Bruins Set To Retire Middleton’s #16 [VIDEO]

Many Boston Bruins fans say it's about time. Rick 'Nifty' Middleton gets his #16 retired to the Boston Garden rafters Thursday night in a special ceremony before the B's play the New York Islanders.

Middleton played for the Bruins from 1976 to 1988, scoring 402 goals and getting 496 assists. That's 898 points in 881 games.

Only Johnny Bucyk and Phil Esposito scored more goals in a Bruins uniform. Middleton is 6th on the club's assist list.

Check out some of Middleton's magic on the ice...

NOTE: The 10 names and numbers of Bruins past in the rafters at the Garden includes...Lionel Hitchman (#3, 1934), Aubrey V. Clapper (#5, 1947), Edward W. Shore (#2, 1949), Milton C. Schmidt (#15, 1957), Robert G. Orr (#4, 1979), John P. Bucyk (#9, 1980), Philip A. Esposito (#7, 1987), Raymond J. Bourque (#77, 2001), Terence J. O'Reilly (#24, 2002) and Cameron M. Neely (#8, 2004).