The Chicago Blackhawks have retired six numbers to the United Center rafters. Steve’s Larmer’s No. 28 isn’t among them.
And for Larmer that’s alright with him.
“I think that really is reserved for very special people,” Larmer told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times, shortly before taking the ice in full uniform for the national anthem as part of the Hawks’ “One Last Shift” ceremony. “I think that the numbers that they have retired up there are the ones that should be.
“Thank you, but I think that Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito and the Denis Savard and Keith Magnuson and Pierre Pilote are kind of in a league of their own.”
Larmer wore No. 28 from 1982-93 with the Hawks, not missing a game during 1980s. The Hawks knew Larmer would a special player after he scored 43 points and 90 points during his first professional season in 1982-83 and was awarded the Calder Trophy as league’s top rookie. At that time, he became just the sixth player in Hawks’ history to win the award.
Larmer is the franchise leader in power play goals (153), fourth in points (923), third in goals (406), second in game-winning goals (49) and fifth in assists (517) in 11 seasons with the Hawks. He had five 40-goal seasons and a career-high 101 points in 1990-91 season.
Following the 1992-93 season, Larmer joined the Rangers for the final two seasons of his career, winning the Stanley Cup in 1994 against Vancouver.