Theoren Fleury

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Chingas

Talks about #14. It should have been retired long ago. A jersey retirement shouldn't be a referendum on who a player is after retirement. It is what they meant to the team as a player only. If it was the other way around good guys like Stajan would have their numbers retired. That's not how it works.

it isn't this though, the beef between the Flames and Theo goes way back and includes both his stints in the red jersey. a number retirement is reserved for those who performed exceptionally on the ice, plus were great ambassadors for the organization off it. he was only able to fulfill the first requirement.

[Fuzz]

I suspect if his number were in the rafters, there would be petitions to have it removed. He's an embarrassment.

[CroFlames]

Exactly. If it was based purely on on-ice performance, MacInnes should have his jersey retired, and not Vernon and Lanny.

I personally don't think Vernon should have been retired, but as a young franchise it's whatever.

Lanny's pure on-ice performance doesn't warrant a retirement, but is there really a more iconic Flame? Iggy only. And it's arguable.

Retirements are only for very special players. Not just for "the best player on the team for a stretch of time".

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Chingas

This is more proof that you're likely to be disappointed if you meet your childhood heroes, unless it's Iggy or Lanny they are still awesome.

I too have friends now that mistrust the media so much that they believe zero of what they say, pretty scary position to be taking imo.

Talks about #14. It should have been retired long ago. A jersey retirement shouldn't be a referendum on who a player is after retirement. It is what they meant to the team as a player only. If it was the other way around good guys like Stajan would have their numbers retired. That's not how it works.

There is truth to this. And it is why generally athletes shouldn't be looked at as role models just because they are athletes. But there are many good ones: Backlund, Regehr, Stajan, Gio, Warrener, Iggy, Conroy, etc.

Growing up I had two heroes: Peter Maher and Ed Whalen.

And I can tell you that when I met them, they exceeded my expectations. Which were already high.
Wonderful men.

EDIT: I disagree though that #14 should have been retired. For me it needs to be a combination of on-ice performance and what they do off ice. The bar is high. It should be.

[Chingas]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

There is truth to this. And it is why generally athletes shouldn't be looked at as role models just because they are athletes. But there are many good ones: Backlund, Regehr, Stajan, Gio, Warrener, Iggy, Conroy, etc.

Growing up I had two heroes: Peter Maher and Ed Whalen.

And I can tell you that when I met them, they exceeded my expectations. Which were already high.
Wonderful men.

EDIT: I disagree though that #14 should have been retired. For me it needs to be a combination of on-ice performance and what they do off ice. The bar is high. It should be.

Peter Maher was my only conduit to the flames for most of my life. He is one of my favourite hockey related people and a genuinely great guy. I had the opportunity to meet him and Bearcat a couple of years ago at a local sports HOF event. It was awesome. Bearcat is still a ship disturbed. So fun.

I agree that the bar should be high. However from public perception years ago there were plenty questioning the Flames as to why 14 hadn't been retired yet. Subsequently Theo has done plenty publicly to give an insight as to why it wasn't. Perhaps the Flames were right the whole time.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Chingas

I agree that the bar should be high. However from public perception years ago there were plenty questioning the Flames as to why 14 hadn't been retired yet. Subsequently Theo has done plenty publicly to give an insight as to why it wasn't. Perhaps the Flames were right the whole time.

Yeah, I will admit I didn't understand why the organization hadn't retired the number.

Clearly they knew what they were dealing with.

But while we are on the topic can we agree "Forever a Flame" is Stupid!

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Honouring while not retiring a number is a good idea to be honest but the Flames went about it wrong. Al MacInnis and Joe Nieuwendyk should be retired, saved the FaF honour for long time loved Flames. Robyn Regher, Mikael Backlund, Matt Stajan etc, I'd love to see players like this have a place in the Saddledome.

[CroFlames]

FAF could and should be similar to the Canucks Ring Of Honour or whatever it's called. Not a banner, but at acknowledgment at long time greats.

Retirements: Iggy, Lanny, MacInnes

FAF: Niewy, Regehr, Kipper, Gio & Backs (when the time comes), Stajan, etc.

[Chingas]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

FAF could and should be similar to the Canucks Ring Of Honour or whatever it's called. Not a banner, but at acknowledgment at long time greats.

Retirements: Iggy, Lanny, MacInnes

FAF: Niewy, Regehr, Kipper, Gio & Backs (when the time comes), Stajan, etc.

I agree except I think that Kipper is as deserving as any non cup winning player to ever wear the Flaming C.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

Honouring while not retiring a number is a good idea to be honest but the Flames went about it wrong. Al MacInnis and Joe Nieuwendyk should be retired, saved the FaF honour for long time loved Flames. Robyn Regher, Mikael Backlund, Matt Stajan etc, I'd love to see players like this have a place in the Saddledome.

Retiring a number requires both the team and player to agree to that.
I believe that MacInnis wasn't interested in having his number retired by the Flames. He considers himself a Blue. And there was some hard feelings between the player and organization.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Retiring a number requires both the team and player to agree to that.
I believe that MacInnis wasn't interested in having his number retired by the Flames. He considers himself a Blue. And there was some hard feelings between the player and organization.

This belongs in the grammar thread, but this can't possibly be correct, right? They are the Blues. I don't think you can just drop the S, even though it looks weird.

[White Out 403]

not only should the Flames not retire this jagoffs number, they should forget he exists.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

not only should the Flames not retire this jagoffs number, they should forget he exists.

Like how WWF did with Chris Benoit.

No more highlights, only significant #14 in Flames history is Kent Nilsson.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Like how WWF did with Chris Benoit.

No more highlights, only significant #14 in Flames history is Kent Nilsson.

Then we won't have to watch his Game 6 overtime goal anymore that for some reason is celebrated as a great moment.
It's only a great moment if they go onto win Game 7.
Since they didn't - it is not.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Then we won't have to watch his Game 6 overtime goal anymore that for some reason is celebrated as a great moment.
It's only a great moment if they go onto win Game 7.
Since they didn't - it is not.

Preach Bother, Preach

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Then we won't have to watch his Game 6 overtime goal anymore that for some reason is celebrated as a great moment.
It's only a great moment if they go onto win Game 7.
Since they didn't - it is not.

No kidding. I was thinking that when I put that up. That was his peak highlight with the Flames. Insignificant in the over all history of the club.

Blowing game 7 after leading 3-0 in the 1st period took me like a decade to get over.

[Johnny Makarov]

hmmm didn't Fleury spark that huge brawl against the Russians when they turned off the lights to get them to stop? lol

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

hmmm didn't Fleury spark that huge brawl against the Russians when they turned off the lights to get them to stop? lol

He was involved but the guy that really sparked the brawl was Davydov who was the first player to leave the bench.
Which caused everyone else to do the same.
Gare Joyce has a great book about it.

[calgaryred]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Exactly. If it was based purely on on-ice performance, MacInnes should have his jersey retired, and not Vernon and Lanny.

I personally don't think Vernon should have been retired, but as a young franchise it's whatever.

Lanny's pure on-ice performance doesn't warrant a retirement, but is there really a more iconic Flame? Iggy only. And it's arguable.

Retirements are only for very special players. Not just for "the best player on the team for a stretch of time".

I completely disagree about Lanny

Sent from my SM-A105M using Tapatalk

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Retiring a number requires both the team and player to agree to that.
I believe that MacInnis wasn't interested in having his number retired by the Flames. He considers himself a Blue. And there was some hard feelings between the player and organization.

That's too bad, Al Macinnis is a quintessential multi team player in my mind, he's as much a Blue as he is a Flame. If he didn't want to then I understand the FaF thing. Thanks for the info.