Retire Johnny Gaudreau's #13

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Fleury, Nieuwendyk and Macinnis all have more points and their jerseys aren’t retired. They also didn’t leave us hanging as a UFA

25 and 2 are because of the Forever a Flame nonsense, and that should be corrected. 14 is a whole different story and speaks to the off ice issues I meanted that favoured Gaudreau

[TheScorpion]

I'd do it on December 3 against the Jackets. Video presentation, moment of silence, maybe a speech or two, raise the banner.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Fleury, Nieuwendyk and Macinnis all have more points and their jerseys aren’t retired. They also didn’t leave us hanging as a UFA

Some things in life are bigger than numbers and contract status. This is one of them.

[Manhattanboy]

Put the number 13 at centre ice or behind the nets.

[GGG]

I think a retirement should be a celebration and not a mourning. So I think some kind of respectful tribute as part of opening night makes sense. But than work with his parents to understand when they are ready to celebrate Gaudreu and his time in Calgary for the jersey retirement. If that takes 5 or 10 years that’s okay.

[getbak]

No one was going to wear it for a very long time anyway, and now it will never happen, so the actual ceremony is just a formality. Hold it whenever everyone is ready.

I agree with others who have said have the players wear a sticker on their helmets and paint #13 on the ice behind the nets this season.

[FlamesAddiction]

I would definitely support retiring #13 at some point in the near future.

Is there any kind of etiquette in the sports world when it comes to this sort of thing? Even though he was a Flame most of his career and fairly recently, he was a Blue Jacket at the time of his death. Should the Flames wait until the Blue Jackets have retired his jersey before doing it?

I was also thinking that wearing #13 shoulder patches or something next season would be a fitting way to honour his memory, but I wasn't sure if doing that would be appropriate.

[gvitaly]

I'm on the fence on this one. Now I'm leaning towards it not being retired.

I think the Flames should make a memorial for John, and maybe have one of the sections in the new building being named after him, along with a program that does good in the community under his name.

That said, I think that retiring a hockey jersey should be for the player's hockey accomplishments with the Flames. The lack of playoff success, and Gaudreau's decision to move on should be taken into account. I also don't think that retiring the number will help his family Grieve, but I don't know that, and it should be discussed with his parents and his wife.

Is Regehr's number in the rafters? Is Gios going to be? Is Johnny more deserving just because he's gone?

PS: I won't be upset with either decision, and I can see how people in the organization and fans alike will get closure from the gesture.

[Dion]

nm

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I'm on the fence on this one. Now I'm leaning towards it not being retired.

I think the Flames should make a memorial for John, and maybe have one of the sections in the new building being named after him, along with a program that does good in the community under his name.

That said, I think that retiring a hockey jersey should be for the player's hockey accomplishments with the Flames. The lack of playoff success, and Gaudreau's decision to move on should be taken into account. I also don't think that retiring the number will help his family Grieve, but I don't know that, and it should be discussed with his parents and his wife.

Is Regehr's number in the rafters? Is Gios going to be? Is Johnny more deserving just because he's gone?

PS: I won't be upset with either decision, and I can see how people in the organization and fans alike will get closure from the gesture.

Pretty much my present feeling. It seems cold to say, but the way a player died isn't among my own criteria for a jersey retirement. Maybe Johnny merits it aside from that, but right now it feels off, like it's a bone thrown to family and fans. It seems a bit knee jerk. However, the fact he left as a UFA should also not factor into it.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would definitely support retiring #13 at some point in the near future.

Is there any kind of etiquette in the sports world when it comes to this sort of thing? Even though he was a Flame most of his career and fairly recently, he was a Blue Jacket at the time of his death. Should the Flames wait until the Blue Jackets have retired his jersey before doing it?

I was also thinking that wearing #13 shoulder patches or something next season would be a fitting way to honour his memory, but I wasn't sure if doing that would be appropriate.

I would allow the Blue Jackets to have first honours, for they will certainly retire #13.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I'm on the fence on this one. Now I'm leaning towards it not being retired.

I think the Flames should make a memorial for John, and maybe have one of the sections in the new building being named after him, along with a program that does good in the community under his name.

That said, I think that retiring a hockey jersey should be for the player's hockey accomplishments with the Flames. The lack of playoff success, and Gaudreau's decision to move on should be taken into account. I also don't think that retiring the number will help his family Grieve, but I don't know that, and it should be discussed with his parents and his wife.

Is Regehr's number in the rafters? Is Gios going to be? Is Johnny more deserving just because he's gone?

PS: I won't be upset with either decision, and I can see how people in the organization and fans alike will get closure from the gesture.

I would argue that the manner and the suddeness in how he died is a solid reason for retiring his jersey. Future fans and those outside the game that may not know much about Johnny will learn his story and through that a valuable lesson on drinking and driving and how it took the lives of 2 people.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I'm on the fence on this one. Now I'm leaning towards it not being retired.

I think the Flames should make a memorial for John, and maybe have one of the sections in the new building being named after him, along with a program that does good in the community under his name.

That said, I think that retiring a hockey jersey should be for the player's hockey accomplishments with the Flames. The lack of playoff success, and Gaudreau's decision to move on should be taken into account. I also don't think that retiring the number will help his family Grieve, but I don't know that, and it should be discussed with his parents and his wife.

Is Regehr's number in the rafters? Is Gios going to be? Is Johnny more deserving just because he's gone?

PS: I won't be upset with either decision, and I can see how people in the organization and fans alike will get closure from the gesture.

