Why haven't the Panthers retired Bure's number?

[EstConf96*]

Eh guys like Beezer and Mellanby can't be weighted simply in years. Those are original Panthers, Mellanby scored the first goal, Rat Trick etc. Beezer is arguably our most iconic player and our first "star" player.

Does not work that way. I agree with you that they are iconic Panthers players and they should be honored (The Panthers Den of honor) but a jersey retirement is a rare thing. Lets keep it that way or the thing will get pointless with time.

How many good players have played in NHL? And how many jerseys hang in rafters?

 

[SoupyFIN]

Eh guys like Beezer and Mellanby can't be weighted simply in years. Those are original Panthers, Mellanby scored the first goal, Rat Trick etc. Beezer is arguably our most iconic player and our first "star" player.

True, but I think any non-bandwagon fan knows them and respects them even without a jersey hanging in the rafters. Isn't there a Den of Honor in the arena as well?

I just fear that if Beezer/Mellanby/Bure get their numbers up there, it sets a bad standard and legacy. Soon Jovo will get the same honour, then Jagr, OJ.. you get the picture.

 

[Gentle Man]

Do you think C.Osgood, N.Kronwall and H.Zetterberg should have there jerseys in the rafters at joe louis arena? Or C.Neil and C.Phillips in Ottawa?

To me players like Kulikov are plugs easily forgotten. In my opinion he would need 20 years as a Panthers with his current play to even belong in the discussion.

I would say yes to Zetter and Osgood personally, but i do acknowledge NHL franchises seems to be more stingy in that department than say the NBA or NHL.

Avery Johnson had HIS number retired for the Spurs. Those who dont follow that organizatiom wont really know why looking on paper since his numbers dont suggest he was an all-time great.

 

[FlaPnthrsPunk]

Bure was possibly the best player to ever lace up the skates in a Panthers uniform, but his tenure here wasn't long enough to consider him a real staple of the franchise. Twenty years from now, I doubt many fans will be talking about how Bure scored a hell of a lot of goals for us and led to one playoff round where we didn't win any games.

To some extent, I can see Mellanby because of the Rat Trick craze being a very slight possibility and the same goes for Beezer being a huge reason of why the team made it to the Cup in only their third year of existence. That likely is something fans will still talk about two decades from now as a big part of our history. Hell, while I'd say this isn't worthy or number retirement, Jokinen and Weiss deserve is more than Bure for spending so much time in a Panthers uniform and being top players on those bad teams.

For now, the only real possibility I see getting their number retired is Luongo. He'd still likely have to have some kind of success in the playoffs for us before he retires though. If guys like Ekblad, Barkov, etc stay with the team long-term and win a Cup or more with the team, there's a discussion once their careers are over.

 

[Gentle Man]

True, but I think any non-bandwagon fan knows them and respects them even without a jersey hanging in the rafters. Isn't there a Den of Honor in the arena as well?

I just fear that if Beezer/Mellanby/Bure get their numbers up there, it sets a bad standard and legacy. Soon Jovo will get the same honour, then Jagr, OJ.. you get the picture.

Mellanby Jovo Jagr (if he plays beyond this season with the Cats and still plays well) should be den of honored.

I still think Beezer should be up there, but NHL clubs tend to be super stingy.

 

[EstConf96*]

Mellanby Jovo Jagr (if he plays beyond this season with the Cats and still plays well) should be den of honored.

I still think Beezer should be up there, but NHL clubs tend to be super stingy.

And this is why this is still a respected tradition and a huge honor for the player involved.

 

[Dread Clawz]

Does not work that way. I agree with you that they are iconic Panthers players and they should be honored (The Panthers Den of honor) but a jersey retirement is a rare thing. Lets keep it that way or the thing will get pointless with time.

How many good players have played in NHL? And how many jerseys hang in rafters?

Exactly. Jersey retirement is for players like Gretzky, Howe, Lemieux, Orr, Richard, Lafleur, Beliveau, Esposito, Sakic, etc. If teams retired jerseys for every 'very good' player, there'd be no numbers left. Montreal would be using three digits.

 

[Gentle Man]

And this is why this is still a respected tradition and a huge honor for the player involved.

