Retire Johnny Gaudreau's #13

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Tbhall due respect to Johnny and his family but I do not think we should retire his jersey. If he had signed with us no question it would be retired

I agree that we shouldn't make snap decisions to retire a number today.

It has nothing to do with him not signing here.

I think Jiri has the right approach

This isn't about anyone but the family & close friends.

I am confident that nobody in Calgary will wear 13 again, regardless of whether or not the number is retired.

[Jiggy_12]

I am confident the Flames will do the right thing, at the right time. I have complete faith in this group's emotional intelligence and will do right by the Gaudreau family when the time comes.

[GullFoss]

We don't know the answer to this. It's largely going to be based on the family's wishes and if this is their wish, then on their timeline.

I could envision a scenario where the family would want Johnny's kids to be old enough to remember a jersey raising ceremony. I can envision a scenario where the family doesn't want a ceremony.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I agree with the sentiment that any official ceremony is a few years away. Allow plenty of time to pass for the family to feel comfortable, and his kids to understand. That puts the timetable closer to when the new building opens.

I would think they’d want to raise 13 in the building where Gaudreau played.

[Jaydee]

Would we have retired it if he didn’t pass away? I think we have to ask that question before we consider retiring it imo

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Would we have retired it if he didn’t pass away? I think we have to ask that question before we consider retiring it imo

Yes and no we don't. He's statistically an all time Flame great and was the face of the franchise for many years. And I think more goes into a jersey retirement than just stats.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Would we have retired it if he didn’t pass away? I think we have to ask that question before we consider retiring it imo

But he did pass away.

So we do it.

Figure out the timing as necessary, but we do it because it’s right, and because it’s kind, and because Johnny deserves it.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Makes no sense to have the number available going forward so you might as well send it up with the greats. He was one of them

[Texas Blueliner]

Should also have a day without beer sales for that game.

[Jaydee]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Yes and no we don't. He's statistically an all time Flame great and was the face of the franchise for many years. And I think more goes into a jersey retirement than just stats.

Fleury, Nieuwendyk and Macinnis all have more points and their jerseys aren’t retired. They also didn’t leave us hanging as a UFA

[TheScorpion]

Talking to all kinds of people this morning and afternoon and the overwhelming takeaway I have is that pretty much everyone wants to see this happen eventually. It just feels right. He defined an era of Flames hockey. No question.

[JohnnyB]

He was the defining player of an era of the Flames and one of the top Flames of all time. After this, the number is also going to carry a lot of emotional weight for everyone who was a fan during his time.

Retired or not, that number will always be his for a generation of Flames fans.

[Jiggy_12]

There are no inherent rules to jersey retirements. The circumstances dictate themselves.

In this case, its a no-brainer slam dunk. His jersey goes up, and eventually a memorial/statue of sorts should be put up with the new barn.

It's the correct thing to do.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Fleury, Nieuwendyk and Macinnis all have more points and their jerseys aren’t retired. They also didn’t leave us hanging as a UFA

Dude grow up.

They’re also all still ####ing alive.

Johnny and Matthew were stolen from their families.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

That's a banner raising that will start the water works for me, especially if it's a CBJ game with Sean and family in attendance.

I'll plan around that accordingly.

[868904]

I remember listening to Wills on Flames Talk one day near the end of the 2022 season and they were talking about Gaudreau extending.

He said he was talking with Jane Gaudreau up near the broadcast booth and he pointed to the rafters and told her Johnny's number was going to hang up there someday.

Didn't think that was going to happen when he left, but now...

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

If he got more family time in over these last 2 years then I'm glad he landed closer to home. I hope they were good years surrounded by loved ones.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

There are no inherent rules to jersey retirements. The circumstances dictate themselves.

In this case, its a no-brainer slam dunk. His jersey goes up, and eventually a memorial/statue of sorts should be put up with the new barn.

It's the correct thing to do.

Jersey retirements are always about more than statistics. And while it’s the stats that make it a viable option, as you said, it’s the circumstances that make it an inevitable slam-dunk.

Nay sayers can buzz off. There’s not a fan out there that would speak against him being honoured like this.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Would we have retired it if he didn’t pass away? I think we have to ask that question before we consider retiring it imo

Enough. There's nothing wrong with your opinion, but today is not the day to play the contrarian. The right thing to do if this is your opinion (which again is fine) is to just walk on by and not put in your two cents.

[looooob]

accepting this might be a hard time to really sort through decisions like this I look at it this way
1. Think about the emotions playing out right now in 3 threads on this site, around the city and in many families in town across generations. how many other Former (or current if you want) honestly would generate this type of reaction? amongst this many people . I realize that's a loaded question but I think the number is very small (I can think of 2, maybe 3)

2. re: the guys with more points than him. I'm going to sit out any discussion of 14, hopefully others can do the same. 2 and 25 are in this weird FAF thing, and I think 2 definitely should be retired for sure. both 2 and 25 played their own contract games iwth the team if we have a need to go there

3. Since the Flames have arrived in Calgary , for every season except for 3 (the first one and the last two) one of Lanny, Fleury, Iginla or Johnny has been in the lineup. they weren't always the best player on the team (particularly true of Lanny and early Fleury given those stacked teams) but these guys one after other were for a generation of kids the face of the franchise (I think?). I'm an older guy of course but for Flames fan under ? 25? 13 was the guy