Islanders' Ho-Sang wears No. 66 to honor Lemieux

By wearing No. 66 on the back of his jersey, New York Islanders rookie forward Joshua Ho-Sang is honoring and not disrespecting the great Mario Lemieux.

That's how he sees it, at any rate, in advance of his NHL regular-season debut Thursday in Dallas.

Only five players have worn No. 66 in NHL history, and only one - T.J. Brodie of the Calgary Flames in 2011 - since the Pittsburgh Penguins great retired in 2006.

The number hasn't been retired by the NHL, though, meaning anyone is free to choose it.