And your suggesting it isnt in other sports?

Ill say this with Vanbiesbrouck. If wr had another goalie with the exact same numbers and he did it from 2010 to 2015 but no playoffs/cup appearance he wouldn't deserve it.

Beezer was a huge, huge reason the hockey market EXPLODED in the 90s in SoFla.

Consecutive sellouts in miami arena (14,703) that number will always be engrained in my head because i saw it every home game.

His impact reached far beyond the ice.

 

[EstConf96*]

And your suggesting it isnt in other sports?

Ill say this with Vanbiesbrouck. If wr had another goalie with the exact same numbers and he did it from 2010 to 2015 but no playoffs/cup appearance he wouldn't deserve it.

Beezer was a huge, huge reason the hockey market EXPLODED in the 90s in SoFla.

Consecutive sellouts in miami arena (14,703) that number will always be engrained in my head because i saw it every home game.

His impact reached far beyond the ice.

This is one of many examples around the NHL. Panthers simply does not have the star power, longlivity or hardware to hang anything up at this point in time in my opinion. The one in the middle of the picture is not a star player but he is called "Mr.Devil" due to over two decades with the team.

We would like idiots if we did what some suggest around here.

 

[Gentle Man]

Exactly. Jersey retirement is for players like Gretzky, Howe, Lemieux, Orr, Richard, Lafleur, Beliveau, Esposito, Sakic, etc. If teams retired jerseys for every 'very good' player, there'd be no numbers left. Montreal would be using three digits.

Adam graves
ray bourque IN COLORADO.........
Glen Wesley.....

I'm not saying its 'right.' I'm just trying to say its not outlandish to do so either.

Ray Bourque is an extreme head scratcher though.

 

[EstConf96*]

Adam graves
ray bourque IN COLORADO.........
Glen Wesley.....

I'm not saying its 'right.' I'm just trying to say its not outlandish to do so either.

Ray Bourque is an extreme head scratcher though.

Yes we would make those look like #66 and #99 if we would hang up Bure, Beezer and Mellanby. The Borque one is really lame but nothing beats #1 for the fans banner.

 

[SoupyFIN]

Adam graves
ray bourque IN COLORADO.........
Glen Wesley.....

I'm not saying its 'right.' I'm just trying to say its not outlandish to do so either.

Ray Bourque is an extreme head scratcher though.

That was a pure PR move, the equivalent for us would be Bure or Jagr.

 

[Gentle Man]

That was a pure PR move, the equivalent for us would be Bure or Jagr.

See #1 being retired by the Wild. THAT is pure PR on a thousand levels

 

[Ekblast]

After much thought, I have changed my mind. We should retire Chris Wells or "he who shall not be named".

Hell, maybe even Trevor Kidder (best color scheme pads in our history by far).

 

[bjugstadfan]

Some you u guys make me lol. Sergei fedorov better than pavel bure? wow, you lost any credibilty you had left. I rather retire randy moller's jersey than Weiss, kulikov, Jagr. While bure's tenture was too short for the banner police here, why is time the most important aspect. Those that think someone can spend 10 years here and play mediocre non playoff hockey is worthy. That's an embarrassment to a banner celebration.

 

[Chino Oscar]

Some you u guys make me lol. Sergei fedorov better than pavel bure? wow, you lost any credibilty you had left. I rather retire randy moller's jersey than Weiss, kulikov, Jagr. While bure's tenture was too short for the banner police here, why is time the most important aspect. Those that think someone can spend 10 years here and play mediocre non playoff hockey is worthy. That's an embarrassment to a banner celebration.

Yes he was... Talk about losing credibility. Look it up, Fedorov not only was selected as MVP of the league and was a very good point producer, but he also became one of the best defensive forwards in the game. While Bure was exciting to warch offensively, he was widely known for not putting a good defensive effort and basically hanging around the neutral zone to get in on breakaways. Listen, I loved Bure and he was an exciting player, but I think you are letting your emotions get the better of your judgement.

And no... Retiring Bure's jersey after his short stay here would be ridiculous IMO.

