No way Fleury, Letang or Orpik ever have their numbers retired. They have a ring of honor for stuff like that. The ring of honor says "we wanted to dedicate a ceremony to honoring your contributions to the Penguins." Retiring a guy's number says "we'll never have another one like you again." After a tragedy like Briere's, that's the right thing to say. Beyond that, can you really say it about any past Penguin other than Lemeiux?
I can see Orpik most likely not getting his number retired......However Fleury is on a HOF path and Letang has the potential to be one...if they end up in the HOF, you won't retire their numbers? especially in the case for Fleury guys got 226 wins so far and a cup, if he stays healthy, I would bet with ease he'll get around 450 wins.
I can see Orpik most likely not getting his number retired......However Fleury is on a HOF path and Letang has the potential to be one...if they end up in the HOF, you won't retire their numbers? especially in the case for Fleury guys got 226 wins so far and a cup, if he stays healthy, I would bet with ease he'll get around 450 wins.
Letang would just be the last in a long line of HOF offensive D-men who have come through Pittsburgh. Fleury's basically the same as Barrasso. He doesn't put up the best numbers in the league, but more often than not he raises his game when it's most important. Of course, he's also not a reprehensible human being, but that's neither here nor there.
The bottom line is that guys like Fleury and Letang have played in Pittsburgh before, and it's forseeable that we'll see players like them again. When you retire a guy's number, you have to be willing to say "this team will never have another guy like you," and be certain that it's true. Retiring 29 and 58 puts you on a slippery slope where you have to go back and retire a bunch of numbers, and go forward retiring 2-4 every ten years. It diminishes what a retired number is supposed to mean.
Letang would just be the last in a long line of HOF offensive D-men who have come through Pittsburgh. Fleury's basically the same as Barrasso. He doesn't put up the best numbers in the league, but more often than not he raises his game when it's most important. Of course, he's also not a reprehensible human being, but that's neither here nor there.
The bottom line is that guys like Fleury and Letang have played in Pittsburgh before, and it's forseeable that we'll see players like them again. When you retire a guy's number, you have to be willing to say "this team will never have another guy like you," and be certain that it's true. Retiring 29 and 58 puts you on a slippery slope where you have to go back and retire a bunch of numbers, and go forward retiring 2-4 every ten years. It diminishes what a retired number is supposed to mean.
Actually, one important thing I forgot to post was that I expect these individuals to play their entire career here or spend about 80-90% percent of their career here. I agree that Pittsburgh has had better players pass through at their respective positions, however, with the stats that these players can put up along with the potential to grab a lot of hardware because of the the position this team can be in for a long period of time in the end that may play a huge factor in getting their numbers retired. I understand it is a slippery slope but you have to take into account the history of this organization, except for Lemieux they haven't kept elite players throughout their careers, because of the system you have now and the ability to keep players under your control you will have a few players that will accumulate the stats and hardware at their respective positions that may warrant the highest honor. Especially Fleury at 27 he's got 226 wins, he can potentially get a few rings and end up on the Top 5 wins list. If he does that as a Pen and be one of the first players to spend his entire career in Pittsburgh that would get a lot of buzz for the number retirement ceremony, I don't think you can possibly just put him on the wall of fame and get away with it without hurting the relationship with that guy.
I don't know why Randy Carlyle was traded in 1984 for a 1st and future considerations, but if he'd played his whole career in Pittsburgh, he'd probably be a good candidate. Still would be a good ring of honor candidate.
I believe every Hab that has his number retired is also in the hall of fame.
They are. And truthfully, I don't think 15 numbers (16 counting Gretzky) is all that much considering how old the Habs are and considering the history of some of those players.
And yeah, I too think Jagr's should be hanging one day.
It should be reserved for only those who spend their entire NHL careers in the city, IMO (A guy like Iginla who was drafted by another team but has played all games thus far with Calgary would obviously count.)
If Sid wants to end his career with the Habs to live out his boyhood dream, good for him, but he'll lose his banner. That's the way I see it. Although, I'm sure in that scenario the team would still do it.
Touche. Maybe a trade is okay, but signing somewhere freely is no good. I don't know. It's 2:30, lets not argue.
I don't mean to argue, it's just that in this day and age saying only players who stay with one team is kind of unfair. Imagine if Iginla was a FA this summer. Calgary needs a rebuild and says sorry Jarome, it's major pay cut and stick around for the rebuild or no banner if you sign elsewhere. In your scenario the Avs could hang up Hejduk's number, but not Roy. I just think there are too many things to put a rule on it.
I don't mean to argue, it's just that in this day and age saying only players who stay with one team is kind of unfair. Imagine if Iginla was a FA this summer. Calgary needs a rebuild and says sorry Jarome, it's major pay cut and stick around for the rebuild or no banner if you sign elsewhere. In your scenario the Avs could hang up Hejduk's number, but not Roy. I just think there are too many things to put a rule on it.
Ok, you've shredded my argument.
Still, when you think of Francis you think of the Whalercanes and when you think of Jagr you think of him screwing the Pens. Both shouldn't be retired. Barrasso would be a candidate if he wasn't such an ass.
Still, when you think of Francis you think of the Whalercanes and when you think of Jagr you think of him screwing the Pens. Both shouldn't be retired. Barrasso would be a candidate if he wasn't such an ass.
I think of Francis in both jerseys, it just all depends on the situation. I think it would be a shame if the Pens didn't one day retire Jagr's jersey even if he did sign with the Flyers. I don't know if Barrasso's jersey should be retired anyway.
