Anglesmith
Setting up the play?
As mentioned previously I think it promotes less individuality within the room.
But I was reading an old thread from 2013 that was just necro bumped saying that Dallas was doing this with their new management team. One of the posts mentioned a bunch of guys with their old numbers and then their new ones and it made me realize that the low numbers can also be symbolic that they a young player has now made it, a graduation of sorts.
Like when Backlund shed #60 and was given #11, or when Bouma went from #57 to #17, Matt Lombardi going from 49 to 18, Boyd from 41 to 16... etc.
I have been watching the game a long time and I am one of many who see high numbers and automatically think they are "training camp numbers" and I do look forward to seeing a young player "earning" his permanent number.
However I also have no problem if a player wants to "graduate" to a number higher than 35, I do believe that it should be a team assigned number until the player has earned a regular roster spot. I also believe they were too quick to (re)assign low numbers before last season. Knight & Monahan were never given training camp numbers and Horak/Bouma were re-assigned low numbers before camp.
But when it comes to new acquisitions and possible number changes I would like to see:
Sven Baertschi change from 47 to 27 when he makes the team full-time, again he was 27 throughout junior and it would serve as a symbol from Treliving and Burke that he has graduated to being an NHLer.
Johnny Gaudreau change from 53 to 13 when he makes the team full-time, as far as I can tell Johnny Hockey has always worn 13.
David Jones change from 54 to 25. He wore 23 through college and the AHL but was Milan Hejduk's number so Jones never changed away from his training camp number. 23 here is claimed as well, but I think it's time for a fresh number to symbolize a fresh start.
Joe Colborne from 8 to 22. Colborne wore #22 with both the Marlies and Providence Bruins as well as a bit for the Leafs, its obviously a number of choice for him.
Bill Arnold from 46 to 29 when he makes the team full-time. 24 is taken and the only difference is a line across the top of the 4but for me it's symbolic, Joel Otto is the player I associate with 29 and the player I would love to see Arnold become.
Tyler Wotherspoon from 56 to 26, he wore it in Portland and with team Canada.
Paul Byron from 32 to 15. I really don't like #32even though it's below 35, I feel like its just not a good number for a forward, I say give him 15 because it's available and is how old he looks
Mason Raymond should get #21, it 's the number he has worn all of his NHL career except last season where he wore #12 and that ain't happening here.
Jonas Hiller should get #1, it's the number he had before and a great number for goalies.
Brandon Bollig should get #19. He wore 18 in the USHL and AHL and 81 in college. 19 is a great hockey number and the number of former tough guy Tim Hunter who is the best Flames player to wear it to date.
Deryk Engelland should get #55. He's worn #5 for his entire pro career, so 55 makes sense. However if the Flames are serious about 1-35 numbers, then 8 is the most defenseman like number left (assuming Colborne changes)
Neat thoughts, AF. I disagree with Byron, because for whatever reason I've always liked the number 32 (yes, even before I heard of Byron). 32 has always been an industrious sort of number for me- in fact, I think that way about pretty much all numbers in the 30s when they're assigned to forwards- and that fits Byron perfectly.
By the way, notable number 32s include Dale Hunter and Stumpy.
