Eklund: Flyers and #31. Time to pass #31 along or retire it officially..

The unfortunate circumstances of his death are the reason they’ll never officially retire his number, and rightfully so.

I agree with you completely. I was a big Pelle fan as were most Flyer fans at the time. I'm not sure it should be retired, but I wouldn't be against it either. It is time to make a decision. I'm not sure I would agree that he played like Bernie, though. Bernie played the angles as no one ever did, but he was not as athletic as Pelle. Pelle made saves by diving back into position like no other!

EK,
I a great post. I am only a little older than you. I remember being gutted at the news of Pelle's passing.

As for Carter Hart and the uniform number, Hart has a preferred number already. I think it is 79? He wore it in Juniors and when he came to his first Flyers camp was assigned it. He told a story of a special need child who was at his first game back in Juniors after his first Flyers camp wearing a Flyers sweater with that number and how he is attached too it. I think THAT is the number he would lean towards.

https://www.phillyvoice.c...ll-wear-no-79-for-flyers/


As for 31... There have been very few who I think could wear it and it not be a distraction. Not to the player of the team, but to the fans. Hart may be the perfect talent/personality to wear the sweater, but that may not be the path he wants to take.

Carter Hart is deserving of the #31 but he has already come out and decided he is sticking with #79 which was assigned to him at his 1st rookie camp. When he returned to Evert after that camp, a young fan already had a Flyers #79 Hart jersey. Carter said he would not be switching from that number. What a great kid. #70 in Junior and #31 for Canada and Phantoms. #79 for Flyers. Can't wait to see him in the NHL.

Flyer Buzz

The unfortunate circumstances of his death are the reason they’ll never officially retire his number, and rightfully so.
- Quetzalcoatl

Also the reason it should be back in circulation. While unfortunate, the circumstances were 100% avoidable.

imho

Also the reason it should be back in circulation. While unfortunate, the circumstances were 100% avoidable.

imho
- Scoob

I think it will take a strong player to wear that sweater for the first time after Pelle. I know Hart has chosen 79 but maybe Sandstrom takes it since 25 is JvR?

It was 30 years since the death of Michel Briere before the Penguins organization officially retired #21. He only played 1 season with the Pens before also dying in a car crash but no one ever wore that number again. After a generation or so it is easy to forget about history and retiring the number ensures the memory will live on for as long as the franchise exists. If the Flyers chose not to retire the number it is time to let others wear it, would be awesome if the next player to wear it got involved with MADD or other drunk driving prevention organization.

The unfortunate circumstances of his death are the reason they’ll never officially retire his number, and rightfully so.
- Quetzalcoatl

Sabres retired Tim Horton's jersey

Pass it along, there is no need to keep it. It is just a number.

Horton’s autopsy wasn’t make public until many years later, only at which point we learned he had been drunk.

Once upon a time, the Leafs had the best system: numbers were honoured, not retired (with two exceptions).

If a player asked for an honoured number, and management OK'ed it, for the first year, the name of the honoured player was stitched into the current player's shoulder patch.

The system was a great way to honour the league's history, so of course the league put and end to the shoulder patches.

And then of course last year the Leafs retired all the honoured numbers, to appease SOB Keon.

Anyhoo, my point is the kid should be told what Pelle meant to the Flyers, and if he wants to wear it, it comes with a bit of responsibility.

Once upon a time, the Leafs had the best system: numbers were honoured, not retired (with two exceptions).

If a player asked for an honoured number, and management OK'ed it, for the first year, the name of the honoured player was stitched into the current player's shoulder patch.

The system was a great way to honour the league's history, so of course the league put and end to the shoulder patches.

And then of course last year the Leafs retired all the honoured numbers, to appease SOB Keon.

Anyhoo, my point is the kid should be told what Pelle meant to the Flyers, and if he wants to wear it, it comes with a bit of responsibility.
- Atomic Wedgie

I like this idea alot.

Don’t you think Philly goalies already have enough pressure on them?!?! ;-)

Lets discuss the 3,1415 number.

Eklund: Flyers and #31. Time to pass #31 along or retire it officially..
- Eklund

Price for Provorov, problem fixed

I caught my first puck the night before he died (he wasn't playing). I too was at my Dad's house in Voorhees, NJ which is about 5 miles from the accident. It was a tough morning for every kid growing up a Flyers fan. And as someone who has owned a 911 Turbo - I always had a healthy respect for what that car can do (sober as a stone).

And NO NO NO - don't give Carter Hart No. 31. He has too much pressure already. I think he's going to be the real deal but for the love of Jesus H. Christ on a pogo stick - cut the kid some slack. This team is going to be expected to CRUSH next year and he is going to be the biggest difference.

I am 100% OK with retiring the number. In effect, it is retired other than to hang it in the rafters.

Sorry to buzzkill, but his decision to drive drunk is morally reprehensible and while tragic it is fortunate that the only person he killed was himself.

Sorry to buzzkill, but his decision to drive drunk is morally reprehensible and while tragic it is fortunate that the only person he killed was himself.
- WJDiedrich

I don't disagree with you. That said, should the Maple Leafs unretire Horton's number for the same exact reason, or at least only retire it for King Clancy?

I read an article about Pelle a while ago. But I can't seem to find it anymore. I seem to remember reading in the article the writer mentioning asking his parents to get the "31" patch applied to his fan jersey. And how they wouldn't allow it because of the circumstances. In the end, he now realizes why they made that decision and how he understands and respects it. Anyone know which article I'm talking about and have a link to it? Been searching and searching...

Edit: Found it! It's a good read... https://tinyurl.com/yanusevj

Eklund: Flyers and #31. Time to pass #31 along or retire it officially..
- Eklund

The only Flyer I didn't hate.

That said, should the Maple Leafs unretire Horton's number for the same exact reason
- jmatchett383

yup

Hart’s Save percentage is what like a .87% so far? How about he accomplishes some things at a professional level before he is anointed anything.

As far as #31 goes. My position is put it back in circulation I don’t care if Christian Folin wants to switch to it. Pelle Lindbergh was by all accounts a great young goalie and a good guy and we can remember him in many other ways but he did not attain the honor of a retired number.

Hart’s Save percentage is what like a .87% so far? How about he accomplishes some things at a professional level before he is anointed anything.

As far as #31 goes. My position is put it back in circulation I don’t care if Christian Folin wants to switch to it. Pelle Lindbergh was by all accounts a great young goalie and a good guy and we can remember him in many other ways but he did not attain the honor of a retired number.
- Just5

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Buzzkill