He was a critical piece to the Wigs success. No arguing that. But for me, it comes down to not seeing him exclusively as a Red Wing. Give him a nice little memorial in the concourse somewhere, but don’t retire the number.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 11/22/09 at 11:06 AM ET

Why is a New York writer trying to tell Detroit what to do?

Shanahan probably WOULD warrant his number being retired for the Rags—they haven’t exactly had a laundry list of great players to compare to.  Had Brian Leetch played for another NHL team it’s doubtful his number would have been retired or that he’d be a HHoFer.  But when you’re the Rangers…

Posted by Primis on 11/22/09 at 11:15 AM ET

I disagree with some of my fellow Wings fans…remember that Ted Lindsey, Gordie Howe, and Terry Sawchuck all played for teams other than the Wings in their careers.  But they are all in the rafters…Shanny deserves it, he is a Wing great.

Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 11/22/09 at 11:19 AM ET

True, those legends did play for other teams, but they became who they are in Detroit. Shanny was a great player before he got to Detroit. Shanny didn’t even play half his career in Detroit.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 11/22/09 at 11:22 AM ET

Without question he was a central figure in getting the Wings ‘over the hump’ , and he certainly is a sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer, but I’m torn over a sweater retirement.

I really thought the Rangers retirement of Messier’s sweater was a little ‘much’ . Most of Messier’s glory was obviously with the Oiler’s and NOT the Rangers. Yes, he won a cup, greatest captain/leader…blah,blah,blah. I think the Rangers would have been within their rights to Honor Messier with a ceramony, but reire his sweater???????? Same goes for Adam Graves…..sweater retired?? Really??

I think a night to honor Shanny, and let Wing’s fans celebrate him one last time is certainly REQUIRED, and I’m sure the Illitch’s, as classy owners,  will do the this,

As for the sweater retirement…...I’ll have to ponder that a while longer.

Posted by Down River Dan on 11/22/09 at 12:13 PM ET

Hmm. 9 seasons, 663 points, 3 cups.  He played the longest with us than with any other team he was in, and was a core character guy along side Stevie.

I can’t say I would disagree with folks putting him up in the rafters, but if we do it for him, then we have to do it for Drapes, Ozzie, and certainly Nick.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 11/22/09 at 01:47 PM ET

.remember that Ted Lindsey, Gordie Howe, and Terry Sawchuck all played for teams

Lindsay and Sawchuck were traded because of Jack Adams. Lindsay was attempting to unionize the players and acquired far too much power. Sawchuck, I’m not sure about the exact reasons. More importantly, they all self-identified as Red Wings and the first two still hang out with the Wings.

Shanny is loved, thanked, and will be appropriately honored by the organization and fans. His number Will not and Should not be retired. I wish he and Sergei could both have their numbers retired but that’s just not going to happen, nor should it. They were not exceptional Wings for life like Stevie and Nick.

Also, if Shanny goes up, there is no way you can’t do the same for Ozzie. It’s a very slippery argument.

Posted by Osrt on 11/22/09 at 02:19 PM ET

Interesting issue.

Totally agree with Primis - - why is a NY writer making the case?  STFU.

Having said that, I think it speaks to Shanny’s awesome career that the issue even arises.  And it is a close call.

Agree too with OSRT - - what about Federov, and Ozzie?

And Hippy Dave, if the Wings don’t retire Nick - - there may be riots in Hockeytown.  That is a no brainer.

Not going to happen for Shanny - I don’t think.  Damn that is a tough call.

But I just don’t think Shanny is “legendary”.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/22/09 at 03:08 PM ET

Totally agree with Primis - - why is a NY writer making the case?  STFU.

He wants to be a faux Digger, perhaps?

This issue is why so many wish that the Wings had one of those “ring of fame” things like the Denver Broncos have. That would be perfect for Shanny, Ozzie, Federov and guys like Draper and Vladdie. And Shanny definitely deserves to be honored at the Joe, and will be.

But retiring the number seems just too high of an honor, given the guys that are already up there—all flat-out legends who are closely identified with the Red Wings, if not Wings for life. As Jeff says, the only guy who is a certified no-brainer to join them is Lidstrom; it’s ludicrous to think otherwise. And with a group this exclusive, I think that if there is any room for debate, then that almost automatically disqualifies the player. Maybe that’s too high a standard, but is there any higher standard in sports than the men who wore numbers 1, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 19?

Posted by Bella on 11/22/09 at 05:33 PM ET

Had Brian Leetch played for another NHL team it’s doubtful his number would have been retired or that he’d be a HHoFer.

While I agree with you that the Rangers’ list of stars can not compare to the Red Wings over the course of their respective histories. Brian Leetch is a 1st ballot Hall of Famer, and deservedly so.
- A Calder
- 2 Norris Trophies
- A Conn Smythe
- 1 0f 8 D-men with 1000 career points
- 1 of 5 D-men with 100+ points in a single season
That resume would get any player(playing for any team) into the HHOF.

As far as his number being retired, I don’t know. It seems to be a different criteria for every team in the league. Just look at Colorado for one example. They retired Ray Bourque’s number (77), yet they haven’t retired Peter Stastny’s (26) or Michel Goulet’s (16). That’s just nuts.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 11/22/09 at 08:32 PM ET

They will retire #5. #30 - maybe, but I can’t see them retiring #14. Sure, he was an important part of the team for a long time, but he arrived a star and left a star. Everyone else in the rafters proved themselves here. Ted and Terry’s departure wasn’t of their own free will (and Ted returned as a player and later a GM). Gordie left to play with his sons in semi-retirement.

I don’t want the Wings to be like the Habs and retire everyone who skated well in-house for a few seasons. The Habs have a rich history, but the Wings also have a future. We’ll need numbers for the next generation of HHoF members.

Posted by matt from ohio on 11/22/09 at 11:50 PM ET

They retired Ray Bourque’s number (77), yet they haven’t retired Peter Stastny’s (26) or Michel Goulet’s (16). That’s just nuts.

Posted by Lindas1st

Avsrock posted that the Quebec owners who control the rights to the “Nordique” franchise won’t allow the Avs to put up anything that was done in Quebec. Not even Sakic’s years there. That’s why Stastny and Goulet are not in the rafters.

Posted by Osrt on 11/23/09 at 04:52 AM ET

Posted by Osrt

Thanx for that information. I didn’t know that.
It would be kind of crazy retiring numbers 16 & 26 without any reference to Stastny & Goulet’s playing days for the Nordiques.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 11/23/09 at 01:35 PM ET

Look Red Wings Hardware for Shanny’s case. I can’t link it from work, but it compares Shanny’s numbers with those already retired by the Wings.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 11/23/09 at 01:42 PM ET