#24 should be retired? But to who?

[NotTooAbby 71]

While Probert and Cheli both wore the winged wheel with respect both kicking ass in their own respective natures, it has to be Neither. A good figher is not enough to get your numbers in the rafters. And while Cheli was great for us, IF AND WHEN CHELI gets his number retired, it will be as a HAWK not a Wing.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

It's been used twice... Why couldn't it be retired for both? (this is independent from my thought that neither are rafter worthy)

[CenterIce 83]

It's been used twice... Why couldn't it be retired for both? (this is independent from my thought that neither are rafter worthy)

It's been worn more than twice.

Calum MacKay, Gerry Reid, Al Dewsbury, Fred Glover, Bob Dillabough, Bart Crashley, Gary Doak, Pete Mahovlich, Jim Watson, Leo Bolvin, Bob McCord, Randy Manery, Brian Conacher, Ken Murray, Brent Hughes, Rick McCann, Tom Mellor, Rene Drolet, Frank Bathe, Jim Nahrgang, Greg Joly, Derek Smith, Brian Johnson, Murray Craven, Larry Trader, Pierre Aubry, Bob Probert, Chris Chelios, Brad May

[/Quote]

http://redwings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=44018

Edited August 9, 2010 by CenterIce

[Shaman 713]

Only player other than Lids I could see being retired is Zetterberg, and thats only if he as captain leads the team to atleast one cup (probably would take more than that, but I would say thats a minimum).

[Guest LarryMurphySpecial]

As much as I loved both while they were here, neither should be retired. Chelios spent his best years in Chicago and despite his one amazing playoff run, Probert was a mediocre player for the vast majority of his career. Shame though, as both were two of my favorite Red Wings.

[thedisappearer 291]

Take it out of circulation for 24 years?

Oh, I like that idea.

[Namingway 146]

Hm... Might as well retire Hull, Robitaille, and Hasek's numbers too while we're at it

[Electrophile 3,554]

#24 shouldn't be retired. Taken out of circulation for a while, maybe. Retired? Nope. In order to get your number retired by the Wings you need to go above and beyond. Neither player did that, as beloved by the fans as they were.

[Reilly 24]

Couldn't have said it better. Same reason Shanny, and Fedorov won't be retired either.

Fedorov is 4th all-time in Red Wings points, his number is going to get retired at some point.

[Shaman 713]

Fedorov is 4th all-time in Red Wings points, his number is going to get retired at some point.

Love the idea, and if I had a vote in this matter I would be on board, but I really doubt it.

[soultrain 43]

i would like to see the wings honor all of the roll players that either got us or helped us get to the top. examples- malts drapes mccarty vladdy...and dudes that helped us get there - coffey dino probie ...fischer? i know there is more people and that is why they honor all of them in some fashion.

... wait until they all retire next year! ...put lids up there and build them something ill.

[Guest Shoreline]

Easy -- neither. I tried to come up with why to retire each one, and couldn't come up with enough that doesn't end up justifying an assload of other Wings. This team has had so many special players, role players who were uniquely useful to winning championships and, well, going anywhere, the standard is, to me, extremely high as to who gets retired a Wing, these days.

[DSM 114]

I said neither.

Probert is one of the greatest enforcers to even lace them up, but is career in Detroit was slightly disappointing. Had he kept up to what the front office expected from him, he would have been on this team for atleast the 97 and 98 cups, probably 2002 as well.

Chelios on the other hand started playing for the Red Wings toward the end of his prime. He did win 2 cups, but was merely a role player for the second.

The next number that will be retired will be #5. Probably followed by #91 at some point, and maybe #14.

Love the idea, and if I had a vote in this matter I would be on board, but I really doubt it.

I can't see why not. The guys NHL resume is nearly as impressive as Yzermans, and he was a huge part of the 3 cup teams.

[Shaman 713]

I said neither.

Probert is one of the greatest enforcers to even lace them up, but is career in Detroit was slightly disappointing. Had he kept up to what the front office expected from him, he would have been on this team for atleast the 97 and 98 cups, probably 2002 as well.

Chelios on the other hand started playing for the Red Wings toward the end of his prime. He did win 2 cups, but was merely a role player for the second.

The next number that will be retired will be #5. Probably followed by #91 at some point, and maybe #14.

I can't see why not. The guys NHL resume is nearly as impressive as Yzermans, and he was a huge part of the 3 cup teams.

