Which NHL Players Could Get Their Jerseys Retired in 2025-26?
Each year, the NHL sees plenty of legacies honored in the form of jersey retirements. Numbers on rafters wave for all in the arena to see. Last season, legends like Eric Staal and Joe Thornton saw their jersey numbers retired for the Carolina Hurricanes and the San Jose Sharks, respectively. This season, the recent announcement of Detroit Red Wings legend Sergei Fedorov being given the great honor of a jersey retirement has led many fans to speculate on who’s next. As such, two speculated retirements, along with Fedorov’s confirmed retirement, are listed below.
Sergei Fedorov - Detroit Red Wings
Sergei Fedorov’s career with the Detroit Red Wings was one of both brilliance and innovation, as he redefined what it meant to be a two-way forward in the modern NHL. A cornerstone of Detroit’s dynasty during the 1990s, Fedorov combined dazzling offensive skill with defensive reliability, winning three Stanley Cups with the franchise in 1997, 1998, and 2002, and capturing both the Hart and Selke Trophies along the way. His ability to dominate games at center, wing, and even on defense when needed cemented him as one of the most versatile stars of his generation. The Red Wings’ decision to retire his number 91 in January 2026 during their centennial celebration, and during a season where they hope to finally make a return to the playoffs, is a long-awaited recognition of a player who not only defined an era of hockey in Detroit but also left a lasting imprint on the NHL as a whole.
Marc-Andre Fleury - Pittsburgh Penguins
Marc-André Fleury’s story is one of resilience, charisma, and championship pedigree, and his ties to the Pittsburgh Penguins remain unbreakable. Drafted first overall in 2003, Fleury became the backbone of the Penguins’ resurgence, backstopping the team to three Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017, and establishing himself as one of the league’s most reliable and entertaining goaltenders. His acrobatic saves, infectious personality, and ability to rise to the moment in crucial games endeared him to Pittsburgh fans and made him one of the most beloved figures in franchise history. With a Hall of Fame résumé now complete following his retirement, it feels inevitable that the Penguins will one day raise his iconic number 29 to the rafters of PPG Paints Arena, immortalizing a career that helped define the team’s modern golden age.
Henrik Zetterberg - Detroit Red Wings
Henrik Zetterberg embodied the ethos of the Detroit Red Wings through his unrelenting work ethic, calm leadership, and knack for performing in the biggest moments. A late-round draft steal who blossomed into the team’s captain and a Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2008, Zetterberg carried forward the tradition of excellence set by Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidström, leading Detroit with both quiet determination and world-class skill. His two-way play, highlighted by his defensive responsibility and ability to shut down elite opponents, made him a model of consistency throughout his career. As the Red Wings look back on a century of history, Zetterberg’s number 40 stands as an inevitable candidate for retirement, a permanent tribute to a player who epitomized Detroit hockey and helped usher in the last great era of Red Wings dominance.
As the 2025-26 season approaches, the conversation around jersey retirements reminds us that hockey is not only about the present battles on the ice but also about the legacies etched into the game’s history. The raising of a number to the rafters is more than just a tribute, but a bridge between past and present, linking generations of fans to the players who shaped their team’s identity. With Fedorov’s confirmed honor and the possibility of icons like Fleury and Zetterberg joining him, this season has the potential to be one of deep reflection and celebration. These ceremonies serve as powerful reminders that while players eventually leave the ice, their contributions endure forever, frozen in time, stitched into the very fabric of the franchises they helped define.
