Boston Bruins: Rick Middleton to have number retired

The Boston Bruins announced on Tuesday that legendary right winger Rick Middleton will have his No.16 retired.

Unlike the Boston Celtics who hand out jersey retirements like birthday presents, the Boston Bruins make you earn a jersey retirement. They only had retired 10 jerseys up until Tuesday because the Bruins announced that they will be retiring Rick Middleton’s number.

Middleton was drafted in the 1st round of 1973 draft by the New York Rangers. He played in New York for two seasons before making his way to Boston. The Bruins sent Ken Hodge to New York in exchange for the winger.

Middleton would spend the rest of his career in Boston. He played in more than 800 games for the Bruins and racked up 402 goals and 496 assists during his time with the Bruins.

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Middleton is 3rd in franchise history in goals and 6th in assists, he is well deserving of the honor.

The winger is also an extremely clutch player. The Bruins made the playoffs in 11 of Middleton’s 12 seasons in Boston. In 114 playoff games, he scored 45 goals and 55 assists. He is 3rd in postseason points for the B’s. What makes Middleton’s postseason performances more impressive is that he scored 8 game-winning goals in the postseason.

Middleton’s best season came in the ’81-’82 season. In 75 games Middleton scored 51 goals and 43 assists. Middleton would also win the Lady Byng Trophy.

Sadly Middleton was never able to win a Stanley Cup even though he was such a great player. There is no doubt that Middleton was a playmaker. He could make defenders look silly.

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Middleton will have his number retired, maybe we will see him head to the Hockey hall of fame sooner rather than later.

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