How long until Kiprusoff's jersey is retired?

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by Fire

I can see why the Flames don't want two separate categories and just stick with only Forever a Flame. Hey we like you Loob, but not that much, so here is your secondary honor. I don't mind staying with only one category, but I wished it was the "Retired Number" category.

I personally could do without Forever a Flame, but I don't feel having your number honoured instead of retired is a sign of being liked or regarded any less. Toronto only has two numbers retired but guys like Sundin, Sittler, Salming and Clancy, some of the best players of all time, have theirs honoured instead

[Zarley]

This may be sacrelig, but I don't think Kiprusoff should have his number retired. Forever a Flame, sure.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Zarley

This may be sacrelig, but I don't think Kiprusoff should have his number retired. Forever a Flame, sure.

Why? He's more deserving of it than Vernon, IMO. Other than winning a Stanley Cup, Kiprusoff did everything Vernon did, only better. Plus he played pretty much his entire career with Calgary.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Zarley

This may be sacrelig, but I don't think Kiprusoff should have his number retired. Forever a Flame, sure.

Kipper's my favorite Flame of all time, but I don't think it's sacrilegious to say his number shouldn't be retired. You can certainly make the case that that he and the team never took that crucial next step to becoming legitimate perennial contenders and champions. He also tailed off somewhat in his final two years as the team unwound into the rebuild.

However, I still think there is a stronger case for his jersey retirement than there isn't. 2nd all-time in goaltender games played for the Flames, first in wins, most wins in a single Flames season, first in shutouts, a Vezina trophy and a finalist thrice, a Jennings trophy, and a Hart trophy finalist.

Apart from Iginla, I believe Kiprusoff is the only other player with the skill, tenure, and good will to have his number retired and placed in the rafters, although MacInnis is a very strong candidate as well.

[codynw]

McDonald, Iginla, Kiprusoff, Vernon and MacInnis should be the retired numbers (Iginla after he actually retires of course).

[Zarley]

Originally Posted by codynw

Why? He's more deserving of it than Vernon, IMO. Other than winning a Stanley Cup, Kiprusoff did everything Vernon did, only better. Plus he played pretty much his entire career with Calgary.

Lack of playoff success is the main issue for me. Outside of the run in '04 the team never took the next step to greatness. I think that jersey retirement should be held to a fairly high standard though.

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

I personally could do without Forever a Flame, but I don't feel having your number honoured instead of retired is a sign of being liked or regarded any less. Toronto only has two numbers retired but guys like Sundin, Sittler, Salming and Clancy, some of the best players of all time, have theirs honoured instead

Maybe because Sundin, Sittler, Salming and Clancy didn't die... thats what it takes for the leafs to retire a number... you need to DIE as a roster player for them

[TX_Flame]

Originally Posted by codynw

Why? He's more deserving of it than Vernon, IMO. Other than winning a Stanley Cup, Kiprusoff did everything Vernon did, only better. Plus he played pretty much his entire career with Calgary.

I personally wouldn't have retired Vernon either. I like the Habs standard where everyone in the rafters is also in the HHOF.

[JiriHrdina]

I would retire Loob. I don't know why he doesn't hold a bigger place in Flames' history for some. Dude only played for one team, scored 50 goals, was part of the cup team and actively cheers for the team post-career.

Retire that man's number.

At minimum give him the lame Forever a Flame thing I guess. Something.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I would retire Loob. I don't know why he doesn't hold a bigger place in Flames' history for some. Dude only played for one team, scored 50 goals, was part of the cup team and actively cheers for the team post-career.

Retire that man's number.

At minimum give him the lame Forever a Flame thing I guess. Something.

I don't think 450 games over six years and less than 200 goals in the highest scoring era in hockey history warrants a retirement. He was a very important member of the 89 team, but I don't think his overall tenure was enough to warrant a retirement.

Most of his success came with Färjestads and internationally for Sweden.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I would retire Loob. I don't know why he doesn't hold a bigger place in Flames' history for some. Dude only played for one team, scored 50 goals, was part of the cup team and actively cheers for the team post-career.

Retire that man's number.

At minimum give him the lame Forever a Flame thing I guess. Something.

#12 absolutely deserves to be retired in Calgary, but in no way will Loob's name be on that jersey. It's not even close either. If you aren't even the best #12 in franchise history, you aren't the one getting the number retired.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

#12 absolutely deserves to be retired in Calgary, but in no way will Loob's name be on that jersey. It's not even close either. If you aren't even the best #12 in franchise history, you aren't the one getting the number retired.

I would be ok with a double retirement, same as Elmer Lach/Henri Richard or Yvan Cournoyer/Dickie Moore. Both players were incredibly important.

[chopper89]

I don't really get all the hate for 'Forever a Flame'. The Flames don't retire numbers anymore, so the highest honour they can give an alumni now is adding them to this.

I don't think the point of it is to say Lanny and Vernon are more highly honoured than MacInnis and Nieuwendyk. All 4 are considered 'equally' honoured in the team's eyes now. It seems to be just the fans who think there's 2 tiers of recognition, but the Flames have never confirmed this, have they?

[Kipper is King]

Forever a Flame is a sham. The traditional way franchises honour their greatest players is by retiring their number. FAF strikes me as being a backhanded compliment.