It's time to retire #14

[bluloc]

This souldn't even be an issue. Retire the number 14, no one will ever wear it ever again anyways.

[Inglewood Jack]

i'm still kinda embarrassed with what the team's done for the jersey retirement/honour roll stuff. putting up Vernon's number as the 2nd in franchise history, ahead of a whole galaxy of stars and hall of famers, I think right after that they were like "oh crap, maybe we should have thought this through better...umm how about Forever a Flame!" and now we have this awkward two tiered system where you are celebrated as being good enough to have your own ceremony night, but not good enough to get your number raised.

the only way to fix it would be to lower Vernon's banner, raise MacInnis's, dump Forever a Flame, and then hang 12, 14, 34 in the rafters of the new arena. I don't really want to see a sad Vernon though, so it'll never happen.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

What a great comeback, wow. Mental depth is remarkably noticeable. Vernon's jersey retirement was a logical and easy decision, because he was a great player for the team and he wasn't a drunk drug addict that burned many bridges with each team he played for. Fleury was, hence, the controversy.

People have problems in life great in Theo for battling them and showing courage. What Theo did was turn a difficult life into stepping stones; Still there are people out there who will do anything to kick a person while he down or while he is getting up! Maybe you can tell us what have you done that we should hold your opinion in such high esteem? Seriously can you tell me what makes you so special so at least I can try and make something worthwhile out of your comments?

I agree we should retire #14

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Ace

No more waiting, this is the perfect year to do it. The team has had #14 unofficially retired since he left, and with the upcoming rebuilding year, we might as well celebrate some of the past. Here is a reminder of the standing O in his last exhibition game:

Old Story About Fleury Retiring

I believe Fleury's outspoken nature has delayed the inevitable, but I think with all he has been through in life that is to be expected. In terms of history and importance to the team, put #14 in the rafters...and none of this "Forever a Flame" stuff. Do it right.

Hope this is a good discussion for the slow summer period!

I agree entirely. I would also like to see #2 retired.

[wretched34]

Retiring a players number is based on team value, what they brought on the ice.
Both Fleury and Iginla were faces of this franchise. They were both All-Stars, time and time again.
The argument here seems to be surrounding who the person is off the ice. In a fact that Fleury had issues, both mentally and physically, including drug and alcohol problems.
So why not compare the people as to their off ice lives.
Fleury grew up poor, with an alcoholic truck driver father, and a drug addict mother. He later dealt with years of sexual abuse in the hockey world (it's incredible he even continued to play hockey).
Iginla was born to a Lawyer Father and massage therapist/teacher mother, who divorced when he was 1. In addition to hockey, Iginla was also the catcher for Canada's national junior team.
Personally, seems Iggy had far more support and opportunities in his early life.

Now, turn to hockey, and the Flames in General, since this is the team we are talking about.
Everyone says Iggy is a shoe in for a retired number, and it would be outrageous if his number wasn't retired. Iginla played in a total of 1273 games in the flaming C, accumulating a team leading 1144 points, or a 0.89 PPG total.
Fleury played a grand total of 850 games as a Flame, accumulating 892 points, or a 1.04 PPG Total. He also won a stanley cup with the team.

To say the player who brought more on the ice for the Flames isn't as worthy because he was more vocal, and outspoken, and had demons in the public eye is less deserving of recognition from the team he anchored and loved for over a decade, is disgusting.
The man went through hell and back off the ice, and still brought it on the ice, game in and game out.

His number belongs in the rafters just as much as Iginla's.

[Alberta_Beef]

I would be fine with Theo only being honoured like MacInnis.

He might have been the face of teh franchise at one point, but he also didn't want to be. He has burned alot of bridges over the years and I can't blame anyone in the organization that doesn't want his number retired.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

What a great comeback, wow. Mental depth is remarkably noticeable. Vernon's jersey retirement was a logical and easy decision, because he was a great player for the team and he wasn't a drunk drug addict that burned many bridges with each team he played for. Fleury was, hence, the controversy.

He might not have been a drug addict but he did plenty of drinking, plenty.

[Yamer]

Agreed. I want to see "#14 Fleury" hanging at the Dome, and as a retired number and not a 'Forever a Flame'. This season seems like perfect timing.

[CN10]

No doubt that Fleury's accomplishments in Flames silks merit having his #14 hanging from the rafters. Iginla's #12 is a shoe-in to be retired in the future as well. Kipper is open to debate but I feel it should be up there.

The Forever a Flame may have been bestowed on MacInnis because his number is already retired as a St. Louis Blue. Kind of like how you enter the Cooperstown in baseball under one team, my guess is the Flames organization felt it would be odd to have the same guy retired as both a Flame and a Blue.

