players switch their number than keep the assigned one.
In their first year? Could be, but I figure a lot of guys who are in their first year and not necessarily playing a full 82 are out there wearing interesting numbers but certainly go on to change in following years. Either way, I would expect Schief to stick with 45 or, like I said, take 23. Though I fully understand being attached to a number; if I make a team that doesn't have 24 available I immediately ask for 42 and on the off chance it's taken as well I'm at a loss... so I could see 91 as well.
In their first year? Could be, but I figure a lot of guys who are in their first year and not necessarily playing a full 82 are out there wearing interesting numbers but certainly go on to change in following years. Either way, I would expect Schief to stick with 45 or, like I said, take 23. Though I fully understand being attached to a number; if I make a team that doesn't have 24 available I immediately ask for 42 and on the off chance it's taken as well I'm at a loss... so I could see 91 as well.
If he is on the opening day roster he should approach as though this is the start of his NHL career. I hope he wouldn't go into opening night thinking he wasn't going to be playing all 82, thats not a very successful attitude. I think the OP was talking about what his permanent number will be anyways.
If he is on the opening day roster he should approach as though this is the start of his NHL career. I hope he wouldn't go into opening night thinking he wasn't going to be playing all 82, thats not a very successful attitude. I think the OP was talking about what his permanent number will be anyways.
I wasn't talking about the prospect's attitude necessarily though, just the fact that the team isn't always going to say 'hey, choose a number, you made the team' when there's no guarantees they're not going to send you back to juniors after game 8 or 9, and no player who is that green is going to take for granted the fact that they've got a permanent roster spot and go asking for a number. I think a lot of times, you make it through camp/pre-season and don't get cut and they just hand you a jersey with the number you've been using on it and it's an honor just to be sticking with the big club. In the long run, I don't see 45 being his career number. He'd either take 23 (if that's what his history backup number is) or perhaps give 91 a whirl. I'm partial to 91 and 19 for centers.