Its up to ilitch and after the whole 'will he won't he' season with carolina and detroit bidding for him, I really doubt Mr I will give Feds that distinction.

[seeinred 1,488]

Probert with 23% of the vote in this poll is ridiculous.

It would be the easiest game ever of "one of these things is not like the other" if they hung his jersey from the rafters.

[toby91_ca 620]

No offense to the 23 people that actually voted for one of these guys, as this is my own personal opinion, but I think it would be a huge disrespect to the other guys whose numbers are hanging in the rafters for either of these guys to have the #24 retired here. I don't think there is any argument at all as to why either should be retired.

The fact that Chelios wore it for 10 years after Probert left, kinda makes me think no one would even give it a single thought to retire it on Probert's behalf. I don't think they'd ever retire Fedorv's number, but have you seen anyone else wearing it in the last 6 or 7 years?

Edited August 9, 2010 by toby91_ca

[stevkrause 1,247]

No offense to the 26 people that actually voted for one of these guys, as this is my own personal opinion, but I think it would be a huge disrespect to the other guys whose numbers are hanging in the rafters for either of these guys to have the #24 retired here. I don't think there is any argument at all as to why either should be retired.

The fact that Chelios wore it for 10 years after Probert left, kinda makes me think no one would even give it a single thought to retire it on Probert's behalf. I don't think they'd ever retire Fedorv's number, but have you seen anyone else wearing it in the last 6 or 7 years?

Agreed 100% - Both were great when they were here, same as with Shanny and Fedorov, but I think the Red Wing's organization is too storied and this honor should only be reserved for the TRUE elite of Red Wings history (Aurie's #6 should go back up there too, but that's a different debate for a different thread)

With all that said, the only players to don the Winged Wheel in my lifetime that belong in the rafters, are the one that just went up a couple years ago - Yzerman's #19

and when the time finally comes - Lidstrom's #5

The story is still to be written about Hank or Pav...

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

If you retire #24, then you got to retire #91, and then eventually #96 and #30.

As much as I enjoyed seeing Chelios and Fedorov play here (Probert was before I started seriously getting into hockey, started to watch with a lot more interest starting in 1996 season roughly), and much as I root for Osgood when he gets too much of a bad rap often, and as much as I love having Holmstrom be my favorite player, you're going to have to do a heck of a lot of convincing for them to have their numbers up on the rafters.

The only one with a legitimate shot of going up soon over the next few years in #5. (EDIT: In my opinion, not factual obviously)

Edited August 9, 2010 by SouthernWingsFan

[Ram 240]

Jersey retirement always is a great topic that seems to come up a lot.

But yes, it's not going to happen. Love them both, but not going to happen. I'm moving on.

[zombi 43]

No. Neither of those players had an impact anywhere near the 6 others that have received that honor.

Edited August 9, 2010 by zombi

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Neither have done enough to be retired *by Detroit.* A number retirement in Detroit is as hard as any other team in the league, and aside from Lidstrom there's no one on this team that I would say will be an automatic retirement at this point.

[heals_3000 0]

Oh, I like that idea.

Thank you, I figured that it is the least you can do to honour both players respected by the fans and organization without having to cease usage of the number until the end of time. Take the number out of circulation for X number of years, in this case, based on their jersey number. Though when you apply this to somebody like Fedorov (91 years out of circulation) it gets a bit out of hand...for a player of his caliber it's not such a bad idea.

I am a little curious about what the league intends to do down the road when retired numbers are becoming the norm or are given out like candy on Halloween (Vancouver-> Naslund, Colorado->Bourque) I think they should have a 10 year out-of-circulation honour or something. A temporary gesture to acknowledge their duties with the team as well as allowing others to use the number in the distant future too. Makes me wonder if taking Gretzky's '99' out of circulation for every team he hasn't played for, for 99 years would have been a better idea than to retire it for the rest of time

Edited August 9, 2010 by heals_3000

[Nev 1,085]

Neither.

But you know what, Probert has had his retirement moment at the Joe - when #19 got retired. The response from the fans then was of far more value to him then, than retiring his number is now.

[55fan 5,133]

I like the honour roll idea. Retirement should be saved for the select few.

It would also be nice to do something to honour Probie's memory.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

They will absolutely honor Probie at the opener but nothing more than that. Even a "24" patch on the jersey would be a great gesture but no way either should be retired with that #. It's Nick next and then maybe a great while before we see someone else. Hank is obviously a possibility as well.