[Neeper]

I hope it happens. And when it does, I'll be rocking my #14 jersey.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by wretched34

Retiring a players number is based on team value, what they brought on the ice.
Both Fleury and Iginla were faces of this franchise. They were both All-Stars, time and time again.
The argument here seems to be surrounding who the person is off the ice. In a fact that Fleury had issues, both mentally and physically, including drug and alcohol problems.
So why not compare the people as to their off ice lives.
Fleury grew up poor, with an alcoholic truck driver father, and a drug addict mother. He later dealt with years of sexual abuse in the hockey world (it's incredible he even continued to play hockey).
Iginla was born to a Lawyer Father and massage therapist/teacher mother, who divorced when he was 1. In addition to hockey, Iginla was also the catcher for Canada's national junior team.
Personally, seems Iggy had far more support and opportunities in his early life.

Now, turn to hockey, and the Flames in General, since this is the team we are talking about.
Everyone says Iggy is a shoe in for a retired number, and it would be outrageous if his number wasn't retired. Iginla played in a total of 1273 games in the flaming C, accumulating a team leading 1144 points, or a 0.89 PPG total.
Fleury played a grand total of 850 games as a Flame, accumulating 892 points, or a 1.04 PPG Total. He also won a stanley cup with the team.

To say the player who brought more on the ice for the Flames isn't as worthy because he was more vocal, and outspoken, and had demons in the public eye is less deserving of recognition from the team he anchored and loved for over a decade, is disgusting.
The man went through hell and back off the ice, and still brought it on the ice, game in and game out.

His number belongs in the rafters just as much as Iginla's.

This post deserves to be retired and put into the hall of fame.

[krynski]

Comparing Iginla and Fleury isn't quite fair. They are two different players entirely with two different styles, and two different roles.

Personally, I wouldn't like to see Theo's jersey retired. He had a lack of respect. A lack of respect for his team, a lack of respect to the organization, and a lack of respect for his fans. Hanging up his number in the rafters isn't just about how many points you can put up, it represents the value he was to the team. It was simply lucky he won a cup with Calgary. That team was stacked and didn`t need him.

Yes, his PPG was higher, but hey, even Cheechoo had a decent PPG at one point. There is no doubt that he has changed over the years, but still, he decides to make stupid comments to media. I understand he has had a tough time growing up, but that doesn't mean recognition is warranted. I probably would have been all for retiring his jersey a little while back. When I watched his SO goal, I was elated. I would have accepted his retired jersey right then and there. Then, he didn`t make the cut. Oh well, we can`t all be NHL calibre for our entire lives.

It was his comments about Conroy that reminded me how I thought about him in the past. It was no longer water under the bridge. It was how much he blames his problems on others (and in a lot of ways, narcissism). I understand he had a tough childhood, I bet you a bunch of CP users have had challenging experiences just as bad. It`s not an excuse. I wouldn`t like to see his jersey retired because of his inability to keep it professional. If Fleury beat his kids, would you nominate him for jersey retirement? I wouldn't. Previous experiences don't excuse behaviour. Personality, professionalism, and being a profound and up-standing leader are my requirements for jersey retirement.

When you retire someone, you retire someone who exemplifies the franchise. If you retire Fleury, you tarnish the name that is the Calgary Flames.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by redforever

He might not have been a drug addict but he did plenty of drinking, plenty.

Alcohol is a drug.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

Alcohol is a drug.

so is coffee and chocolate

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

so is coffee and chocolate

Yep, that's right. It's the interpretation of what a drug addict is. Caffeine and chocolate are legal drugs. A drug is simply “Any substance which when absorbed into a living organism may modify one or more of its functions.” In reality, "any substance that by its chemical nature alters structure or function in the living organism is a drug. . . ."
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Con...119724962.html

[jlh2640]

They likely will not retire it with this whole Flames forever thing they did, however its time for #14 to go up there. I also think you will see 34 and 12 later on but 14 should be retired asap. 25 can be the next Flames forever thing.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I find it funny people try and argue that his number shouldn't be retired.

His number being retired is a no brainer IMO.

The argument should be whether he's HHOF material or not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...th_1000_points

[moon]

Would prefer to not see his number retired. It isn't just his d-bag behaviour off the ice and blaming everyone else, including the club, when things didn't go his way but watching him float around and taking stupid, selfish penalties because someone took the puck from him was as frustrating to watch as the loses and lack of talent from those teams.

Fleury represents everything you don't want from a guy in terms of off ice and on ice intangibles. He is not the player on the ice that Iginla was and miles behind in every other category.

I understand that a lot of fans obviously love Fleury and want to see his number retired so it wouldn't be the worst thing if it is retired but with the way he has acted I have no problem if it never goes up and would certainly like to see 12 and 34 go up first if for nothing else to show that is the type of player the Flames want and should be honored by the team/fans.

[killer_carlson]

Moon,

You can just not go to the Dome that night.

Signed

Everyone else

[The Swedish Flame]

"I get to retire a Calgary Flame. I HAD to retire a Calgary Flame. It’s been a long journey. It’s time to put down some roots. And there’s no better place than here" - Theo Fleury