Burke mandates lower jersey numbers

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

This is a big eff you to everyone with a 47 Baertschi jersey. Do the Flames think we are rich? I know they don't mean it as a money grab but this is exactly what it will be.

I can actually see them using this as a motivational tool for Sven. Say to him 'Look... 47 was the immature kid who wasn't ready to play a 200 foot game. 27 is a top 6 forward in this league who'll be a cornerstone player for us.'

And you may think it's silly, but silly things like this work on athletes ALL the time.

[Rick M.]

Get rid of those damn goalie masks. If scars were good enough for Johnny Bower....

[pylon]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

This is a big eff you to everyone with a 47 Baertschi jersey. Do the Flames think we are rich? I know they don't mean it as a money grab but this is exactly what it will be.

Well, this is CP.

Anyway, I have to go start my gold plated Bentley, and head off to my Catamaran where I store my 99.7% complete collection of 1980-2014 game worn Flames Jerseys at the Lake Sikome Yacht club to re-organize them.

Somewhat related. Anyone have a 02-03 Rick Mrozik #51 Black Horse head jersey? Need it to complete that last .3%.

[EldrickOnIce]

I find opposition to this bizarre.
Much of what we have talked about this year is culture.
This speaks directly to culture - team over individual.
The big picture is created by all the small parts.
For me it falls under who cares... But I see the philosophy behind it

[PeteMoss]

If existing players were grandfathered in that seems to solve most issues people have.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by pylon

Anyway, I have to go start my gold plated Bentley, and head off to my Catamaran where I store my 99.7% complete collection of 1980-2014 game worn Flames Jerseys at the Lake Sikome Yacht club to re-organize them.

That sounds like the lamest yacht club ever.

[Tailgator]

Did he do this in TO as well, or was Kessel's 81 an exception?

[Brodie66]

If #66 was good enough for Mario Lemieux, is it good enough for T.J. Brodie?

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Meh, I never understood this need for lower numbers. Why is it so heretical that someone wants to wear an 8 instead of a 2?

Originally Posted by troutman

It was good enough in the 1950s that commie #######s were not in the NHL too!

#getoffmylawn

Originally Posted by Table 5

This is like one of those community meetings where a senior gets all angry about some small thing that doesn't really matter.

1-98. Pick whatever number you like that is available and isn't retired. It shouldn't be that hard.

Originally Posted by Table 5

Your hair protecting your head was good enough for 50s teams too. Let's go back to that.

Agree with ALL of these comments. It's a non-issue and it reinforces Burke's 'grumpy old man' image. He can come across as very enlightened on so many issues (like inclusivity in sports, contract negotiations) but then can immediately also look like an out of touch dinosaur on others (this one, fighting). Table 5 got this one right--it's a needless chest-beating performance.

In the broader discussion of sweater numbers, consider that Montreal is forced to have its players wear all kinds of numbers because so many 'lower' numbers have been retired. This stems from a long history, a strong player-fan connection, and, perhaps most importantly, a tradition of winning. Isn't this ultimately what we're trying to build here?

I'd love to see #12, #14, and #34 retired, with potential for ones like #5 or #23 in the distant future, should that be appropriate. If retiring those numbers means that players are whipping around in, like, #78 or whatever, I'd be content in the knowledge that the lower numbers were unavailable because, at one time, those numbers were worn by players who meant just that much to the organization and fans.

[Timbo]

Monday is garbage bag day for the players.
Today is garbage bag decision day for management.

In another mandate Burke states only Hai Karate can be used by players for after shave. Quoted "If it was good enough for my dad in the 50's it's good enough for them."

Common Lord Burke more matter, with less art.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Table 5

This is like one of those community meetings where a senior gets all angry about some small thing that doesn't really matter.

1-98. Pick whatever number you like that is available and isn't retired. It shouldn't be that hard.

Nothing whatsoever with being a senior. I am a senior and think Burke is nuts to bring this in.

Not only that, a lot of hockey players are superstitious and they just don't feel right wearing a jersey with a number just given to them instead of wearing a number that they might have played their whole hockey career in prior to getting to the NHL.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I find opposition to this bizarre.
Much of what we have talked about this year is culture.
This speaks directly to culture - team over individual.
The big picture is created by all the small parts.
For me it falls under who cares... But I see the philosophy behind it

It speaks to me of a culture where the players now just have a job to do with absolutely no input. Just do as Daddy says.

[PeteMoss]

There are tons junior teams that do this... Drew doughty had to take a number between 1 to 12 or something in Guelph.

[Ryan Coke]

He comes across as even more angry old man than Sutter.

I'm not sold on him as is, this does nothing to help.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I actually think that Burke always looking disheveled, wearing his baggy shirt, tie slung around his neck (while the players always have to wear a presentable suit) is exactly the "me first" attitude he is railing against. Why does he get to be special, while the rest of team has to follow the rules?

If it's all about professionalism and a team-first attitude, it should start at the top.

This, a thousand times over. The Flames are a class organization, as witnessed again last night flying in the new players and their parents.

And then there is Burke, who looks like a street person.

[nik-]

Such a silly thing for a president to even think about.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by redforever

Nothing whatsoever with being a senior. I am a senior and think Burke is nuts to bring this in.

I wasn't saying all seniors are nuts, just the random ones that seem to always show up to community meetings, ha.

I'm pretty superstitious about numbers myself (You'd have to put a gun to my head to wear 3, 13 or 33), so I could see how a player is.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

There are tons junior teams that do this... Drew doughty had to take a number between 1 to 12 or something in Guelph.

Who cares if there are other teams, junior or NHL level that do this.

It speaks to me of a culture of the old NHL, original 6, where the players were just tokens on the ice, abused by management, and not paid well by management. Those times should be behind us, period, not just in the NHL.

Hockey is a game, and to play it well, management has to sometimes participate in the process, not just mandate.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by redforever

It speaks to me of a culture of the old NHL, original 6, where the players were just tokens on the ice, abused by management, and not paid well by management. Those times should be behind us, period, not just in the NHL.

We are on different sides of this (although I lean more towards indifference than disliking high numbers) but... good lord.

[Southside]

I would have thought Burke more about the crest on the front than the number on the back. Is there a problem with some higher numbers? Really?