Its a load of crap from Leaf fans who's slogan should be "must have a playoff game".
99% of the time, its timing and values. Nothing more.
Leafs actual criteria is to have provided major contributions to the club and suffer a career-ending injury in service.
I think Detroit has something cup related.
Curious what teams have retired (not honoured) jerseys since say... the post-WHA expansion. Anywhere to look that up? Or a matter of searching through old history.
I think retirement could be far off. Just because he talked about it doesn't mean it is going to happen soon. Selanne retired and then came back that year and he is now 4 full seasons into unretiring. If he is HEALTHY and if he is contributing I think he might just continue to play. And with his great conditioning it could be 2, 3, 4 years until he retires.
Jason York at the start of the healthy scratches today said you could at least make an argument that the last few weeks have been his best play ever. I am not sure I agree but the fact it is possibly an argument goes a long way to show he is not near being a none elite player. If he can score near 30 goals and get 60 points and only miss a half dozen games I don't see him retiring this offseason. Playing with Spezza and Turris and Karlsson has to be fun. Playing for an upbeat coach has to be fun. As long as it is fun and Alfie is elite I don't think he will retire. Why would he? He has more money then he can ever spend and probably 50 years of "retirement" to ponder... if he can continue to play and be healthy and have fun I don't see him rushing to hang up his skates.
The odds of a player playing his entire career (or even a significant portion) with one team isn't what it used to be.
I don't think running out of numbers is going to be a significant issue.
I don't think Phillips is an elite defenceman but he had some good years. Neil is a warrior but he is a 3rd liner. I'd still consider retiring both. The franchise is 20 years old and they are along with Spezza and Alfie faces of the franchise. Actually Neil as much or more than Phillips.
If they retire as Ottawa Senators then retire their numbers. Why not? There are 99 or 98 numbers I guess... well 97 with those retired. Whatever... there are tons of numbers.
Chris Neil is a special guy. A warrior for this team. Phillips has been here forever and played probably every single playoff game the franchise has ever played. Even Fisher... Fisher did how much charity work in this city? He is a truly good guy. Man I'd retire Roger Neilson as a COACH for his 3 game run here because he is just worthy of honouring in this city.
I would not be stingy in honouring players. Why not retire jerseys? It is not like this franchise has been a failure. We have no Cup but a ton of playoff appearnces, 100 point+ seasons.
If you wanted to split hairs and have a retirement of a jersey and an honouring of a jersey then Alfie is retired and Neil, Phillips and Fisher are merely honoured when they retire.
Leafs actual criteria is to have provided major contributions to the club and suffer a career-ending injury in service.
I think Detroit has something cup related.
Curious what teams have retired (not honoured) jerseys since say... the post-WHA expansion. Anywhere to look that up? Or a matter of searching through old history.
Technically, every team has retired at least one number, that being #99, in that nobody is allowed to wear it anymore.
I don't mind retiring numbers, but I actually think Toronto has the best system. Honour them and raise the number to the rafters, but don't permanently retire it. Maybe have a 10 year retired period out of respect, and after that the number goes back into circulation.
Yeah agreed.
I mean, there were some cases where you facepalmed, like when Corson wore Mahovlich's number iirc, but you know no one is going to wear 13 or 17 or 93 for them...it's an unwritten rule.
Alfredsson's jersey will be hung in the rafters for sure and it will be bittersweet...and a true sign the franchise has entered its next phase. Exciting stuff!
In my opinion, I think Alfredsson should unquestionably be retired. and I think Phillips should be honored. Both of them hang from the rafters, but I don't think anyone should ever wear #11 again.
I think it is axiomatic that Alfredsson's #11 should be retired. I also think that assuming they retire with the Senators and continue to perform at or close to current levels Phillips' #4, Neil's #25 and Spezza's #19 and Michalek's #9 should be seriously considered as well. If not retirement at the very least a 10-15 year moratorium.
No question his number will be retired. Hasn't melnyk already said Alfie has a front office job waiting if he wants it? I think once he decides to hang em up he;ll take some time off and then return to the sens in some capacity.
It's funny but back about 12 years ago a buddy and me were talking and we both agreed that Alfie and Phillips were two guys who would spend their whole careers in Ottawa. Strange how we got that right.
When Alfie retires the team should hold a proper retirement ceremony for him where past Senators and current Senators can speak about the player Alfie was and what he meant to the team.
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Exhibit A as to how hockey doesn't matter on ESPN:
Last night an ESPN program was discussing how the Detroit Pistons needed a hero citing the heroes on the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and no mention of the Detroit Red Wings. All this despite the Red Wings probably being the most succesful team in Detroit right now.
I think it is axiomatic that Alfredsson's #11 should be retired. I also think that assuming they retire with the Senators and continue to perform at or close to current levels Phillips' #4, Neil's #25 and Spezza's #19 and Michalek's #9 should be seriously considered as well. If not retirement at the very least a 10-15 year moratorium.
