New York Islanders: Retirement of John Tonelli’s No. 27 on Feb. 21 and Butch Goring’s No. 91 on Feb. 29

[MYIslanders]

This fan base knows how to get things done. I’d love to see it.

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[majormet]

If Butch scored 1600 points as an Islander, he should lost a point for every time he had to say toy department... so if only to spite Judas maybe... but I don't see retiring his number actually

 

[Poulin 0n My St1ck]

A little disingenuous, don't you think?

 

[PK Cronin]

No. The only reason people want it retired is to help forget Judas which is the wrong reason to retire his number. It also further opens the door for other numbers to be retired that shouldn't be.

 

[SI90]

John Tonelli first

 

[Islanders4Cups]

John Tonelli first

Very much agree with this.
Add Ken Morrow.

 

[mm11]

Very much agree with this.
Add Ken Morrow.

The original JT

 

[The Real JT]

The top 3 numbers retired are no brainers but after those how Tonelli is excluded mystifies me.

New management is doing everything right.

Here's their next project.

 

[mm11]

The top 3 numbers retired are no brainers but after those how Tonelli is excluded mystifies me.

New management is doing everything right.

Here's their next project.

Young Isles fans should go back and see some big Isles goals throughout history and #27 was always around.....I can't recall an Islander with a better motor ever and the Long Island fans loved the guy..

 

[crashthenet]

I am a big Goring fan. Conn Smythe winner. Part of the club's fabric at this point. Not sure about a retired number though.

 

[MatthewBarnabysTears]

It’s so bizarre (though, we all know the reasons) Lafontaine’s #16 wasn’t retired. What other franchise wouldn’t retire the number of a hall of famer who spent half the best years of his career there.

 

[JT27]

Young Isles fans should go back and see some big Isles goals throughout history and #27 was always around.....I can't recall an Islander with a better motor ever and the Long Island fans loved the guy..

Also, in addition to all great things he did for the Isles he was the MVP of the Canada Cup tournament in 1984 after an incredible gritty never-say-die performance.

 

[SI90]

Retire #27. Allow captain Lee to be the last one to wear #27 but retire it for Tonelli. Do it in the coliseum before we go to Belmont.

 

[xIsle]

He has his place in the Islanders Hall of Fame (like Bob Bourne, Kenny Jonsson, John Tonelli, Ken Morrow, etc.) But not a "big enough player" to have his number retired.

Even the withdrawal of Bob Nystrom's number seems far-fetched to me. I don't think we should continue in this direction.

 

[TheBigBadCat]

John Tonelli first

I agree 1000 %

 

[ScaredStreit]

I love Butch...but if he wore #92 would anybody really be calling for his retirement of a number now? The answer is obviously no. Retiring his number to get at Tavares (who doesn't care btw), is petty and quite frankly embarrassing for Butch. Tavares left the team and we're doing better than we have in decades. Get. Over. It.

 

[eoin92]

I love Butch...but if he wore #92 would anybody really be calling for his retirement of a number now? The answer is obviously no. Retiring his number to get at Tavares (who doesn't care btw), is petty and quite frankly embarrassing for Butch. Tavares left the team and we're doing better than we have in decades. Get. Over. It.

If you’re still concerned with getting back at Tavares, and honestly f*** that guy, win the god damn cup.

 

[ScaredStreit]

If you’re still concerned with getting back at Tavares, and honestly **** that guy, win the god damn cup.

Exactly. The only thing that would bother him is seeing Lee lift the cup and thinking "that could have been me".

 

[SI]

Tonelli
Lafontaine
Sutter

Before Goring

 

[LeapOnOver]

Another vote for Brent Sutter

 

[LeapOnOver]

And I think I'm officially healed....I didn't even think of Tavares or 91 when I read this post. I just took it for what its worth and then saw it in the comments.

 

[19 in a row]

Rather than retire 91, I would have given it to the 14th forward on the roster. I wanted Ross to have it before the season.

I loved Goring but before his 91, you would have to do at least 27, 3, 7, 14 and 21 just from the cup winning teams. So many good players on those teams, but retiring a number is special. 19, 22, 5, definite, and I was fine with 31 and 9.

Of the retired numbers I think the controversy is due to retiring Nystrom. Tonelli was a better player, but Nystrom was Mr Islander, fan favorite.

 

[LetsGoIslanders]

You are moron if you don't think Goring deserves to be in rafters.

Goring #91 should be hoisted in the new Belmont Arena. And no, don't be petty, it shouldn't be against Toronto.

He is part of the fabric of the Islanders. He is the guy that solidified the dynasty. He was a coach in the during the darkest days of the club. He went from fumbling sentences with Howie, to a great color guy with Brendan Burke.

f*** Tonelli. He never raised his head until the latest ownership group brought everyone on board.

 

[Chardo]

It's worth noting that Goring only played 29% of his career games as an Islander.

 

[PK Cronin]

You are moron if you don't think Goring deserves to be in rafters.

Goring #91 should be hoisted in the new Belmont Arena. And no, don't be petty, it shouldn't be against Toronto.

He is part of the fabric of the Islanders. He is the guy that solidified the dynasty. He was a coach in the during the darkest days of the club. He went from fumbling sentences with Howie, to a great color guy with Brendan Burke.

**** Tonelli. He never raised his head until the latest ownership group brought everyone on board.

Last I checked teams don't retire player numbers because of what players did after their careers, but I could be wrong. That's a bad precedent to set and I'd reserve retired numbers for only the most important and elite players for a franchise. I'm opposed to teams retiring numbers of players that split their careers all over the place, against it for players that never win a cup too. HHOF inductee? Great, did you win with the team? No? I'm probably against the retiring of your number.