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Should #11 Be Retired?


Should Saku Koivu's Number 11 be Retired?  

201 members have voted

  1. 1. Should Saku Koivu's Number 11 be Retired?

    • Yes
      95
    • No
      106


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QUOTE (paul_b @ Jul 6 2009, 01:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
As much as I love Saku, I do not believe his number should be retired. I do believe if he moves on and signs with another team they should give him a nice tribute, let him know he was a big part of the habs.

As I for one can see this happenig for sure.

Would be a special emotional evening,one that he & all hab fans would not forget.

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I already did on Page # 2

He never won a Stanely Cup

An NHL award

scoring title

he holds no Hab or NHl records for goals, pts , assists etc

Other than being one of the longest serving captains in Hab history and the face of the Habs that the " newer " generation of fans could relate to why should he have his number retired

This im about to say will work both ways but where does it say he needs all that to have his number retired tho? hes done so much for montreal and its people. He's in my opinion went through the most as a captain.dark ages anyone? hes had no one to play with until JUST NOW i mean come on now. Hes done so much work with the kids in the hospitals and even won the king clancy award in 2007. He is what we all look for in a captain. Newer hab generation? Do you think honestly a NHL player these days will be drafted and retire a hab? koivu may not but he still has a chance to. Koivu stands for all the right things a HAB USE to be. He may have not won any of those titles you mentioned but you know what? he won the fans hearts.

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I already did on Page # 2

He never won a Stanely Cup

An NHL award

scoring title

he holds no Hab or NHl records for goals, pts , assists etc

Other than being one of the longest serving captains in Hab history and the face of the Habs that the " newer " generation of fans could relate to why should he have his number retired

And I already responded on page two with the example of Vancouver's Trevor Linden. It's not written anywhere that you need to be a points leader to have your jersey retired (even though Koivu's number 10 all time, mostly behind the elite players whose jerseys are already hanging). As for cup wins, that's a team thing anyway. Even Beliveau, would he have been able to win with any of the teams Saku's been on? I'd say probably not.

What has he done to deserve it? In short, he's captured the spirit of the Canadiens and the hearts of a city for 15 years (while playing at a high level the whole time). Points and records get you in the hall of fame, what you represent to a city and a franchise gets your jersey retired.

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I think it's a bit early to be even discussing this, but... I said "No." Saku's probably been my favorite hockey player, growing up, watching the game throughout the 90s. However, I just don't feel that he had enough on-ice success to warrant having his number retire. Now... If we want to say he deserves a tribute because of his community work... Well, yes, he definitely deserves that. However, if the criteria for having your number retired to the Bell Center rafters is on-ice success, then I have to say no to number 11.

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I think it's a bit early to be even discussing this, but... I said "No." Saku's probably been my favorite hockey player, growing up, watching the game throughout the 90s. However, I just don't feel that he had enough on-ice success to warrant having his number retire. Now... If we want to say he deserves a tribute because of his community work... Well, yes, he definitely deserves that. However, if the criteria for having your number retired to the Bell Center rafters is on-ice success, then I have to say no to number 11.

the thing is tho their isnt a criteria for numbers being retired take a look at trevor linden of the canucks having your number retired should be both on ice and off ice.

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the thing is tho their isnt a criteria for numbers being retired take a look at trevor linden of the canucks having your number retired should be both on ice and off ice.

Good point.

However, while Saku's still playing in the league there's no need to even consider it. We should wait until he career is over before we consider honouring him.

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the thing is tho their isnt a criteria for numbers being retired take a look at trevor linden of the canucks having your number retired should be both on ice and off ice.

Linden is second all time for van in goals scored and 1st in assists. 2nd in points and first in games played.

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I loved Koivu's heart. A classy gentleman but sorry, I'd retire many numbers before his. His tenure as captain, whether his fault or not, was the worst span in Habs history...no silverware, no glory IMHO. Best of luck in your future Saku!!!

