1. Alexei Yashin & Jason Spezza's #19
It's not often that two great players in a single franchise wear the same number and have success while wearing it. But the Ottawa Senators have had two elite players in franchise history wear number 19, and they are Alexei Yashin and Jason Spezza.
The first number, 19, is Yashin. Some Senators fans will be bitter about Yashin holding out during the 1999-00 season. Senators fans can't deny how important he was to the franchise when he first played in the 1993-94 season.
Yashin was a big bright spot on a bad Senators team by finishing with 79 points as a rookie. Yashin was then the captain for the 1998-99 season, and was rightfully captain when he set the franchise for most points in a season with 94. Yashin was part of the All-NHL Second Team, and finished second for the Hart Trophy. Yashin held out the following season, and he was suspended by the team for the entire season. Yashin would lose his captaincy to Daniel Alfredsson.
The 2000-01 season would be Yashin's last in Ottawa as he recorded 88 points in his final season in Ottawa. Yashin would record back-to-back 40-goal seasons in his final two seasons in Ottawa. In his Ottawa tenure, Yashin finished with 491 points in 504 games. Yashin's 491 points are good for third-most all-time in Senators history.
Yashin was traded to the New York Islanders at the 2001 NHL Draft, and Ottawa received the second overall pick in the draft who turned into a superstar player who should have his number retired by the Senators. That pick turned into Spezza. What irony it is.
Spezza began his career in Ottawa wearing number 39. But when he switched to number 19 prior to the 2005-06 season, his career took off. Spezza recorded two 90-point seasons and two 80-point seasons. Spezza was part of Ottawa's 2007 run to the Stanley Cup and was tied with Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson for the most points in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 22.
Spezza's tenure ended in 2014 when he was traded to the Dallas Stars. It also hurt Senators fans' hearts when Spezza wore a Maple Leafs jersey for the final three seasons of his career. Spezza's success in Ottawa doesn't go without recognition. Spezza turned the Senators franchise around and should have his number retired. Spezza finished his Senators career with 687 points in 686 games.
Spezza has the second most goals (251), assists (436) and points in franchise history.
Although Yashin and Spezza both wore number 19, it's not uncommon for a team to retire one jersey number worn by two players. The Maple Leafs have retired six numbers worn by two players, the Montreal Canadiens have retired two numbers worn by two players, and the New York Rangers have retired one number worn by two players.
It might be time for the Senators to have one number retired worn by two players.