Jersey retirement should of course be reserved for the franchise greats, but not necessarily based strictly on numbers. If that was the case, then Theo Fleury would have his #14 hanging from the rafters, however, his personal conduct excludes him from this honor (and rightly so).
Johnny will go down as one of the team’s all-time greats, but his accomplishments are far beyond goals and assists in my opinion. Prior to drafting him and Monahan, the team was in desperate need of a new identity and brand reset. The departure of Iginla and other core players put the team in a rebuild mode where the cupboards were bare. Little did we know that Gaudreau would be the igniter to spark a new generation of Flames fans.
His legacy will best be known for his ability to make the Flaming C “cool” once again. He inspired undersized youth to never give up on their dreams and the Dome was flooded with #13 jerseys. The Flames quickly garnered credibility again and the main driver was in fact, Johnny Gaudreau. To me that personifies his time as Flame more than the point totals or individual records. He dedicated himself to the franchise and became the superstar player we had all hoped for after Jarome Iginla left.
Sure, his numbers may not be at the top of the list (but are still impressive) but it’s his impact in the community and on the next generation of Flame fans that cements his legacy as one of the best. Mix that in with his love for family and community and it becomes difficult not to recognize his impact on the City of Calgary.
Unfortunately, the fans, team and player didn’t leave on the best of terms, but perhaps this is an opportunity to bring closure to all that were involved. Tragedy can also spark forgiveness and I’m sure a lot of Flames faithful would like to remember Johnny for making them jump out of their seats rather than his free agency decision.
His numbers may not be enough to warrant a jersey retirement, but inspiring a new generation of Flames fans deserves recognition and should certainly be considered.
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