 

[bjugstadfan]

Yes he was... Talk about losing credibility. Look it up, Fedorov not only was selected as MVP of the league and was a very good point producer, but he also became one of the best defensive forwards in the game. While Bure was exciting to warch offensively, he was widely known for not putting a good defensive effort and basically hanging around the neutral zone to get in on breakaways. Listen, I loved Bure and he was an exciting player, but I think you are letting your emotions get the better of your judgement.

And no... Retiring Bure's jersey after his short stay here would be ridiculous IMO.

Sergei fedorov was not even a point per game player. Yes he was an amazing two way player but pavel bure is a generational talent.

My emotions are under control. I completely understand his short time here makes his case hard. But players like Weiss kulikov Jagr (if he spends 2-3 more seasons here) would be laughable to have their numbers retired by Florida.

 

[StrangeVision]

He was a phenomenal player who had little to no real long-lasting impact on the organization or the market. Your claim about his impact on youth hockey lacks substance.

Page six of this report from USA Hockey shows the growth in USA Hockey registration in Florida from 1998-99 to 2004-05. There was a spike after Bure came to Florida, but it didn't last.

He was a brilliant goalscorer who had two brilliant years as a Panther and then moved on to finish his career elsewhere.

 

[bjugstadfan]

He was a phenomenal player who had little to no real long-lasting impact on the organization or the market. Your claim about his impact on youth hockey lacks substance.

Page six of this report from USA Hockey shows the growth in USA Hockey registration in Florida from 1998-99 to 2004-05. There was a spike after Bure came to Florida, but it didn't last.

He was a brilliant goalscorer who had two brilliant years as a Panther and then moved on to finish his career elsewhere.

According to the report there were 3000 more registrants from 1999 to 2005 and that's just ice hockey. Roller hockey was a bigger sport in Florida. Silly for you to say he had little to no impact. I was playing roller and ice 5 days a week during that time period. I saw with my own eyes and ears his impact.

Edit: The greater impact to the local market was the panthers 11 year playoff drought. When I graduated high school in 2004 we had 21 high school teams playing in broward. Now there's 11.

 

[CatscratchFever]

No Bure. No former Panther. We may be looking at a #5 retirement....but that's so far in the future and a couple Stanley Cups away....

 

[ProjectPanthers]

Roberto Luongo will be the first Panthers player with his jersey retired. Bank on it.

 

[Android 16]

Roberto Luongo will be the first Panthers player with his jersey retired. Bank on it.

This.

And we're trying to build a "Mr. Panther" and jerseys to hang. Maybe #5 or even #16 in the future. It's all about keeping these guys together. One of the trickiest things about this era.

As far as right now goes. Luongo. When it's all said and done. #1 needs to go up into the rafters. No ifs ends or buts. It's the right thing to do.

 

[Dread Clawz]

This.

And we're trying to build a "Mr. Panther" and jerseys to hang. Maybe #5 or even #16 in the future. It's all about keeping these guys together. One of the trickiest things about this era.

As far as right now goes. Luongo. When it's all said and done. #1 needs to go up into the rafters. No ifs ends or buts. It's the right thing to do.

I agree, contingent on him having some playoff success with us.

 

[EstConf96*]

Some you u guys make me lol. Sergei fedorov better than pavel bure? wow, you lost any credibilty you had left. I rather retire randy moller's jersey than Weiss, kulikov, Jagr. While bure's tenture was too short for the banner police here, why is time the most important aspect. Those that think someone can spend 10 years here and play mediocre non playoff hockey is worthy. That's an embarrassment to a banner celebration.

Regular season: GP:1248 G:483 A:696 TP:1179 PPG:0.94 +/- +261

Post season: GP:183 G:52 A:124 TP:176 PPG:0.96 +/- +39

1993-94: Hart trophy, Ted Lindsey award, Frank J. Selke trophy.
1995-96: Frank J. Selke trophy

100+ point seasons: 2 (120p, 107p)
50+ goal seasons: 1 (56g)
30+ goal seasons: 9

Edit: He scored 400 goals and had 554 assists for 954 points in 908 games with the Red Wings.

3 time Stanley Cup champion (Detroit Red Wings)

 

[Dread Clawz]

He also until a couple weeks ago held the record for most NHL goals scored by a Russian born player...so yeah.