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I loved Koivu's heart. A classy gentleman but sorry, I'd retire many numbers before his. His tenure as captain, whether his fault or not, was the worst span in Habs history...no silverware, no glory IMHO. Best of luck in your future Saku!!!

Yeah so we better start cracking on retiring all the greats of the 1970s *face palm* when are we going to start recognizing someone that is not that far back? i know the habs had great players way back then and won cups but they ALL had super stars on those rosters. I mean koivu will probably be the LAST player to ever captain this team for as long as he did and through as much crap as he did. Players just do not stay on a team unless they are a super star like ovechkin or crosby. Their is just soo many positives that go along with retiring his jersey then putting together a small tribute ppl are going to forget in a couple years...like someone said koivu represents THIS generation of habs players this generation grew up watching koivu not the players way back then in the 1970s. All this generation of hab fans only hear are stories of the past that does us no good at all. We actually went through all the stuff koivu went through with him. Why does points mean so much? why can't the person that has sweat and bled for the habs on and off the ice be recognized? I know winning the cup is the goal of the game but koivu hit so many different levels with the fans themselves....

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Most certainly yes. Honor him for all the years of service and dedication he has provided this franchise through almost his entire career. He has battled hard, fought numerous obstacles and still remained loyal despite the Francophones and media hounding him for not speaking French; furthermore he has contributed to Montreal with Cancer Research and on ice has led this team like no one else could in the past decade. It shouldn't be about numbers it should be about everything I have mentioned, which Koivu has shown.

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Yeah so we better start cracking on retiring all the greats of the 1970s *face palm* when are we going to start recognizing someone that is not that far back? i know the habs had great players way back then and won cups but they ALL had super stars on those rosters. I mean koivu will probably be the LAST player to ever captain this team for as long as he did and through as much crap as he did. Players just do not stay on a team unless they are a super star like ovechkin or crosby. Their is just soo many positives that go along with retiring his jersey then putting together a small tribute ppl are going to forget in a couple years...like someone said koivu represents THIS generation of habs players this generation grew up watching koivu not the players way back then in the 1970s. All this generation of hab fans only hear are stories of the past that does us no good at all. We actually went through all the stuff koivu went through with him. Why does points mean so much? why can't the person that has sweat and bled for the habs on and off the ice be recognized? I know winning the cup is the goal of the game but koivu hit so many different levels with the fans themselves....

LOL, so just ignore past greats because their older than you? LOL, better hit the history books.

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Linden is second all time for van in goals scored and 1st in assists. 2nd in points and first in games played.

Linden: 733 pts in 16 seasons

Koivu: 623 pts in 13 seasons (11 if you don't include his 3 games in 2001-2002 or his 24 games in 1999-2000)

Pretty comparable, Vancouver just doesn't have the Canadiens' rich history. You're missing my point anyway, which is that Linden wasn't retired for his point totals, he was retired for the intangibles.

Anyway, Jennfer_Rocket's right, obviously nothing's going to happen for years. I'm just saying that people don't need to look at jersey retirements as if they have the same criteria as hall of fame selection (ie points, awards). It's 100% what a player means to a city.

I doubt you'll see Lemaire's # retired, for example. He put up big numbers and was a great player, but he just didn't capture the crowd's attention like Lafleur, Cournoyer or Robinson.

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Linden: 733 pts in 16 seasons

Koivu: 623 pts in 13 seasons (11 if you don't include his 3 games in 2001-2002 or his 24 games in 1999-2000)

Pretty comparable, Vancouver just doesn't have the Canadiens' rich history. You're missing my point anyway, which is that Linden wasn't retired for his point totals, he was retired for the intangibles.

Anyway, Jennfer_Rocket's right, obviously nothing's going to happen for years. I'm just saying that people don't need to look at jersey retirements as if they have the same criteria as hall of fame selection (ie points, awards). It's 100% what a player means to a city.

