Montreal to run out of numbers

The Montreal Canadiens will retire #33 -- that worn by goaltender Patrick Roy -- on November 22nd. This will be the 14th number retired in the storied history of the Canadiens franchise, but it also marks a dangerous trend. The Canadiens retired their first number -- #7, worn by Howie Morenz -- on November 2, 1937. It would be almost 23 years before they would retire another -- #9, worn by Maurice Richard -- in October 1960.

The trend in retiring numbers worn by the bleu, blanc, et rouge has accelerated in the years since...

1971:

#4 (Jean Beliveau)

1975:

#1 (Jacques Plante)

#16 (Henri Richard)

1985:

#10 (Guy Lafleur)

#2 (Doug Harvey

2005:

#12 (Dickie Moore)

#12 (Yvan Cournoyer)

2006:

#5 (Bernard Geoffrion)

#18 (Serge Savard)

2007:

#29 (Ken Dryden)

#19 (Larry Robinson)

2008:

#23 (Bob Gainey)

#33 (Patrick Roy)

That's seven of the 14 retired numbers in a span of three years. At this rate, the Canadiens will run out of double digit numbers some time in early 2015. The last of them won't be #13.