Retire Johnny Gaudreau's #13

[GullFoss]

If someone was to start a KidSport or MADD about Johnny fundraiser, I would donate. I think this is the best we can do to try and find a positive outlet for our emotions

[Canada 02]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1829615583463460893

[Ferarri]

Jersey retirement should of course be reserved for the franchise greats, but not necessarily based strictly on numbers. If that was the case, then Theo Fleury would have his #14 hanging from the rafters, however, his personal conduct excludes him from this honor (and rightly so).

Johnny will go down as one of the team’s all-time greats, but his accomplishments are far beyond goals and assists in my opinion. Prior to drafting him and Monahan, the team was in desperate need of a new identity and brand reset. The departure of Iginla and other core players put the team in a rebuild mode where the cupboards were bare. Little did we know that Gaudreau would be the igniter to spark a new generation of Flames fans.

His legacy will best be known for his ability to make the Flaming C “cool” once again. He inspired undersized youth to never give up on their dreams and the Dome was flooded with #13 jerseys. The Flames quickly garnered credibility again and the main driver was in fact, Johnny Gaudreau. To me that personifies his time as Flame more than the point totals or individual records. He dedicated himself to the franchise and became the superstar player we had all hoped for after Jarome Iginla left.

Sure, his numbers may not be at the top of the list (but are still impressive) but it’s his impact in the community and on the next generation of Flame fans that cements his legacy as one of the best. Mix that in with his love for family and community and it becomes difficult not to recognize his impact on the City of Calgary.

Unfortunately, the fans, team and player didn’t leave on the best of terms, but perhaps this is an opportunity to bring closure to all that were involved. Tragedy can also spark forgiveness and I’m sure a lot of Flames faithful would like to remember Johnny for making them jump out of their seats rather than his free agency decision.

His numbers may not be enough to warrant a jersey retirement, but inspiring a new generation of Flames fans deserves recognition and should certainly be considered.

[Itse]

While the feelings of family obviously matter, I do think jersey retirements are mostly about the fans and their feelings.

Some people have a tendency to scoff at the supposed insignificance of fan emotion because obviously it's not the same as actual family.

However, fan emotions are still real emotions. Johnny was so much more than just another hockey player, he was a symbol of both an era and a type of a hockey player. To many kids he was basically the team mascot and a superstar player rolled into one.


To me retiring his number feels like a no-brainer, and much better than a memorial. That more than anything says to me "this player was special to us when he was here".

No matter how you make them, memorials are always primarily about how someone died, the loss and tragedy.

A number retirement is about achievement, what someone accomplished in their life and what they mean to the local hockey community.

We don't mourn Johnny because he died, we mourn because of what he meant to people and what he did for us fans when he was alive. I at least want to see a Gaudreau jersey up there with the others, while I watch the current team play. Embodiment of an era of Flames hockey that was important to me and many others, rather than a memorial for a death that came later. Yeah you can't truly separate the two here, those two things will always be linked, but I would still prefer to see more "normal" honours given to Johnny. Possibly in addition to a memorial.

[Rhett44]

I would have been all for raising his banner when he retired, regardless.

He is arguably the greatest Flames player of all time, and certainly in the conversation either way. He was the face of the franchise for years and scored our most important goal in 2 decades.

I don't want his jersey retired because he passed away, I am sad about that. I want it retired because he is right up there with other Flames legends. I know people were unhappy he left as well, but I think a lot of that anger disappears when someone dies tragically. Not to mention the stories of Ryan Leslie saying he watched most Flames games even when he left.

[Pickle Juice]

Do they put up a statue of him in the new arena?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I would have been all for raising his banner when he retired, regardless.

He is arguably the greatest Flames player of all time, and certainly in the conversation either way. He was the face of the franchise for years and scored our most important goal in 2 decades.

I don't want his jersey retired because he passed away, I am sad about that. I want it retired because he is right up there with other Flames legends. I know people were unhappy he left as well, but I think a lot of that anger disappears when someone dies tragically. Not to mention the stories of Ryan Leslie saying he watched most Flames games even when he left.

If you think a player deserves a banner in any event, of course it makes sense. I’m a little uncomfortable with posts that to me suggest the tragic death is the main reason for the banner.

JG is 5th in points and assists, 9th in goals and 12 in games played. He def is in any conversation about banners, regardless of this. If he played out his career and retired, would he get a banner? Maybe. Oddly, the more success he had post-Flames would probably lessen the chances.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Pickle Juice

Do they put up a statue of him in the new arena?

I think plenty of greats should be getting a statue before him if we went the statue route. It would be cool if we retired his jersey as the first item of business in the new arena though.

[SeeGeeWhy]

I think it would be cool if players wore Matt and John’s numbers on their helmets or something like that this year.

[stamps]

Johnny was a special player with arguably one of the highest if not the highest end skill we have ever had in Calgary and very entertaining for a long time, I would have no problem retiring his sweater ... retired or not though I highly doubt anyone wears 13 again for this franchise.

[EVERLAST]

Can they name the broadcast booth after Johhny as a memorial?

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by stamps

Johnny was a special player with arguably one of the highest if not the highest end skill we have ever had in Calgary and very entertaining for a long time, I would have no problem retiring his sweater ... retired or not though I highly doubt anyone wears 13 again for this franchise.

Like Rhett said, he didn't play a full season until he was 21, left in his late 20's and still ended up 5th all-time in scoring. Over a PPG player in Calgary. Pretty remarkable player.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by SeeGeeWhy

I think it would be cool if players wore Matt and John’s numbers on their helmets or something like that this year.

Would fully support a jersey patch, one night against the Blue Jackets or for the full season.

[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.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by getbak

Looking at a few other players who died during their careers...

Bill Barilko had played 5 seasons for the Leafs (with 4 Stanley Cups) when he disappeared after an off-season plane crash in 1951. His #5 was removed from circulation after his disappearance and officially retired in 1992.


Bill Masterton had only played 38 NHL games when he died after an in-game injury in 1968. His number was removed from circulation by Minnesota and #19 was officially retired by the Stars in 1987.


Tim Horton only played parts of two seasons in Buffalo, when he was in his 40s. No one ever wore #2 for the Sabres after Horton died in 1974, and it was eventually retired in 1996. The Leafs honoured Horton's #7 in 1995, but it wasn't removed from circulation (Lanny was wearing #7 for the Leafs at the time of Horton's death) until it was officially retired in 2016.


Bob Gassoff played parts of 4 seasons with the Blues prior to his death in a motorcycle accident in the summer of 1977. His number was retired by the Blues.


No one has worn #31 for the Flyers since Pelle Lindberg died in 1985, but it has not been officially retired.

There's a fair number who weren't retired, too. But it's a pretty good argument for Johnny in any event.

[SeeGeeWhy]

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

Johnny did more than was expected under his contracts, and earned his right to UFA status. He did not leave anyone hanging and owed “us” nothing.

The only upsetting thing about that process for me was that he didn’t end up a Flyer.

[TheScorpion]

MacInnis and Nieuwendyk's numbers not being retired isn't exactly a strong rebuttal when by all accounts they really should be.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

MacInnis and Nieuwendyk's numbers not being retired isn't exactly a strong rebuttal when by all accounts they really should be.

Chopper didn’t want his number retired

[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.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

MacInnis and Nieuwendyk's numbers not being retired isn't exactly a strong rebuttal when by all accounts they really should be.

MacInnis yes, Nieuwendyk no.