I doubt you'll see Lemaire's # retired, for example. He put up big numbers and was a great player, but he just didn't capture the crowd's attention like Lafleur, Cournoyer or Robinson.

I realize Vancouver doesn't have the history of the Habs. Yet it's the TEAM that retires numbers, and he is the leader or near leader in most stats for that franchise. Thats why his number is retired.

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I realize Vancouver doesn't have the history of the Habs. Yet it's the TEAM that retires numbers, and he is the leader or near leader in most stats for that franchise. Thats why his number is retired.

I get what you're saying, but I respectfully disagree in this particular case. I was at the ceremony, his points totals were hardly mentioned the whole night. It was all about his community involvement, his courage and work ethic, his dedication to the team and his popularity with the fans. Talk to some long-time Canuck fans, they'll describe him using almost the exact same language most around here would use to describe Koivu.

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No i am not saying ignore them i am just saying koivu deserves his number retired thats all i am saying and hes this generations hero.

Agreed. I'm really on the fence with Saks...he was a good hearted leader but the team was a mess on and off the ice.

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It started in 1995. It ends in 2009. But it doesn't have to.

What do you think?

Should Saku Koivu's #11 be raised to the rafters?

I for one think "No" although he is my favorite hab. He was great in every way. A great leader. A great playmaker. But not amazing. When you think about it. He doesn't really belong with the Richard's and the Beliveau's. He's just not god enough of a player.

Do you agree or disagree?

I believe that Saku Koivu is the greatest captain of the Montreal Canadians and I think we owe it to him to retire his number and when ever he plays us with his future team

we should not boo him but aplaud him for all the heart he showed playing for this team and for all the years he showed that heart.

May Saku Koivu be remembered forever.....

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I get what you're saying, but I respectfully disagree in this particular case. I was at the ceremony, his points totals were hardly mentioned the whole night. It was all about his community involvement, his courage and work ethic, his dedication to the team and his popularity with the fans. Talk to some long-time Canuck fans, they'll describe him using almost the exact same language most around here would use to describe Koivu.

I hear ya as well. But without his point totals, would he still have his number retired? I really don't know.

It's a tough call on Koivu, but i just don't see it ever happening and I tend to agree with that.

I get what you're saying, but I respectfully disagree in this particular case. I was at the ceremony, his points totals were hardly mentioned the whole night. It was all about his community involvement, his courage and work ethic, his dedication to the team and his popularity with the fans. Talk to some long-time Canuck fans, they'll describe him using almost the exact same language most around here would use to describe Koivu.
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Koivu had a passion for this city, yes, and he brought a lot of heart, but we have to be realistic here, he wasn't a star player who carried the team deep into the playoffs....besides #11 is a sweet number and there will most certainly be a better #11 in the future

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In 5 to 10 years, we will be looking for a ceremony. We'll decide to retire another jersey. Now there are a few old timers who merit the honour, but how many players off the 70's team are you going to retire? Have not the main stars been retired? Maybe we retire Shutty. I loved th guy and am not going to object. Maybe we decide to retire Jacques Lemaire. As someone already posted, I don't see it that likely. Perhaps Carbo gets his number retired....representing the 86 and 93 cup....and then who? Eventually we will decide to retire a jersey from the Koivu era and guess what, who else are they going to pick other than Saku? Oh, maybe we should pick Ryder, or Kovalev or Higgins or Zednik? Maybe we should choose Markov. Let's face it, Koivu has been the best player on the habs in the last two decades. I've watched the Habs since 71 and in that time, there are some great memories. And bad memories. Two of the most memorable events, things I will remember all my life, involved Koivu. One was his return after defeating cancer, and the 8 minute standing ovation he received. The other was him getting his eye cut open, and the trail of blood that went from the corner of the rink to the bench. He came back from that too, just as he had come back from many injuries early in his career. He came back and posted his best season to date. This is a guy who has given more for this team than almost any other player in franchise history. To think that his jersey will not be retired is almost inconceivable.

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