Why you'll watch - March

From the "grasping at straws" department:

Is it so hard to move the setup back just a couple of feet so that the rink designers don't have to deal with grass and dirt as a foundation for the rink?

And as an added sidenote:  No sooner did the Todd Richards rumors start to swirl that some of the fans in WBS start clamoring for now-retired fighter/goon/whatever Dennis Bonvie to join the team as a coach.  It wouldn't surprise me if the team did this as a way to move tickets for the upcoming tenth-anniversary season, but what sort of precedent is there (besides Mike Yeo; I know his story) for recently-retired players joining teams as coaches?

You think there will be viewing from the tops of buildings like their is for Cubs games?

Seth,

Comparing the Canes retiring Wesley to McEachren is a stretch don't you think?  

The reasoning behind their retiring his number is 1) his length of play with the franchise 2) and also his involvement with helping the sport grow down here. 3) They need to have more retired numbers and excuse to fill the arena on a February night vs. Boston.  (Of course as an STH, I'll be there for it regardless.)

And besides the 'Whalers' did retire Ulf Samulesson's #5 (albeit it was the minor league team that did it.)  From a specific to Hartford/Carolina view who is more deserving - Samulesson or Wesley.  Personally, I'd say Wesley.

If you want to make a more fair comparison, it would be like the Pens retiring Rick Kehoe's #17.  At least he had a similar lengthy career with the Pens vs. Mceachren.

I could make an argument against the Pens retiring Brierre's #21 after one year and a tragic death.  Obviously, that's an organizational decision.

That being said - I was surprised when the announcement was made a few months ago of Wesley's #2 being retired.  A nice gesture yes....but deserving on the surface, no.

CanesFan27:

McEachren...579 points and 6 20+ goal seasons!

Kehoe...767 points and 10 20+ goal seasons

Wesley...537 points and zero 20+ goal seasons.

The joke here is that Wesley is getting his number retired.  This makes the organization look LAME.  Are they giving up on ever having actual good players?

Not only was he a long time Hurricance, but he played a huge role in the Hurricanes '06 championship.  Wesley saved their butts on more than one occasion.

Not only was he a long time Hurricance, but he played a huge role in the Hurricanes '06 championship.  Wesley saved their butts on more than one occasion.

Canes are cool!  (shhh, just don't tell my fellow STH folks at the Igloo!)

Seriously, though - Malkin71, you've got to pay attention before you attempt to make statistical comparisons between players.  Mr. Wesley is/was a DEFENSEMAN and came from the old school of hockey defense; McEachern and Kehoe were both forwards, and as such are expected to score more.  I also thought it was odd that a guy that's more of a stay-at-home type of defenseman would get his number retired.  But then again, I enjoyed watching him play.  He's not the only reason I make the safari to Raleigh to watch the Pens play the Canes, but he was one of them.

They started with forward Ron Francis, so maybe they wanted to have at least one defenseman?  He did play the most games ever as a member of the Hurricanes.  I don't think their decision to honor him is lame at all.  I would probably honor him in a way other than retiring his number, but, like Michel Briere's number, it was most likely an organizational decision.

Seth, thanks for digging out that YouTube of Backman!  I still have the Sidney Crosby ringtone of that on my phone!

Of course, Seth, you could've saved your time on March by just putting: Because this game will determine the Penguins playoff position.

Seth,

I don't disagree with your reasoning.  And as you said McEachrean was not the greatest comparisons. Obviously, it is an organizational decision.  And the main reason is because of how much he has done to really grow the sport down here and how involved he was with the fans and the community, although his car commercials down here are/were horrible.

Maybe it was because he mastered the art of the diving/sliding poke check.  Who knows.  

And hey glad to help pass along an offseason day faster for ya.  :-p

Malkin71,

You are really comparing apples to oranges.  Wesley was a stay at home Top 2 Top 4 defenseman his whole career.  He's not a forward.  And I also don't think scoring so many goals determine if and why you should retire a number.

