Stargazing: What Number Would Number 9 Wear in Detroit?

You've heard Mike Modano called "#9" so many times over the life of this franchise that it's never occurred to you that he would ever wear anything else, right? The weirdest part after all of this free agency drama (thanks a lot, Lebron...) might not be Mike in a Red Wings uniform...no, we kind of expected that. It might be him wearing something other than good old #9.

You can't wear #9 in Detroit because...well, you know. Winging it in Motown, our SB Nation Detroit brethren, posited this question and had an interesting discussion in their comments about it.

Modano can't add a "1" to #9, at least in front of it.  The legendary 19 is also up in Joe Louis Arena's rafters for "The Captain" Steve Yzerman. However, he could go with 91, which was worn for a long time by Sergei Fedorov. Fedorov departed the team rather unpleasantly and there is still some animosity between him and the organization. But, there might be some Red Wings fans that have a problem with it, since Fedorov contributed a lot in his time here.

The easiest way to change his 9 would be to double it to 99, but Wayne Gretzky and the NHL might take issue with that.  Gretzky's 99 has been retired league-wide, and rightly so.

He can't take 10 either. I like the idea one poster there had about 90. A rather unconventional hockey number for sure, but if he must do this (and it appears as though he must, indeed) I would personally very much like to see him keep a 9 on his jersey. It just wouldn't be right otherwise.

• Elsewhere at the official Dead Wing NHL page, they discuss Modano's Detroit roots and annoyingly keep calling it "his home," "coming home," etc, etc.... That's not his home. He may have lived there a long, long time ago, but Dallas is his home.
• Puck Daddy examines Red Wing fan support and opposition across the interwebs. I like what the "we can't afford it" crowd is saying. Maybe everyone should listen to them.
• A Greek publication laments the loss of a Greek athlete in Chicago...Adam Burish? Wasn't he born in Wisconsin?
• Andrew Hutchinson, who helped the Texas Stars get to game six of the Calder Cup Finals, has been signed by the Penguins to a two way contract. Despite being the Stars top defenseman in Cedar Park, he's 30 years old and his departure makes room for younger kids who may have an NHL future. Good luck to Mr Hutchinson.
• Mark Stepneski, he of Andrews Stars Page starts at ESPN Dallas today. We love Mark, so give him a visit.

So what do you say? Should Mo wear 90? Turn that 9 upside down? 27? Take 8 from that spare Abdelkader? ...