Howe's it Going Osgood?
Days after Mark Howe was inducted to the National Hockey Leagues Hall of Fame it has been announced that the Philadelphia Flyers will retire Howe’s #2 on March 6th when the Flyers host the Red Wings.
Click the Jump for MoreHowe, who is widely considered the best 2-way defenseman the Flyers have ever seen. Finished his career with the Red Wings and now works as Detroit’s Director of Pro Scouting.
So I pose the question. Other than Lidstrom, whose number should the Wings consider retiring if any? Since 99.9% of you want to say it but won't, I’ll put it out there to get the ball rolling.
Christopher John Osgood
I always wanted to see Shanny's number retired along with Federov's. To me, we don't win 3 cups without those guys. Both are locks for the hall of fame as well. I don't see Ozzie being retired. He just wasn't good enough, to be quite honest. If you look at the numbers retired, it would be a slap in the face to those guys who are widely considered some of the best to EVER play the game. Same goes with Draper, Maltby and others. Come on guys, this is the Red Wings we're talking about here!
As far as Mickey Redmond, I think he should have his name retired but not his number. I know that sounds funny but we should start recognizing all the non-players that have made Red Wings hockey what it is. Owners, GMs, coaches, broadcasters. Almost like a little Ring of Honor, just without numbers.
Just a word on the Federov thing. I know a lot of people don't like him because of what happened but we have to remember, not every Red Wing is a Steve Yzerman or Nick Lidstrom. I think we get a little spoiled with these great athletes who want to spend their whole time here and are willing to take less money to do so. I don't fault Federov for anything. Everyone's different. What matters is what he did while he was here.
1 Like
I am seeing many of these comments and there are many players who could be named as important and great players, but they do not fit the legendary status. I still think there should be somewhere that has great players within the team, yet not in the row with the legends. This option would definitely allow some of the long time wings that impacted the sustained success but not retire numbers. There probably already is something like that somewhere in the rink though. Homer would be an interesting one though, he has perfected and is the true definition of who and what a screener does. He takes a beating every night yet that is the first place he goes... but he still falls into the place with the grind line and ozzie, Pav and Z are ones that if they were to keep elite play for their entire career then it is possible especially the take away leader, however those 2 still have much to prove if their numbers be retired, but noone has mentioned the mule, I mentioned JIMMAH, then kronwall could prove he is worthy, but at the end of the day many of these will have to prove they are worthy of it. It is still apparent that there are many possible people and thus makes it far harder to place great players up there that are not legendary. I forgot helm as possibility.
In the end though Lidsrom is the only guarantee. But the wings organization will not forget about the great names that were key pieces of the machine they call the Red Wings. Many of these people have what it takes to join greats but some people are just legendary and those are the ones who go up to the rafters.
It would be nice, but theres a point where youre retiring numbers just because of sentimentality. Realistically, to be up there you have to be something really special, which I don't think Ozzie completely is (much as it pains me to say as he was my favourite wing). Lidstrom for sure. But the grind line? Homer? Pav and Z? I say no. If we're just retiring awesome player's numbers why not Hull or Hasek or Fedorov? Sorry, but that space is reserved for the other-worldly.
I'd like to see Mickey Redmond get his jersey raised. I don't know much about his playing career here, but I think that combined with Mickey's dedication to this team in the broadcast booth should earn him some sort of permanent recognition by the team.
1 Like
@thebiglachovsky I agree but I don't think its fitting for him to be up there along side those guys. He played too much and won too much elsewhere I would say.
2 Like
well, if the wings started retiring every player that was worthy of the hall of fame, they'd start running out of numbers.
if osgood hadn't requested a trade after the hasek signing, i'd say he'd be there, but maybe not now.
pavel, probably. hank, probably.
and again, no 96 to the rafters, but he needs to have a statue made and placed in front of the men's bathroom so the fans can always be reminded of what a pain in the ass he must have been to play against.
I definitely think that playing ones whole career in one place greatly improves their chance of getting in the rafters. Some cases aren't their fault and some are. If Fedorov would have stuck it out he would probably be up there.
@Jordan_Reis@Twig I think if Federov could have kept his mouth shut I agree. After the whole Sam Jones incident, I really lost all respect for the man.
@Twig Wow I never knew Osgood actually requested that trade. After reading that, I definitely agree.
Ozzie is a possibility one day, but I really only think retiring a number should happen in cases like Yzerman or Lidstrom.
I do however think that player should be honored. It would be great to see a kid that wants to wear 16 have some sort of patch on his jersey commemorating Konstantinov
@Jordan_Reis I would LOVE to see Konstantinov have his name in the rafters and number.... but not retired, if that is possible.. I think that if the wings are in a slump they should look at vladdy to motivate them to work hard, since he has not quit on improving his life.
On a side not I would really like to see a secondary line of key important players to the team but not retire the number like the greats. It would give people like mccarty, draper, maltby, ozzy, and people who dont always display greatness yet their importance to the team is just as high as a great player. But I really believe Konstantinov deserves to be up there in some way to remind everyone what the Red Wings are and what defines them. Like maybe his name and number with Believe, Work, Fight ! somewhere there....
@Red_Wings-Devilmasta@Jordan_Reis I feel the opposite, I think Konstantinov's number should be retired, but not put in the rafters. Konstantinov was a tremendously talented player when he played and it's a hell of a tragedy what happened to him, but when Yzerman (and eventually Lidstrom) is the only player from this era that has his name in the rafters I don't think putting Konstantinov's number would be right. Like Twig said above, I don't think we'll see anybody but Lidstrom, Pav and Zetterberg added in the near future.
@Red_Wings-Devilmasta@Jordan_Reis Didn't even think of Howie. Totally agree if he keeps it up he could definitely earn a spot.
@thebiglachovsky@Jordan_Reis ya I would agree with you as well ....I rather see 16 retired.... but hey that was just my opinion.... not likely to happen on any of these but those you have named. If howard keeps his play up like it has been He might earn a spot tho.
Holmstrom. Won't happen but should. He essentially redefined the niche of playing at the front of the net. He was the catalyst that made the Wings PP successful for his years, and whenever he was out they really, really hurt there.
I'm OK but largely indifferent toward Ozzie.
No.
But Pav and Z are possible candidates if they can ramp up the numbers a bit and notch a handful of major individual awards in addition to another cup or two.
@AsteVeA I totally agree.I think Pavs and Z are a no right now unless they both get some individual awards and maybe win another cup or two by LEADING the team (which is hard to imagine right now isn't it?). I don't think Osgood, Holstrom, Draper, or Maltby should have their numbers raised either. I understand that they were all great players in their own right and that they were great for the team etc. But my kind of rule of thumb is imagine someone born in the year 2050 and they are looking up at the rafters wondering about who are up there. When they go learn about who's up there, it better be an inspirational individual, it better be a remarkable career (in stats and with awards) and it better show some success with the team as a leader or as a significant part. I don't think it's in Detroit's best interest to retire all numbers because they were great players. Not every great player can get their number raised. Lidstrom is the only shoe-in I see right now. At this time, I'd rather see Ken Holland ( i know he has no number but still) brought up the rafters than with Osgood, Pavs, or Z. That's no knock against Pavs, Z, or Osgood, I love them all but I just don't think they answer the raising question enough.
@teddywings I've never thought about it like that before, looking back from 2050 as you put it, I like that argument... "so this homer guy? He has the all time record for reversed goals you say? That's why his number is up there?" ... Brilliant.
