Iginla and #88

Jarome Iginla, who has worn #12 dating back to his junior hockey days with the Kamloops Blazers, won’t have that familiar number sewn onto the back of his Kings jersey. No, 12 belongs to Marian Gaborik, another tenured veteran, and Iginla doesn’t plan on asking for it. “That’s his number and he’s been very successful with it, and nope, he’s played a long time, too, so that’s his and I wouldn’t even want to ask or anything like that.”

Instead, Iginla planned on speaking with his kids – he has a girl and two boys – and wanted to hear their input before choosing the number he’d wear with Los Angeles.

After quick deliberation, Iginla made up his mind. He’d wear number 88. There is a historical basis for this.

“Actually a true story, one of the only jerseys I ever bought was when Gretzky got traded to the Kings,” he said. “I mean, i was a huge Oilers fan growing up so I bought a Kings jersey and I put on number 88 and I put my name on the back when I was about ten years old. I don’t know if that number’s available, but the kids might like that one.”