Future Flames Jersey Retirements

[Calgary4LIfe]

I agree with most of the sentiment here - Gaudreau would have been a no-brainer if he stayed and at least came close to finishing his career here. As it stands now, there is no reason to even have him in the poll - there is no way he makes any sort of a cut in my mind. I would assume that he would have been the franchise leader in many categories if he did stay, and that the Flames would have also eventually had more success than they have had thus far. I am sure that Columbus will deem your number worthy of retirement for your half-a-career there, since nobody else wants to play there.

Giordano was a tough cut to make. Flames didn't win anything of note under him. He was a fantastic Captain, however, and he won the Norris, but I can't justify a jersey retirement.

Fleury - this is the case I make against Fleury. When you retire a player's number, that player will forever represent the team. Is this the person you want representing the Flames? I certainly wouldn't want him representing anything.

Nieuwendyk - some people are still upset with him holding out. I think it wasn't all about money anyway. I think Riseborough was instrumental at making this team one that players wanted out from. At any rate, whatever the reason (even thinking it was 100% financially driven), that's ok - Nieuwendyk was instrumental in that one and only cup win. He also took a tremendous amount of abuse in front of the net all the time.

MacInnis - this should have happened, except when MacInnis said he feels more like a Blue than a Flame. Otherwise, there is absolutely not argument to be had. Again, I partially blame Riseborough anyway. If there is any single player that has been overlooked in terms of retirement, it starts with MacInnis.

Kipprusoff was a tough one for me. He is the best goalie that the Flames have ever had. He also backstopped that plucky team all the way to game 7 of the SCF. There is a reasonable argument to be made both from a performance and winning standpoint to be made, so I voted him.

The only one that is borderline is Roberts. Surprised that he was an option here, but I was always a huge Roberts supporter, and I just can't help myself but vote for all things Roberts. He was a complete competitor, and one of the worst moves in this organization's history is to not believe in him. I can understand why I am the ONLY person to vote Roberts, but I also think he has always been underrated. That guy is as fierce a competitor as there has ever been in the NHL. He played every shift like "angry Iginla" did. I idolized him as a kid, so I have no choice but to vote him. I would have figured Gilmour would have been an option here over him.

I think that the one and only glaring 'oversight' is MacInnis. I am ok with this team being very stingy on retirements, but MacInnis was just one of the best defencemen in the history of the game, was huge in the community as a I remember it, and was huge in helping the team win a cup. In my opinion, the correct formula for deciding on a player's jersey retirement should be:

Personal success - how good the player really was
+
Team success - any team success, especially in large measure because of this player
+
Community involvement - is this the type of player you want every prospect you will draft from now on looking up at and modelling themselves after? Were they good ambassadors for the team and city? Did they continue to be good ambassadors for the team and the city?

[calgaryred]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Fleury - this is the case I make against Fleury. When you retire a player's number, that player will forever represent the team. Is this the person you want representing the Flames? I certainly wouldn't want him representing

Like it or not he does represent the Flames, he has done many events as a member of Flames Alumni, including playing in regular Flames Alumni games.

[Bingo]

Honestly pretty telling to me that a hockey site has only one guy getting a 50%+ vote, and nobody getting a huge majority.

Tells me that as an old guy I value the old guard more than younger CPers do, which is interesting and I guess expected.

Easy to wag the finger at younger people for not being in the moment for the old players, but just as easy to blame nostalgia for over emphasizing that era as well.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Honestly pretty telling to me that a hockey site has only one guy getting a 50%+ vote, and nobody getting a huge majority.

Tells me that as an old guy I value the old guard more than younger CPers do, which is interesting and I guess expected.

Easy to wag the finger at younger people for not being in the moment for the old players, but just as easy to blame nostalgia for over emphasizing that era as well.

I think Chopper checks all the boxes, but the only reason I didn't include him was my understanding that he doesn't want to have his number retired by the Flames. In fact, I believe (but don't for sure) that it was offered to him, and he declined, leading to the Forever a Flame honors instead.
Which I hate in so many ways.

[SutterBrother]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Honestly pretty telling to me that a hockey site has only one guy getting a 50%+ vote, and nobody getting a huge majority.

Tells me that as an old guy I value the old guard more than younger CPers do, which is interesting and I guess expected.

Easy to wag the finger at younger people for not being in the moment for the old players, but just as easy to blame nostalgia for over emphasizing that era as well.

I mean - only the old guard ever brought home a championship. There are really only 2 players since really worthy of consideration in Iggy and Kipper.

There is a reason for the nostalgia.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by #-3

I actually meant hanging around and continuing to be part of the community post career. Retirements are for franchise players and community icons.

Not to deminish anything that happened while he was here but if he doesn't continue to contribute to Calgary in the future, and was never really the "franchise" guy, then even with his resume I'd rather see him honoured, retirement is overused by the vast majority of teams

Well that basically counts out the entire list since I don't think any of them are around much besides Fleury I guess.

[GullFoss]

Does anyone remember why Theo lost the captaincy in 1997-98? I don't have any recollection of this

[Press Level]

I suspect that Kipper's number would have been retired already if there was any chance of him showing up for the ceremony.


Aside from that, there is only one Conn Smythe winner in franchise history, and the fact that his #2 was given the "Forever a Flame" treatment is an embarrassment.



I don't fault a player who leaves for more money. I do fault players who leave for less money (Gaudreau) or players who do not honor their existing contracts and hold out for more money (Nieuwendyk).


Fleury is the toughest one on this list for me. Absolutely loved him as player. Can't stand his politics, or the conspiracy theory b.s. that he spreads online. Should that be weighed in the decision though? I'm on the fence.

[GullFoss]

Going to throw this out there: if backlund is named captain, the flames have significant playoff success in the next three seasons, and he retires as a flames...I would want his jersey number retired.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Going to throw this out there: if backlund is named captain, the flames have significant playoff success in the next three seasons, and he retires as a flames...I would want his jersey number retired.

Hope you’re right. Lots of guys come into play if they can go on to become playoff legends.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Going to throw this out there: if backlund is named captain, the flames have significant playoff success in the next three seasons, and he retires as a flames...I would want his jersey number retired.

A lot of big ifs in that scenario, but if we're fortunate enough that they come to pass then Backlund would be a great name to hang in the rafters given his career. I'm thinking a cup win with him as captain and retiring as a Flame would make him deserving.

[lazypucker]

How long does a player needs to be on the Flames in order to be considered jersey retirement worthy?

Vernon, Iggy, Gio, Fleury, Nieuwendyk, MacInnis - 10+ years
Kipper, Roberts - about 7 years
Lanny - 8 years but he is Lanny

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

How long does a player needs to be on the Flames in order to be considered jersey retirement worthy?

Vernon, Iggy, Gio, Fleury, Nieuwendyk, MacInnis - 10+ years
Kipper, Roberts - about 7 years
Lanny - 8 years but he is Lanny

I feel like it should be an honour for lifers, or mostly lifers, only. You shouldn’t have multiple considerations as teams who could retire your jersey. But I think the whole thing is over done so my opinion is biased towards “less jersey retirements”

[Number 39]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Does anyone remember why Theo lost the captaincy in 1997-98? I don't have any recollection of this

Going by memory I believe he resigned the captaincy as he wanted to focus on hockey.