Is it controversial to name someone other than the person the number was retired for? I don’t think so. Not when that player was asked to wear it.
Ron Ellis (1968-80)
Stats: 760GP - 240G - 226A - 466Pts - 147PM
For his first five seasons with the Maple Leafs, which include years where there were few games in the NHL, Ellis wore #8 and #11. He won the Stanley Cup in #8 in 1967, and the following season changed to #6, a number he would wear for 11 more seasons.