Retire Johnny Gaudreau's #13

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

A minute's silence before the home opener and a "13" helmet sticker.

A number retirement ceremony is years away. Parading a grieving family out to center ice and blasting facial closeups on the Jumbotron seems almost exploitative. They don't owe us a show.

It might be better to wait until his kids grow up a little and are old enough to understand and appreciate it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Chopper didn’t want his number retired

And they both perhaps self-identified more with other organizations (since they both worked for later organizations).

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It might be better to wait until his kids grow up a little and are old enough to understand and appreciate it.

It should be on the family's timetable.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

A minute's silence before the home opener and a "13" helmet sticker.

A number retirement ceremony is years away. Parading a grieving family out to center ice and blasting closeups on the Jumbotron seems almost exploitative. They don't owe us a show.

There’s nothing that says the ceremony needs to be any sort of way.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Lewis_D

I'm obviously all for a jersey retirement but most of all we need to respect the Gaudreau family and let it happen in due time.

I think for the upcoming season though jersey patches and/or a sticker on helmets is definitely something they should do. I'd personally be for having #13 painted on the ice behind the nets all season.

Doing a retirement right away almost maybe detracts from giving it to him as a result of career achievement.

[CGY12]

The retirement ceremony shouldn't be any time soon but I would guess the organization would do it before moving into the new arena. Maybe in the final year of the dome? Gives some time for the family to process this horrifying situation but at the same time brings them back to the place JG had so many special moments on the ice. Either way 13 should be unofficially retired immediately and officially retired once his number goes up to the rafters.

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It might be better to wait until his kids grow up a little and are old enough to understand and appreciate it.

I think this is best personally. Let the family grieve, and when his kids are old enough to understand, maybe 5-6 years old, bring his wife, kids, parents and family to Calgary. Time will have passed enough then I think, that they can come to Calgary and celebrate the happy times and appreciation the city and team had/have for him.

What that celebration entails, discuss w the family. As noted earlier, every single player that has ever passed during their playing career, has had their number retired more or less. Likely what I think happens.

In the short term, number on ice, stickers on helmets or jerseys, moment of silence and video tribute first game. Then again another acknowledgement when Columbus is back in town.

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[driveway]

One of the users on the r/CalgaryFlames subreddit suggested renaming 13th Avenue, since it will pass right by the new arena. The idea has already gained traction there, I think it’s a great idea.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CalgaryFlames/s/mDb2t8RFpb

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by driveway

One of the users on the r/CalgaryFlames subreddit suggested renaming 13th Avenue, since it will pass right by the new arena. The idea has already gained traction there, I think it’s a great idea.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CalgaryFlames/s/mDb2t8RFpb

That's a pretty good idea. It only has to be for the one block.

[Howie_16]

I don't think that any Flames player in the next 25, 50 or probably 100 years from now would ever ask to wear #13 even if it wasn't officially retired. Johnny Gaudreau's impact extends far, far beyond Calgary, Columbus & Southern New Jersey.

I expect that many books will be written and likely a movie will be made about his life and the odds he overcame to have a successful career that was cut short by a tragic accident.

The Flames will retire the number, that only question remains is how do they go about it. Of course they will connect with the family and the Blue Jackets in due course, but I expect that the banner goes up this season (either Opening Night vs. Philadelphia or when Columbus comes to town) without the family being present.

The family will return to Calgary when they are ready, and that time might be appropriate for a Gaudreau statute unvieling at Scotia Place. I would think the pose would be Johnny's reaction after that Game 7 OT winner over Dallas.

Another statute I expect to eventually see at Scotia Place would be Lanny McDonald, with his pose being after his Game 6 goal on Patrick Roy or one of him hoisting the Stanley Cup above his head. Maybe Mike Vernon's glove save off of Stan Smyl and Jarome Iginla's helmetless "Shift" in the 2004 SCF? I also think that these other statutes should be done posthumously. There is something odd about statutes of people who are still alive, like the Gretzky statute in Edmonton or the Bobby Orr statute in Boston.

[activeStick]

Sigh. I've been keeping busy since the passing but finally getting around to watching/listening to everything and I'm in tears again. RIP, Johnny and Matty. 100%, let's do whatever his family is comfortable with the Flames doing.

[Reggie Dunlop]

It's unlikely a road, practice rink, trophy or statue will be named/commissioned. The number will be taken out of circulation and perhaps a ceremony at a later date contingent on the Gaudreau family's cooperation.

You have to factor in that the Gaudreaus lost two sons, so going overboard on memorializing (i.e. a statue) only one of them might make them uncomfortable. The brothers were close and left together in tragedy. Boston College, where they both played might be a more appropriate place for a memorial.

I understand emotions are running high now, but the organization will do it right.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Just spitballing an award idea based on what made Johnny so unique.

Award for the best player drafted outside of the first round? More or less the “underdog” award

[Buff]

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.

Colorado retired Bourque's jersey before Boston could. I remember people questioning why they wouldn't give Boston the opportunity to do it first. I think it could be taken either way in either case.

[Amethyst]

I like the idea of retiring his jersey and think his death is definitely a part of it. It recognizes where he started his NHL career, his achievements, his contributions to the community, the person he was, and also the fact that we will never know what else he would have gone on to achieve if his life wasn't tragically cut short.

But I think the season opener this year is too soon, for a couple reasons:

1) Logistically, getting it together in a month would be very difficult. If we're going to do this, let's do it right, not throw something together in a rush.

2) Whether his family ultimately participates or not, I think they definitely need to be a part of the discussion. And it's way too soon to do that. Maybe the Columbus game? But I also like the idea of doing it in the future, when his children are old enough to be part of an event that honours the father they will, sadly, only remember from other people's stories.

[browna]

As many mentioned here, the Flames will handle this right....for the family first and foremost, for Johnny"s legacy, and for the fans.

Family is under no obligation to come up here and have to deal with rehashing everything in a month, 3 months, 6 months or 6 years. They can say thank you to Calgary and Flames fans through any number of media channels at their desire and comfort level.

Flames I am sure will wear a helmet decal, have an opening night video and players all wearing #13 in warmup, no one will wear #13 again...but anything further as far as further formality is up to the family, timing and if at all.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

Just spitballing an award idea based on what made Johnny so unique.

Award for the best player drafted outside of the first round? More or less the “underdog” award

Best player under 5’ 10” and under 180lbs?

[Inferno099]

Others have retired even though years too late. Eg Pittsburgh:
https://sports.yahoo.com/friday-flas...042818709.html

High y contributed much more no disrespect intended but 13 retired shouldn’t even be a question only the date that will be ok with his family.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Apparently a petition is going around now to retire 13.
I understand the sentiment but it's unnecessary. I think part of grief is people's desire to do something. To take action. But this is about what is right and feels OK for the family. And we should also remember that many people in the Flames organization were close to Johnny, and are mourning themselves. Give it time. I'm sure no one will wear 13 ever again, but I don't see the value in putting public pressure on the Flames to immediately announce their plans.

[Paulie Walnuts]

I’ve been seeing a lot of do the right thing and retire 13. It’s getting a bit ridiculous to be honest. It’s been 3 days, a difficult 3 days for everyone. You don’t just retire a number a few days later. It’s obvious we won’t be giving 13 to anyone ever again.