Retiring a number of an active player

[ViD]

What’s the downside of doing a number retirement ceremony for an active player?

Example: if Ovechkin publicly announces next year is his last year and everyone knows the Caps retire the #8, why not do it in his last home game in Washington ?

Is it strictly marketing? To have a retirement night next season to sell tickets?

I think being able to play with your number in the rafters is like having your statue built while you’re still alive

 

[ijuka]

How do you play with your number if it's been retired?

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Retire his number while he's playing and then secretly make it a rule that anyone using that number is fined and then fine Ottawa just because.

 

[Derailed75]

Retire his number while he's playing and then secretly make it a rule that anyone using that number is fined and then fine Ottawa just because.

No fines, just take away their next 3 first round picks

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

 

[ViD]

How do you play with your number if it's been retired?

Well, the idea is that it’s retired from use for anyone other than that player

 

[miscs75]

How do you play with your number if it's been retired?

Isles retired 27 in honor of John Tonelli a few season ago. John gave Anders Lee the ok to wear the number during his Islanders tenure. It would depend on the player/organization involved. Thankfully it’s not a Messier-Vancouver situation.

 

[JoeSakic13]

How do you play with your number if it's been retired?

 

[Summer Rose]

I am not aware of any league rule surrounding number retirements, outside of the league-wide retirement of the number 99.

Assuming that's the case, teams can probably just do whatever the hell they want. As you pointed out though, since teams are a for-profit business, they're more likely to do something about retiring a player's number that they think will make them extra money - such as holding it the season after Ovechkin retires in order to charge more for tickets to that game or whatever.

 

[ViD]

Isles retired 27 in honor of John Tonelli a few season ago. John gave Anders Lee the ok to wear the number during his Islanders tenure. It would depend on the player/organization involved. Thankfully it’s not a Messier-Vancouver situation.

That’s actually interesting to know, never heard or it

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

But why?

You talk about marketing as an incentive to sell tickets the following year. Would they not get the same demand and incentive if they retired a year before? the reason they don’t retire a number while the player is still active…is because the player is still active.

Is anyone considered “retired” that is still active in their profession? No.

It’s like me asking why everyone doesn’t celebrate my 50th birthday when I turn 49.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

If you retire a player's number while he's still active, then you miss out on the cash grab from having a "number retirement party" after he's retired.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Let's not forget Seattle Seahawks legend Steve Largent....um, Jerry Rice.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

If you retire a player's number while he's still active, then you miss out on the cash grab from having a "number retirement party" after he's retired.

How could you not just alter it so it’s an equal “cash grab” and celebration the year before? I don’t see why it’s a bigger monetary incentive the year after.

Could print up t-shirts and apparel, raise a banner, bring family on the ice etc. only difference is the guy wouldn’t be wearing a monkey suit and would be dressed in playing uniform.

 

[Toby91ca]

Well, the idea is that it’s retired from use for anyone other than that player

But.....if he's wearing the number, no one else can so what's the point?

If the question is retiring it in his last home game before he retires....I guess you could do that, but again, would be weird...you retire the number and then he wears it on a road game to end the career?

So, if the team is headed to the playoffs, I think it doesn't make sense for obvious reasons....if they aren't heading to the playoffs, that means they aren't having a very good year, ending badly let's say...they probably want to leave it at that and then start fresh the next season with a great moment of retiring the number...that makes more sense to me.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

You could retire a number and still let an active player wear it:

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

No fines, just take away their next 3 first round picks

Suspend Kadri for the first round of the NHL playoffs.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Why not put them in HHOF too before they retire? I mean is there any doubt he'll be inducted?

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Even Ovi hate this thread.

 

[Summer Rose]

Why not put them in HHOF too before they retire? I mean is there any doubt he'll be inducted?

There's something like a three-year waiting period after you retire in order to be considered for induction. The HHOF has waived this requirement before, but when they waived it for Wayne Gretzky, they said they would never waive it ever again. That doesn't necessarily mean they won't change their minds later on though.

 

[kingsholygrail]

There's something like a three-year waiting period after you retire in order to be considered for induction. The HHOF has waived this requirement before, but when they waived it for Wayne Gretzky, they said they would never waive it ever again. That doesn't necessarily mean they won't change their minds later on though.

Right. I just think these honors are reserved for when a player is done with their career. It'd be funny seeing someone going over Ovechkin's accomplishments and having to say "so far" afterwards because he's not even done yet.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

The only player to come to mind is Mario Lemieux as he was also inducted into the HHOF.

But, it's set in stone no Capitals player will ever wear 8 ever again. I think it should get retired after Ovi decides he done playing hockey. But I think he'll play in the KHL until he can no longer do it anymore which could be when he's 70. He's built well.

 

[tarheelhockey]

How could you not just alter it so it’s an equal “cash grab” and celebration the year before? I don’t see why it’s a bigger monetary incentive the year after.

Because the way this usually goes, the legend is still driving ticket sales up until his retirement. You pack the place for the last few games to see him.

Then he sails off into the sunset around the same time the team starts to rebuild. So you wait a year or two, pick a Tuesday night against a crap opponent, and hold the number retirement as a way of packing the house again.

Then you invite him back a couple of years into the rebuild, again on a Monday night in December, for his induction to the team’s Hall of Honor.

Then you bring him back to host the draft party and charge $20 to get in.

Then you… well, you get the idea.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Because the way this usually goes, the legend is still driving ticket sales up until his retirement. You pack the place for the last few games to see him.

Then he sails off into the sunset around the same time the team starts to rebuild. So you wait a year or two, pick a Tuesday night against a crap opponent, and hold the number retirement as a way of packing the house again.

Then you invite him back a couple of years into the rebuild, again on a Monday night in December, for his induction to the team’s Hall of Honor.

Then you bring him back to host the draft party and charge $20 to get in.

Then you… well, you get the idea.

I guess. It seems almost negligible in terms of the timing on the banner raising in terms to cash.

Regardless, the concept is pretty straightforward. Retired player = retired number. Seems silly to want to change such a straightforward and logical sequence of events.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I guess. It seems almost negligible in terms of the timing on the banner raising in terms to cash.

Regardless, the concept is pretty straightforward. Retired player = retired number. Seems silly to want to change such a straightforward and logical sequence of events.

Part of it is also fan engagement when things are bad. Not a direct cash infusion, but it keeps STH from feeling like they’re just throwing money down a hole as they count empty seats on game 57 of 82.