Taking myself away from the tragedy this is aligned with my thinking. It will be difficult to have a level-headed conversation about this for a while as the automatic reaction to the tragedy would be to want to retire the number in tribute to him. Also official Jersey retirement or not I imagine given the circumstances no player will ever wear #13 as a number for the Calgary Flames ever again.

My thoughts are if his body of work on the ice as a Calgary Flame warranted jersey retirement two days ago then go ahead retire the jersey number. If not then find any multitude of other things to honor/remember him (#13 patch for this season, statue in front of Scotia Place, Section named after him, etc. etc.)

[Jaydee]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would definitely support retiring #13 at some point in the near future.

Is there any kind of etiquette in the sports world when it comes to this sort of thing? Even though he was a Flame most of his career and fairly recently, he was a Blue Jacket at the time of his death. Should the Flames wait until the Blue Jackets have retired his jersey before doing it?

I was also thinking that wearing #13 shoulder patches or something next season would be a fitting way to honour his memory, but I wasn't sure if doing that would be appropriate.

you seriously think Columbus should retire it as well?

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Dion

I would argue that the manner and the suddeness in how he died is a solid reason for retiring his jersey. Future fans and those outside the game that may not know much about Johnny will learn his story and through that a valuable lesson on drinking and driving and how it took the lives of 2 people.

I see your point, and I thought it would be accomplished all the same by creating a memorial for Gaudreau inside the new building, along with a program in his name. Personally, I didn't notice/give much thought to the jerseys in the rafters until I started going to games pretty regularly.

I'm not really trying to argue against retiring his number, as much as trying to point out why I'm unsure if that's the best course of action.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

My thoughts are if his body of work on the ice as a Calgary Flame warranted jersey retirement two days ago then go ahead retire the jersey number.

I think they absolutely do. He has the 5th highest point total in franchise history and was the face and defining person of a whole era of Flames hockey (and doesn't have any off-ice related issues that would preclude the honor). It's not like we're talking about Nigal Dawes or Dustin Boyd here... it's Johnny Hockey.

I suppose we don't have to do the number retirement imminently but I do think they should at least do a celebration of life on December 3rd when Columbas is in town. You won't get that many people who were involved in his professional life in the same place at the same time on any other day. I'm just thinking that doing the number retirement at the same time would be ideal for the same reason (although it would of course depend on the availability and feelings of his wife and parents because they should be there too).

[Robbob]

December might be ideal for fans, but being 3 months out is way to soon for the family IMO. Matthew Gaudreau's wife is also due around then. You plan it, and do it when that family is ready. It can wait till the new building if that is what it takes.

I do think it happens as he helps define Flames hockey for a generation.

[getbak]

Looking at a few other players who died during their careers...

Bill Barilko had played 5 seasons for the Leafs (with 4 Stanley Cups) when he disappeared after an off-season plane crash in 1951. His #5 was removed from circulation after his disappearance and officially retired in 1992.


Bill Masterton had only played 38 NHL games when he died after an in-game injury in 1968. His number was removed from circulation by Minnesota and #19 was officially retired by the Stars in 1987.


Tim Horton only played parts of two seasons in Buffalo, when he was in his 40s. No one ever wore #2 for the Sabres after Horton died in 1974, and it was eventually retired in 1996. The Leafs honoured Horton's #7 in 1995, but it wasn't removed from circulation (Lanny was wearing #7 for the Leafs at the time of Horton's death) until it was officially retired in 2016.


Bob Gassoff played parts of 4 seasons with the Blues prior to his death in a motorcycle accident in the summer of 1977. His number was retired by the Blues.


No one has worn #31 for the Flyers since Pelle Lindberg died in 1985, but it has not been officially retired.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'd do it on December 3 against the Jackets. Video presentation, moment of silence, maybe a speech or two, raise the banner.

Feels like the right amount of time from the incident.

Not too far down the road and soon enough to feel appropriate.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by getbak

Looking at a few other players who died during their careers...

Bill Barilko had played 5 seasons for the Leafs (with 4 Stanley Cups) when he disappeared after an off-season plane crash in 1951. His #5 was removed from circulation after his disappearance and officially retired in 1992.


Bill Masterton had only played 38 NHL games when he died after an in-game injury in 1968. His number was removed from circulation by Minnesota and #19 was officially retired by the Stars in 1987.


Tim Horton only played parts of two seasons in Buffalo, when he was in his 40s. No one ever wore #2 for the Sabres after Horton died in 1974, and it was eventually retired in 1996. The Leafs honoured Horton's #7 in 1995, but it wasn't removed from circulation (Lanny was wearing #7 for the Leafs at the time of Horton's death) until it was officially retired in 2016.


Bob Gassoff played parts of 4 seasons with the Blues prior to his death in a motorcycle accident in the summer of 1977. His number was retired by the Blues.


No one has worn #31 for the Flyers since Pelle Lindberg died in 1985, but it has not been officially retired.

Michel Briere
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Bri%C3%A8re
While Brière was hospitalized, the Penguins started pre-season conditioning near Brantford. Then-trainer Ken Carson added Brière's name to the back of a jersey, which, along with Brière's equipment bag, traveled with the team for their entire 1970–71 season.
Brière's number 21 was not retired immediately by the team, but no one ever wore it again.[9] A framed jersey hung with his photo in the Igloo Club, located inside the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, as the only visible sign that the number was retired. According to Carson, "No one ever asked to wear that number (21). If they had, I would have told them Mike's story." Brière's number was officially retired on January 5, 2001, nine days after Penguins' co-owner Mario Lemieux came out of retirement to once again wear his number 66. Through 2024, Brière was one of three players in Penguins history whose numbers were retired.[10]