Rick Middleton to have No. 16 jersey retired by the Bruins

The Bruins announced Tuesday that Rick Middleton’s No. 16 jersey will be retired Nov. 29 before the team’s game against the Islanders.

Middleton, who played 12 seasons with the Bruins and has the third-most goals in team history, is the first player to have his number retired since Cam Neely’s No. 8 went up in 2004.

"It knocked me off the chair," said Middleton of his reaction when Neely called to deliver the news. "It certainly was not something I expected from the call in July to hear something like that. Although, I can’t lie I’ve certainly thought about it many times, especially with no one wearing the no. 16 in a few years.

"It’s been in the back of my mind, but you never know when these things happen or if they’re ever going to happen, so when it hit me it was like a sledgehammer. And I’m still in shock. So, it’s such a great day for me."

From 1976-88, Middleton was a gifted scorer who notched 402 goals and 496 assists. Perhaps most impressive was his steady production in the playoffs. In 114 playoff games, he scored 45 goals and had 55 assists.

His 19 points in the 1983 Division Final against Buffalo still stands as the NHL record for most points in a playoff series. In the 12 years that Middleton played for the Bruins, they made the playoffs 11 times.

“It was a great honor to call Rick today and let him know that he will join the group of retired numbers in the TD Garden rafters,” Neely said in a team statement. “As a player and a person Rick embodies what it means to be a Bruin, and we are excited to celebrate his career with his family, friends and our fans on November 29th.”

Lionel Hitchman, Aubrey Clapper, Edward Shore, Milt Schmidt, Bobby Orr, John Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Ray Bourque, Terry O’Reilly, and Neely are the other Bruins who’ve had their number retired.

"Usually we go up into the alumni room in the alumni suite on the ninth floor [at TD Garden], so
[the retired numbers are] about eye level," Middleton said. "I can’t miss them, but you know where I’ve noticed them quite a bit lately is when I go over to Warrior rink. They’re really the only thing hanging up there, and I’ve seen it. I can’t lie, at times I’ve looked up between Milt Schmidt and Terry O’Reilly, there
seemed to be a lot of room there, and I was just hoping one day, maybe, my name would go up,
and today’s the day."