Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
12
2 9 10 12 14 25 28 30 34
If we were starting from scratch today, Iginla is the only number I'd have retired.
I don't think there is any argument that 9 and 30 are discernibly more deserving than any/all of 2, 14, or 34. You can order them however you want, but I think they are within inches of each other, and Iginla is a foot ahead.
I think it's okay to 'reset the bar' without cutting 9 and 30 down. Hanging FAF banners right beside the 'legit' banners was just the most hamfisted way of trying to achieve that.
I think there are two major logic fails that people can't get past:
1. MacInnis is a top 10 player at his position in the history of the game, and played over 300 more games as a Flame than McDonald. Most people can find at least 20 goalies and 20 wingers who are 'greater' than 9 and 30 (personally, there are only 6 defensemen who I'm sure are 'greater' than MacInnis).
2. Honouring Nieuwendyk and Vernon, but not Fleury. However you want to order the five guys who have been honoured however you want, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who believes Fleury is a tier below, let alone 6th out of those 6.
The absence of 14 is the most damning thing. For the same reason, the baseball HHOF is a joke without Rose, Bonds, or Clemens. Now that 12 is legitimately retired, I don't think many would have much of a problem with FAF if it included Fleury.
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I enjoy reading thoughtful posts like this on the topic, even if I don't agree on everything. I find it an interesting debate.
While there is merit to saying Iginla is above all others, you can't forget the only Stanley Cup this team has won and the early history of the club. Honoring that history and different eras is part of the reason for retiring numbers so to me Lanny is an absolute no brainer.
And I love Chopper but top 10 defenseman in the history of the game? Not many would agree with that. Orr is in a class by himself, the greatest at any position to ever play. Harvey, Lidstrom, Potvin, Robinson, Bourque are in the next echelon IMO. Then you go through guys like Doughty, Pilote, Keith, Langway, Coffey, Pronger, Karlsson, Niedermayer, Savard, Lapointe, Park, Chelios, Chara et al. Maybe Macinnis is in that 3rd group group somewhere but he's certainly not at the top IMO.