It was supposed to be a 鈥榝eel good鈥� story but instead it鈥檚 created a fire storm on social media.
The Vancouver Canucks announced earlier this week that Roberto Luongo is going to be recognized by the organization as part of the team鈥檚 鈥楻ing of Honour鈥� when the Florida Panthers visit Rogers Arena on Dec. 14.
That announcement created an intense on-line debate between those who believe鈥�
A 鈥� The Canucks insulted Luongo by not retiring his #1 jersey instead.
B 鈥� That Kirk McLean should be included in the #1 jersey retirement.
C 鈥� That McLean shouldn鈥檛 be a part of the #1 being retired.
D 鈥� That Luongo being named to the 鈥楻ing of Honour鈥� should suffice.
Yes, it maybe only late September but it鈥檚 clearly hockey season in Vancouver.
First off, you have to recognize Luongo鈥檚 outstanding career.
As a Canuck, Luongo ranks first in career wins (252), shutouts (38) and ranks second in games played (448), save percentage (.919) and goals against average (2.36). In 19 NHL seasons with the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers and Canucks, his resume made him a first-ballot Hall of Famer last year. Luongo鈥檚 overall numbers are impressive as he ranks second all-time in games played (1,044), fourth in wins (489) and ninth in shutouts (77) and save percentage (.918).
Despite all those accomplishments, there is still a faction of Canuck nation that holds Luongo鈥檚 playoff performances against him. I don鈥檛.
His career should warrant a jersey retirement but only as a Florida Panther - which that organization did on March 7, 2020 鈥� but not as a Canuck.
It鈥檚 interesting how some fans are angered that the organization has retired the numbers of Markus Naslund (19) and Stan Smyl (12) but refuses to do so for a Hall of Fame player in Luongo.
Again, I don鈥檛 feel that way and with good reason.
When it comes to my criteria for retiring a number, it鈥檚 pretty simple.
The individual in question has to have a combination of an outstanding career with the organization and has to be identified with that organization.
And a dealbreaker for me is asking to be traded from the organization in question - which Luongo and Pavel Bure both did.
I鈥檓 sorry but if a team is going to hang a player鈥檚 number from the rafters for eternity that player better have bled the team鈥檚 colors and always thought of himself as a member of that organization. Luongo doesn鈥檛 meet the criteria.
Yes, the numbers warrant a jersey retirement but I just don鈥檛 understand how you can bestow the highest honour an organization can give to a former player to someone who didn鈥檛 want to be part of your team and asked for a trade.
For some, it鈥檚 clearly not an issue but for me it鈥檚 a major issue.
What makes me chuckle is those who say that the bar has been lowered by retiring the numbers belonging to Naslund and Smyl. More on that later.
But yet retiring the number of someone who asked to be traded from your organization isn鈥檛 lowering the bar?
C鈥檓on man.
I understand that the Canucks have no criteria on record when it comes to the retiring of numbers, so to each his own but again I鈥檓 puzzled as to how you want someone in who wanted out.
As Canuck fans 鈥� and I consider myself one since the team joined the NHL in 1970 鈥� we are extremely loyal. We have to be considering what this organization has made us endure over the course of the last 53 years.
Shouldn鈥檛 you demand that same loyalty from those former players whose numbers are to be retired?
OVERTIME
The people who mock the Canucks for retiring Smyl鈥檚 number should educate themselves about the former winger. Smyl may not have the stats that those people would like but the organization has never had a player who was more dedicated to the organization both on and off the ice.
As a player, Smyl gave it everything he had on teams where taking the night off was an option for many. Currently the team鈥檚 Vice President of Hockey Operations, Smyl has been with the team since 1978 and is in his 45th year with the organization. If there is one TRUE Canuck, it鈥檚 Smyl.
As for Bure, he鈥檚 the most exciting player to don a Canuck uniform but I stand by my belief in players who ask to be traded from an organization should not have their numbers retired by that organization.
When it comes to Naslund, some great years as a Canuck but what鈥檚 lacking for me are those iconic moments that you remember a player for. I can see the argument on both sides when it comes to his number being retired but if I were forced to make a decision, I鈥檇 probably say no.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 鈥渢he Moj鈥� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday at Today in B.C. or your local Black Press Media website.
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