Way too many. There won't be any decent numbers left for the next generation.

#StopTheMadness
- Ogilthorpe2

Still not even close to what the Celtics, Yanks, and Habs have retired. Does it kill anybody in pinstripes that they can't choose any of 1 through 10?

Some teams do a ring of honor instead. I suppose more teams will adopt that long after we are gone.

Retire the jersey, but not the number.

The best numbers are mostly alll < 36, with single digits being the best. Next best are numbers ending in zero, and double digit numbers which are exempted from the <36 rule. Goalies should always wear 1 or something in the 30's.

My personal favorites are 4 and 44. Too bad Kimonen is tainting one of those right now.
- Ogilthorpe2

I always choose 33 when I have a choice.

i agree that goalies should be required to wear 1 , 30 or 31 .

Watching that winning goal again, note the little chip that Saad gives Jones. Knocks a tired D man off his stride just enough to give Keith the space to move to his left and have a lane. It's not on the scoresheet -- in fact I don't think Saad had an assist in the series -- but it adds to JJ's points about little things adding up.

You can remember without retiring numbers. Have a Team Hall of Fame, but don't deprive some young kid the chance to wear the number of his idol when his dream of playing for his hometown team come true. It's just silly.
- Ogilthorpe2

Sorry still disagree .Kid can make his own history, with his own number . Most traditions are somewhat silly that's what makes them great .

The best numbers are mostly alll < 36, with single digits being the best. Next best are numbers ending in zero, and double digit numbers which are exempted from the <36 rule. Goalies should always wear 1 or something in the 30's.

My personal favorites are 4 and 44. Too bad Kimonen is tainting one of those right now.
- Ogilthorpe2

I got 10. To mark the first year this core won.
It was also my number in juniors (though I wore 16 in HS and college).

Most overrated D-man in all of hockey, IMO. Very good, but not the God he's made out to be.
- Ogilthorpe2

Look beyond just individual play and salary. The times he would have settled down a very young team is what the Preds ultimately missed with him out.

Same type of thing that Johnny Boychuk, Dennis Wideman and Seabs give their teams in the playoffs when things gets crazy out there.

Just watched the whole sequence that lead to the GWG, even more amazing the second time. The amount of pressure the hawks sustained was unbelievable. They had about 4 good chances to score before the goal
- ehawk

Oh yeah! And at about 2 minutes before that - around 7 - 6 min to go mark. Also just really dominant and fun to watch.

Weber is a great player and was a big loss on and off the ice to the Preds. And if you don't agree, ask Mike Babcock.

Ribeiro is a here today, gone tomorrow guy for them. He will go to the highest bidder and sink back into his Alex Burrows / Max Lapierre type persona.

James Neal - great talent, 10 cent brain under pressure.
- RickJ

Never said he wasn't a great player. I was commenting on his style of play. While not a Wing fan I thought him trying to put Zetterberg's face through the glass a few years ago was classless.

Say what you will about Richards but he had a great game last night .And has been playing solid and with some real passion , going nuts in the penalty box after that weak call. And his positioning of Kieth on the Kane goal was perfect ...

Watching that winning goal again, note the little chip that Saad gives Jones. Knocks a tired D man off his stride just enough to give Keith the space to move to his left and have a lane. It's not on the scoresheet -- in fact I don't think Saad had an assist in the series -- but it adds to JJ's points about little things adding up.
- jam10sugar

Watched it again to see what you are saying.

Couldn't help but notice Rinne flopping around like a fish out of water during that whole sequence

The locks are 2, 19, and 88. 7 and 81 both have a good shot. With a longer body of work here, 4 and 50 (unless he gets traded this summer) are candidates. 10 is a maybe. 20 has the potential, and I could see it for 16 if he is a lifer here.
- 333inthe3rd

I believe it's safe to assert the highlighted. Maybe Seabrook too?

The rest, not so much. There are great and good players in that mix, but you can't retire every number out there.

BTW, when does Larmer get into this conversation? There's a guy that should get consideration before Hossa, Sharp, Hjalmarsson, Crawford, ect.

Never said he wasn't a great player. I was commenting on his style of play. While not a Wing fan I thought him trying to put Zetterberg's face through the glass a few years ago was classless.
- HawkintheD

About the only Weber incident that I can remember, And Zetterberg is an annoying bastard in the playoffs - I think #19 would agree with that.
Weber should have been given a short suspension for that but he probably told the NHL safety department he was conducting an experiment for the glass industry and they believed him.

