David Clarkson says he didn't take No. 71 for a jersey number with his new team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, because it's No. 17 in reverse. He's says No. 71 is a number he has loved from his past. "I wore 71 in ball hockey as a kid growing up," Clarkson said. Much has been made that Clarkson - nicknamed "Wendel Clarkson" was a big fan of former Leaf Wendel Clark, who famously wore No. 17. No Leaf wears No. 17 now. Clarkson said 17 is off-limits to him as it was when he was a kid growing up in Toronto. "As a kid growing up, everyone wanted 17," said Clarkson. "You couldn't go into a team and say: I want your number. Being from this city, everyone had it."