Oilers owner Daryl Katz has an internal team rule to not retire the numbers of any players who don't make the Hall of Fame, but two special exemptions should come to two lifelong, special Oilers.
Katz was recently dragged by Oilers fans in a new ranking of NHL owners, a surprising opinion giving the success of the team, but Edmonton fans have their reasons.
Oilers owner should make special exemptions for two jersey retirements
Longtime fan favourite Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had an incredible game against the Kraken, scoring a hat trick at a much needed time without McDavid and Draisaitl in the lineup. It's making Oilers fans reflect on the legacy of Nuge, and how he deserves his number in the rafters for being a lifelong Oilers star.
Now 31 years old, Nugent-Hopkins isn't on track to have a Hall of Fame career. In 950 career games, Nuge has scored 271 goals and 747 points - very good totals, but maybe not hall of fame worthy by the end of his career. He is signed through the 2028-29 season at a discount $6.125M contract.
While Nuge may not make the hall of fame, he's a first overall pick that's given a long, quality career to the Oilers and has always been an active member of the community in Edmonton.
He was the first player of the current wave of Oilers, the lone survivor of the decade of darkness, and judging the entirety of his career, a number retirement in Edmonton would be incredible for Nuge.
The one other prominent player who should have his number retired is Ryan Smyth, the Alberta native legend who gave 15 years to the Oilers. Like Nuge, he had a long quality career, but wasn't hall of fame worthy. Despite this, Smyth's number may have been unofficially retired according to Corey Perry.
I couldn't wear 94, which I wore in junior and in Montreal. That's a number I always had in the back of my mind when I was younger. So, I split them down the middle. That's the reason why it's 90. It just seemed fitting.- Corey Perry
Hopefully this denial of a number hints a jersey retirement coming for Smyth, and if it does, perhaps Nugent-Hopkins too will have his number retired in Edmonton at the end of his career.
Daryl Katz should revisit this rule to recognize the contributions of two players who gave everything they had to the city of Edmonton, and that the city has formed incredible relationships with these two incredible people.
