By the Numbers: The 3-Time Stanley Cup, Hall of Fame Legacy of #81
In the history of the NHL, certain numbers belong to icons. Number “99” is Gretzky; “66” is Lemieux. But before the late-90s, the number 81 was—arguably—a statistical ghost. That changed when Marian Hossa arrived. He didn't just pick a non-traditional digit; he transformed it into a symbol of elite, puck-dominant reliability.
The Significance of #81
When Hossa broke into the league, 81 was an outlier. Hossa gave it some meaning. Over 1,309 regular-season games, he turned 81 into a warning. It represented a unique blend of "power forward" strength and defensive awareness. Today, when stars like Kyle Connor wear number “81”, they are walking in the shadow of the man who gave that number its soul.
The Road to the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hossa’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame (Class of 2020) was built on rare, relentless consistency. Drafted 12th overall by the Ottawa Senators in 1997, his statistical resume is ironclad: his 525 goals place him among only 50 players to ever cross the 500-goal threshold. His 1,134 points highlight nearly two decades of elite playmaking. Perhaps most telling of his impact is his staggering +245 career rating, a number that underscores how much better his teams performed whenever he was on the ice.
The Ultimate Winner
Alongside his career statistics, the most remarkable chapter of his career remains his historic run to the Stanley Cup. He holds a rare place in NHL history as he reached three consecutive Stanley Cup finals with three different franchises: Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008, Detroit Red Wings in 2009, and Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 (see also, for example, Corey Perry).
While players like Claude Lemieux and Joe Nieuwendyk famously won Stanley Cup championships in three different cities, Hossa’s back-to-back-to-back journey through the Stanley Cup finals remains a legendary feat of endurance. After the heartbreak of losing those first two attempts (2008 & 2009), Hossa finally found his dynasty in Chicago with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, etc. as the Blackhawks captured three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013, 2015).
Cool Fact: In November 2022, the Chicago Blackhawks retired Marian Hossa's #81.
Alongside his veteran presence, Marian Hossa was one of the bright lights that helped guide a young core in Chicago to legendary status, leaving the game as the gold standard for the modern professional.