Chicago Blackhawks to retire Marian Hossa’s #81

Hours after Marian Hossa inked a one-day deal with the Chicago Blackhawks to retire with the team, the club announced it would be hanging his No. 81 in the rafters.

The announcement came as the team took to the ice Thursday night against the visiting Seattle Kraken. It was made during the first TV timeout.

Hossa, 43, spent the final eight years of his NHL career in Chicago, playing key roles in the 2009-10, 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons. Over his 534-game run in the Windy City, he tallied 134 goals and 415 points.

In his 107 playoff games with Chicago, he had 21 goals and 73 points.

“The Blackhawks and city of Chicago hold a special place in my heart,” Hossa said via NHL.com. “Making the commitment to this organization in 2009 was the best decision I ever made.

“For all the memories my teammates and I made together, including three Stanley Cup wins, my family created just as many off the ice. The fans embraced us as one of their own, treating us so kindly wherever we went. Retiring as a Blackhawk is a dream come true and I couldn’t imagine officially ending my career in any other way. I would like to thank the Wirtz family for making this a reality and for all they have done for me since I signed with the team.”

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020, Hossa was the only player to wear 81. He joins a legendary set of Blackhawks who have their jerseys retired: Glenn Hall’s No. 1, Pierre Pilote and Keith Magnuson’s No. 3, Bobby Hull’s No. 9, Denis Savard’s No. 18, Stan Mikita’s No. 21 and Tony Esposito’s No. 35.