Mmmmm I wear 25 so I’d say no. I want to have it as an option just in case I get drafted by the senators, ya know?
And no, I don’t think the fact that I’m 34 and play a brand of hockey best described as “maybe he’s a lefty” is relevant
GLFR_59
He was a huge part of Ottawa’s few successful years. He was feared by every team’s tough guy and he could play.
Considering Ottawa’s history, he qualifies as an impact player for over a decade:
StPatrick174
Sometimes players have a certain impact on franchises and fanbases that don’t show up on the Stat sheet.
pizzaline
1000 games as an enforcer.
He’s an Ottawa all time legend, from the outside he isn’t the typical jersey retirement.
He’s loved by all who grew up watching the peak sens so far
Squancher_2442
He meant a lot to the Ottawa fanbase. So in ok with it. It’s not like he’s going to hall of fame. It’s what a local market can do to honour their guys.
Throwawayaway23848
Yeah sometimes it’s what they mean to the fan base. As an Leaf fan, I remember the frustration of his grit and also that he wasn’t one of those grinders that you couldn’t leave alone on the ice or they’ll put one in the back of the net. Man played almost 13 years with one team and some of my friends/ppl I know who are Sens fans love him for what he’s done for the team on and off the ice.
I think it’s totally fine. I mean as a Leaf fan, if people were fine with putting Wendell Clark’s number up in our rafters, who’s best contribution to the team was probably getting traded away to net us Sundin, then we should have nothing to say about this one 😂
Edit: Ooh almost forgot that reacquiring him cost us the pick that became Roberto Luongo… BRB casually heading to the acc with scissors
OlTommyBombadil
Not in the traditional sense, but I’m not a Sens fan and defer to them for this. If they’re cool with it, we should be too. It’s their team.
closetpole
Terry O’Reilly has his number retired with the Bruins so this isn’t crazy to me. While he was more effective on offense than Neil his number wasn’t retired for that reason, his biggest contributions didn’t show up on the scoresheet (except PIM) and he was a very important piece on those Bruins teams
DummyThlck
As a kid one of the main players I remember hating on the sens was Neil. So yeah, I’d say so.
emeraldraf
In Ottawa sure. He means a lot to the organization.
Proof-Bid-8621
No, but he was a huge part of the franchise, the city, never left. The guy would stand up for anyone. I’ve met him in a casual environment, had some beers with him, he is an amazing person.
tritongamez
Thus question is always asked, and the answer always is that « Numbers are never retired ONLY because of the numbers, and more so the impact that player had on that specific team ».
sc083127
I don’t follow senators but maybe he’s similar to devils’ Daneyko who was lifetime devil
Fatcats2011
As someone who grew up in ottawa, This guy was a city legend he was unbelievably active in the community, beloved by the fans, played his whole career here, bled for this team.
I understand he was a career 3rd liner but his impact on this team and city ran much deeper then sport. As a sens fan id say he is well deserving of this honor.
Hiph0p0p0tamusttv
Neil’s retirement is a Litmus test for how long you have watched hockey. If you don’t think a player like Neil deserves it, you’re under 30 and don’t know the era he played in.
2Hanks
The Lightning gonna retire Andre Roy and Zenon Konopka next lol
DabsDoctor
You know I think about Pittsburgh and some of the great talent they’ve had through the years—Andy Bathgate, Pierre Larouche, Michel Briere, Rick Kehoe, Randy Carlyle, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Mullen, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey, Mark Recchi, Larry Murphy, Tom Barrasso…and I look up in the rafters and see…21 and 66…
C’mon Ottawa.
Ok_Tooth1831
Cmon lol
Super_Pomegranate_13
For Ottawa it is.
aboveaveragebenjamin
Great team guy but it’s a no for me.
GrandpaMofo
No.
nicholasccc95
I remember when I was like 12 at my first wings game I sat right next to the penalty box, and when he was in it I remember looking at him and he looked real scary, slamming his stick on the glass behind him at some fans talking shit. As a little boy I was just looking at him like, 😳
Tuques
On the sens I’d say yup. But not for the rest of the league. Outside of Ottawa, no one ever really cared and he didn’t have a huge league-wide impact
rickm1987
No
Fun_Doughnut_4537
Definitely not
CrazyRacey
He will always be my all time favourite player. We still yell put in Neil when a bad call or play happens. Still feels like he’s on his way on the ice to drop to gloves for the team ❤️ GO Neiler!!
interactivemark
That’s up to the Sens. Teams can retire a jersey for whatever reason they choose but usually because the fans want them to. For example, when the Rangers finally respond to my petition to have Nick Fotiu’s #22 raised to the rafters at MSG it won’t be any other fanbase’s concern.