Say what you will about Richards but he had a great game last night .And has been playing solid and with some real passion , going nuts in the penalty box after that weak call. And his positioning of Kieth on the Kane goal was perfect ...
- oldduffman

Other than game 5 when no one was really good after the 1st period, I think he's played well since about game 3.

Like JJ said he along with Vermette were great at the dot last night and he has certainly been more noticeable in a good way.

I believe it's safe to assert the highlighted. Maybe Seabrook too?

The rest, not so much. There are great and good players in that mix, but you can't retire every number out there.

BTW, when does Larmer get into this conversation? There's a guy that should get consideration before Hossa, Sharp, Hjalmarsson, Crawford, ect.
- EKolb13

I wasn't here for Larmer's years in Chicago. Would you include Doug Wilson, also? Always bugged me how he was shipped away at the end like that.

About the only Weber incident that I can remember, And Zetterberg is an annoying bastard in the playoffs - I think #19 would agree with that.
Weber should have been given a short suspension for that but he probably told the NHL safety department he was conducting an experiment for the glass industry and they believed him.
- RickJ

LOL! That's good.

Z is an annoying bastard for sure. After hockey he will likely open a clothing store selling cheap suits as he has some experience with letting other players like Toews wear him all over the ice like one.

#2, maybe #81 - maybe two others.

Every retired number is a hall of famer (I don't count Magnuson's half of #3 as I think that was just a bone for the fans). Are Sharp, Keith, and Seabrook hall of famers?

You really going to give Seabrook the 7 in the rafters when you wouldn't give it to Chelios or Dennis Hull?
- Sandus

Or Larmer

LOL! That's good.

Z is an annoying bastard for sure. After hockey he will likely open a clothing store selling cheap suits as he has some experience with letting other players like Toews wear him all over the ice like one.
- HawkintheD

There wouldn't be a suit over $99 in Z's haberdashery.

Babcock has him doing the same thing to the Lightning this year. Z gets away with a lot because of his rep as a gentlemanly Swedish player. One of the NHL kings of interference picks.

Yeah, but at least half of those are lame.
- Ogilthorpe2

Then the players who are assigned them should make them "unlame" by having HOF careers.

I wasn't here for Larmer's years in Chicago. Would you include Doug Wilson, also? Always bugged me how he was shipped away at the end like that.
- 333inthe3rd

Doug Wilson wanted out and right now. Thank Keenan for that. They got Kerry Toporowski for him. Couldn't skate worth a poop but he could really go. Total cement head.

Most overrated D-man in all of hockey, IMO. Very good, but not the God he's made out to be.
- Ogilthorpe2

Exactly. His D partner who is now in Minny helped make him who he was.

The hawks still have issues. I think the posters here that cite the hawks eventual determination and experience as the difference are correct.

I would think that Vermette gained a little experience that might benefit him moving forward.

I believe last night might have been the first time all season that the skaters bailed out the goalies. And if they hope to get to the finals they need to stop letting the opposition just waltz in and potshot the goalie from dangerous range. And clear the crease ffs.

I have more faith in their scouting and drafting than trading. What do they have to show for Buff, Ladd, Brouwer, etc. A good gm would have more to show in the way of some young players acquired from other teams.
- howiehandles

Buff and Ladd were most unique. Everyone and their mother knew SB had to shed big dollars, so the fleecing was evident. Brouwer was/is quite a bit different for two reasons. 1. Trade pressure was not nearly as big, remember Soupy got moved at that draft too. 2. Danault (Caps 1st round pick, #25 overall, received by SB for TB) is still a work in progress.

The hawks still have issues. I think the posters here that cite the hawks eventual determination and experience as the difference are correct.

I would think that Vermette gained a little experience that might benefit him moving forward.

I believe last night might have been the first time all season that the skaters bailed out the goalies. And if they hope to get to the finals they need to stop letting the opposition just waltz in and potshot the goalie from dangerous range. And clear the crease ffs.
- 6628

Agree. I was surprised after the game that Crow faced only 13 shots the rest of the way and from about the time Sharp and Cullen traded goals it was pretty much all Hawks.