BoardingMajor:

The Canes have a similar case to Briere with Steve Chaison, who died tragically in a car accident after the 1999 playoffs.  Although his number is not 'officially' retired, no one has worn his number since he passed away.  

Also, glad you enjoy your time at the games down here.  If you are ever in 318 stop and say hey...or join us for the tailgate party on the Saturday, April 4th game.  Go on down to Pinehurst to golf in the morning, tailgate in the afternoon, and hockey in the evening.  You can't beat that!

Okay Okay.  I admit that my statistical comparison was pretty stupid.  But when I brought up Wesley's number retirement after my softball game tonight (yes we discuss hockey after a hot softball game in July...we are Canadians) it was greeted with a chorus of laughter.  I guess I am in the camp that feels most teams outside of Pittsburgh have it wrong when it comes to retireing numbers.  It should be reserved for very special players who accomplish things we may never see again in our lifetime.  Mario Lemieux meets that criteria.  Jaromir Jagr certainly meets it...if Mario had never come along Jagr would be our all time greatest.  And Sidney Crosby will probably meet the criteria one day (possibly even Malkin).  This francise has been blessed with talent and even it should only have 2 jersies hanging from the rafters.

Malkin71:

that's fair.  I'll admit I was kinda surprised, as was a lot of others down here, when they announced retiring his number at his retirement (now part of the developmental coaching squad) announcement a few months ago.

that said.  In your opinion, who would be more worth of a retirement - Ulf Samuelson or Glen Wesley.

I'd choose Wesley for his longevity, ability, and his worthwhile to the franchise.  In the end, I don't have a problem with it - but if it becomes commonplace - let's retire Nic Wallin's number since he's been here for a number of years...I'm with you.

But then again, the Canes do like to recycle former players...i guess anything is possible.

The Canes reitring Wesley's number has more to do with making a legacy than what Glen did.

By all means- Wesley was a solid player but no one of legendary status that'll get into the Hall. He played a ton of years and was seemingly as beneficial off the ice to the organization as he was on it.

That said, I think ultimately Carolina is just trying to help distance itself from the likes of Tampa, Atlanta, and Florida. The Canes are basically saying- here's a number in our rafters, where's yours? Retiring his number is much more about trying to give the team some tradition than it's a Wesley achievement.

JS,

I agree with some of what you had to say.  Is he HOF worthy, no he's not.  But does the top requirement for such require being in the Hall of Fame.  The Pirates retired Maz's number well before he was in the HOF, and retired Danny Murtaugh's number and he isn't either.  And there are many other teams in all sports that have done the same.

As for building a legacy vs. other southern teams..i disagree.  Francis obviously is/was worthy and meant a lot to the franchise here and in Hartford. and to the Pens back home in PA.   Wesley also has meant a lot..and that is what they are recognizing.  Obviously, if they had a ring or a real hall of fame like the Pens had...he'd fit in there...but then again last season they recognized Kevin Weekes in the "Hall of Fame" (more of a 10th anniversary promotion), and most people at the game around me looked at each other and said he went in because of one save against New Jersey? (Look i just contradicted myself and agreed with you about a legacy with that example :-p)

Oh, I wouldn't be surprised if they retired Brind'Amour's number after his retirement too.  

If you had to think about it, whose number (on any team) was the most appropriate to be retired?  I would have a tough time answering that one. Heck, with those two new goofy owners down in Tampa, they might just retire everyone's number at the end of the season!

As for the season, I am looking forward to all of the Western Conference games in the Igloo, since I was an old STH in San Jose before I moved here in 2002.  First game I saw in PGH was the Sharks playing the Penguins.

And CanesFan27 - one of my best friends lives in Pinehurst, so that's where I stay when I go down.  I basically can get tee-times at National anytime I want them (good connections), but I don't golf. :0(  Tailgating and game sounds good, though.  I don't remember where we sat for the game on Valentine's Day, I think it was 123, in a corner where the Canes shoot twice.  The other 3 games I've been to I've had the priviledge of sitting in the Lexus Champions club (courtesy of a wealthy contact who does stuff like that).  When I come down, I'll take a peek at 318.  What row?