NHL:Calgary Flames at Ottawa Senators

Mike Cammalleri wearing No. 13 for the Calgary Flames. (Marc DesRosiers / USA Today)

(Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports)

NEWARK — No one has ever worn No. 13 for the Devils and that will continue this season despite the acquisition of a player who has worn that number his entire career.

Mike Cammalleri, signed to a 5-year, $25 million contract this summer, wore No. 13 for the Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings and did quite well with it on his back. But the left winger didn’t get it in New Jersey and didn’t ask for it.

“No. I just showed up and No. 23 was in my stall,” Cammalleri said. “It’s just a number.”

Cammalleri has worn the number since he was a little kid in Canada.

“A couple of times I was on teams where someone was wearing it, so for brief periods of time I didn’t, but I’ve worn it since I was 7 years old,” he said.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello hasn’t allowed the number, considered unlucky by many, to be given out since he began running the club in 1987. But even before that no Devils players got the number.

Former Devils winger Bill Guerin wore No. 13 in Boston, Dallas, San Jose, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and for the Islanders. But he wore Nos. 12 and 18 for the Devils.

Sergei Nemchinov and Krys Barch, also former Devils, wore No. 13 elsewhere but not for New Jersey.

Some of the big names who've worn the number are Teemu Selanne, Mats Sundin and Pavel Datsyuk.

“I don’t know the history here. I just know no one has ever worn it,” Cammalleri said.

What if he starts his Devils career slowly and can’t score? Would he request No. 13?

“No. I have one superstition. That’s not to have superstitions,” Cammalleri said. “I don’t think a number is a reason for things going well or not.”