disillusioned ez

Monday night. It's finally here (almost)

For anyone who thinks he doesn't deserve it (or the HOF for that matter),
consider the following (from bostonbruins.com -
http://www.bostonbruins.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?type=FS&id=866)...

"He ended his Bruins career with 344 goals and 246 assists for 590 points
with 921 penalty minutes in 525 regular season games, an average of 1.12
points per game and .655 goals per game. He remains fourth on the club's
all-time goal scoring list and ninth overall in the team's scoring history.
His NHL career totals were 395 goals and 299 assists for 694 points in 726
career games and his lifetime goals-per-game average of .544 is tied for
11th overall in NHL history.

He is the team's all-time leading playoff goal scorer with 55 and ranks
seventh on the playoff points list with 87 career Bruins playoff points in
86 career post-season games in Boston. He twice played in Stanley Cup
Finals, in 1988 and 1990 vs. Edmonton, and scored the series-clinching goal
in the Adams Division Final vs. Montreal on April 26, 1988 when the Bruins
defeated the Canadiens in a playoff series for the first time since 1943.
His .613 overall goals-per-game playoff average (57 goals in 93 post-season
games) ranks fourth all-time in NHL history, trailing only Mario Lemieux
(.710), Mike Bossy (.659) and Maurice Richard (.617)."

PS - GO PATS!

--
http://www.standard-deviation.net/

:-Þ

propp

AFAIC, neither Neely or O'Reilly #'s should be retired. As much as I loved
watching both play, neither are HOF bound. Both represent a tenacity and grit
that leaves a favorable memory, but has all been eliminated from present day NHL
play(and which may explain the continued failing fan base).
That being said, there is no disrespect for either. Both played in a tougher
league, with players of a caliber different from what we see today...many of
whom played out their careers with little recognition from anyone but their home
fans. Time may make our memories fonder, but it does not increase the stats.
IMO it's nothing more than pandering to the hardcore base of those who grew up
and remain Bruins fans, despite our continued criticism of the club. We've been
****ered by a long playoff streak and hollow promises, during and thereafter,
only to keep our owner profitable and pursuing his other interests...

david urbonas

This is an honor given by the team, not the NHL. This is our chance to show
appreciation for players like Neely (and O'Reilly), who may or may not have
the hard numbers to get into the HOF, but whose contributions to the team
went well beyond goals and points. I'm sure those of us who watched Cam
every game appreciate him more than HOF voters who usually just saw his
numbers on a score sheet.

Both guys were legends in Boston for their desire and heart, not just their
stats. What I admire Neely for above everything else is the commitment and
tenacity he showed coming back from 2 career ending injuries (hence my son's
name, Cameron). I think Bruins fans appreciate guys who excel while
battling adversity and getting the absolute most out of what they have, more
than fans in most other places, so what's wrong with recognizing these guys
for it?

PS: If you still don't agree, at least they're not the Celtics, who have
retired so many numbers they will need to add a 3rd digit to their jerseys
soon. If the Bruins were as aggressive as the Celtics, we'd be retiring #10
for Rick Smith by now.


been

thereafter,

john

post-season

Last line says it all, look at the crowd he is with.

--
John

reefer madness

I thought Hodge jr would get #10....or maybe he could share it with Ratelle

bitter beezy

The HOF argument is virtually irrelevant. To me, there are two
distinct categories - numbers and what the guy meant to the club,
city, etc. Both Taz and Neely are worthy.

If you had asked me 15 years ago, there'd probably be no question
about Taz (put it up) It's easy to forget what he meant to the team on
a game by game basis. Memories fade and the cynicism towards the
motives for retiring the numbers is pretty high. Even I felt a tinge
of it when they put O'Reilly's number up - I was thinking Bucyk, Orr,
Espo....Taz? How many G&A did he have? But that wasn't the point. And
for Neely, the cynics say it's about revenues. They get a sellout on a
Monday night. SO WHAT. The guy was the quintessential Boston Bruin. He
had it all. Neely's numbers are on the edge of a HOF induction, but
he epitomized an "era" (term used loosely) in this club's history,
just as Taz did in the post-Cup years.

So now, the good news/bad news is that there are no viable candidates
for another jersey in the rafters. That's where I agree with you -
e-nough! .No Cheevers, no Cashman... and it's way too early to even
think about anyone else.

bitter beezy

FYI

Debating this now on the NEHJ Show http://www.1510thezone.com

Saturday 10am or so.

tboglarski

No disrespect here to O'Reilly or Neely, but Jean Ratelle was a better player
than both of them.
You have no idea how laughable it is to mention Hodge Jr. in the same sentence
as Mr. Ratelle.

disillusioned ez

It doesn't have to.

On the retired number front...

"He remains fourth on the club's all-time goal scoring list and ninth
overall in the team's scoring history."

"He is the team's all-time leading playoff goal scorer with 55 and ranks
seventh on the playoff points list with 87 career Bruins playoff points in
86 career post-season games in Boston."

And the HOF...

"...and his lifetime goals-per-game average of .544 is tied for 11th overall
in NHL history."

"His .613 overall goals-per-game playoff average (57 goals in 93 post-season
games) ranks fourth all-time in NHL history, trailing only Mario Lemieux
(.710), Mike Bossy (.659) and Maurice Richard (.617)."

disillusioned ez

Exactly.