Which-Astronomer638
Nah
lykes_2_fly
No
Blynasty
No
pbrebber
Ottawa is that bad
shanster925
No.
sheldonOrange
Good? No. Beloved by sens fans enough for it? Seems so
33 Comments
Mmmmm I wear 25 so I’d say no. I want to have it as an option just in case I get drafted by the senators, ya know?
And no, I don’t think the fact that I’m 34 and play a brand of hockey best described as “maybe he’s a lefty” is relevant
He was a huge part of Ottawa’s few successful years. He was feared by every team’s tough guy and he could play.
Considering Ottawa’s history, he qualifies as an impact player for over a decade:
Sometimes players have a certain impact on franchises and fanbases that don’t show up on the Stat sheet.
1000 games as an enforcer.
He’s an Ottawa all time legend, from the outside he isn’t the typical jersey retirement.
He’s loved by all who grew up watching the peak sens so far
He meant a lot to the Ottawa fanbase. So in ok with it. It’s not like he’s going to hall of fame. It’s what a local market can do to honour their guys.
Yeah sometimes it’s what they mean to the fan base. As an Leaf fan, I remember the frustration of his grit and also that he wasn’t one of those grinders that you couldn’t leave alone on the ice or they’ll put one in the back of the net. Man played almost 13 years with one team and some of my friends/ppl I know who are Sens fans love him for what he’s done for the team on and off the ice.
I think it’s totally fine. I mean as a Leaf fan, if people were fine with putting Wendell Clark’s number up in our rafters, who’s best contribution to the team was probably getting traded away to net us Sundin, then we should have nothing to say about this one 😂
Edit: Ooh almost forgot that reacquiring him cost us the pick that became Roberto Luongo… BRB casually heading to the acc with scissors
Not in the traditional sense, but I’m not a Sens fan and defer to them for this. If they’re cool with it, we should be too. It’s their team.
Terry O’Reilly has his number retired with the Bruins so this isn’t crazy to me. While he was more effective on offense than Neil his number wasn’t retired for that reason, his biggest contributions didn’t show up on the scoresheet (except PIM) and he was a very important piece on those Bruins teams
As a kid one of the main players I remember hating on the sens was Neil. So yeah, I’d say so.
In Ottawa sure. He means a lot to the organization.
No, but he was a huge part of the franchise, the city, never left. The guy would stand up for anyone. I’ve met him in a casual environment, had some beers with him, he is an amazing person.
Thus question is always asked, and the answer always is that « Numbers are never retired ONLY because of the numbers, and more so the impact that player had on that specific team ».
I don’t follow senators but maybe he’s similar to devils’ Daneyko who was lifetime devil
As someone who grew up in ottawa, This guy was a city legend he was unbelievably active in the community, beloved by the fans, played his whole career here, bled for this team.
I understand he was a career 3rd liner but his impact on this team and city ran much deeper then sport. As a sens fan id say he is well deserving of this honor.
Neil’s retirement is a Litmus test for how long you have watched hockey. If you don’t think a player like Neil deserves it, you’re under 30 and don’t know the era he played in.
The Lightning gonna retire Andre Roy and Zenon Konopka next lol
You know I think about Pittsburgh and some of the great talent they’ve had through the years—Andy Bathgate, Pierre Larouche, Michel Briere, Rick Kehoe, Randy Carlyle, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Mullen, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey, Mark Recchi, Larry Murphy, Tom Barrasso…and I look up in the rafters and see…21 and 66…
C’mon Ottawa.
Cmon lol
For Ottawa it is.
Great team guy but it’s a no for me.
No.
I remember when I was like 12 at my first wings game I sat right next to the penalty box, and when he was in it I remember looking at him and he looked real scary, slamming his stick on the glass behind him at some fans talking shit. As a little boy I was just looking at him like, 😳
On the sens I’d say yup. But not for the rest of the league. Outside of Ottawa, no one ever really cared and he didn’t have a huge league-wide impact
No
Definitely not
He will always be my all time favourite player. We still yell put in Neil when a bad call or play happens. Still feels like he’s on his way on the ice to drop to gloves for the team ❤️ GO Neiler!!
That’s up to the Sens. Teams can retire a jersey for whatever reason they choose but usually because the fans want them to. For example, when the Rangers finally respond to my petition to have Nick Fotiu’s #22 raised to the rafters at MSG it won’t be any other fanbase’s concern.
Nah
No
No
Ottawa is that bad
No.
Good? No. Beloved by sens fans enough for it? Seems so