The spirited debate the other day about whether the Kings should retire Rob Blake’s jersey led me to a question: who, if anyone, should join Marcel Dionne, Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Dave Taylor and Rogie Vachon on the Staples Center wall?
There are a few potential candidates. Blake ranks seventh in franchise history in points (494) and 11th in goals (161), both highs among defensemen. Jim Fox ranks eighth in points (479) and ninth in goals (186). Butch Goring ranks fifth in goals (275) and sixth in points (659). Bernie Nicholls ranks fourth in goals (327) and fifth in points (758). Charlie Simmer ranks seventh in goals (222) and ninth in points (466). Then there’s Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Miller, who could be honored the way the Lakers honored Chick Hearn, with a banner that featured a microphone rather than a number.
Or, perhaps, do you think the Kings should wait and see how this generation of players turns out before they retire any more numbers? You can vote below, and you can vote for as many choices as you feel are worthy…
Simmer!!
Miller can’t be retired until he actually retires.
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RLane420 Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
@VanKingsFan, BINGO!
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Shaddow44 Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
@VanKingsFan,
Exactly. He is the only one truly in a position to be honoured as a life long King. But he is still going strong. Kind of like the life time acheivement awards that are given to people who are still active in whatever they are being honored for. What will they do next?
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luc20rules Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
@VanKingsFan, I generally agree with that. The only exception is a case like Vin Scully who’s love of broadcasting the game so great that he will never retire and at 80% of his greatness is still better than 90% of of others in his field. So if Bob were 80+ years old I would say honor him now even if he is still working, but I don’t think he is that close to that milestone yet.
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Buster Reply:
June 12th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
@VanKingsFan,
I’ve been calling this for some time, but one thing stands in the way: Kopitar. My suggestion is to wait till he’s retired and cover both jersey retirements at the same time.
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Buster Reply:
June 12th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
If I’m not mistaken, doesn’t Miller have a press box named after him?
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Dominick Reply:
June 12th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
@VanKingsFan,
I’m torn.Yes,but he does already have a place in the hall of fame.Basically he won’t ever retire till he is either too sick to do it,or dead.In either case I don’t think he’ll be around much to enjoy it.
I for one would like to commemerate the man,not the memory.I’d like to know what Foxy would say on this subject,and that would make me happy.
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I voted nobody, I think retiring a number should really go to a player who was exemplary in many areas, not just a Hall of Famer, otherwise we will have way to many retired jerseys and it won’t mean very much. With all the numbers off limits, soon the players will sport CA license plate numbers.
The only one that I can see as an exception on your list is Bob Miller and he wouldn’t have a jersey. Hopefully they do something before he retires.
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Why retire any more until someone actually brings in the cup? What kind of message is it to have a bunch of retired numbers for players who were never able to bring it all home?
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VanKingsFan Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
@Cricket, So would you take all of them down?
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Cricket Reply:
June 12th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
@VanKingsFan,
No way would I take any home. I just mean that it’s going to get a bit ridiculous (in my opinion) having any more numbers retired without even having a won a cup as a franchise.
The Lakers are one of the greatest sports franchises in history and they only have a couple more retired numbers than we have.
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RJC76 Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
@Cricket,
Because no 1 player brings it all home…it’s a team game.
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I picked Bob Miller because he does deserve to be honored as the voice of the Kings. However, I do not think any other past King deserve to be honored with a retired jersey. There are a couple current Kings I do believe have the potential to earn it but the 20-year gap between Gretzky/Robitaille and any current player jersey’s being hung up should serve as an indictment of how poorly past regimes managed their teams.
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number 6 Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
@Daniel,
exactly
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Bob Miller hands down. Nobody calls the game better next season just close your eyes for a minute or two and see what I`m talking about he not only calls the game he paints a very clear picture for those of us that cant see the tv very well.
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I said Miller because he’s been around for so long and everyone just loves him. The fact that he’s one of the best commentators ever to call a hockey game period just adds to the fact.
If he wasn’t on the list, I would have picked Simmer for sure. Dionne and Taylor are already there. Would be nice to have that whole line there
Would the Kings be the first team to have a whole signature line retired?
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I have been a season ticket holder for many years, and have forked over big money to watch a product that has been less than stellar for most of that time. They should put up a jersey with my name on it – with a dollar sign on it instead of a number….
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VanKingsFan Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
@rick, where would the team be without you Rick…
nobody forced your wallet open
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rick Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
@VanKingsFan, I was (trying) to be funny. It’s Friday.
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USHA#17 Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
@rick,
Let me know if your successful and get your banner… I’ll apply for reimbursement for all those Forum Beers I cried in
USHA#17 Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
@rick,
If you get your banner maybe I’ll apply to be reimbursed for all the Forum Beers I cried in.
luc20rules Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
@rick, Maybe Luc will pick up on the USHA#17 concept. Next year the Kings will have one of those annoying Grocery Store Cards, and monitor how many 10+$ beers a fan buys over the season and they will start retiring Fan Jerseys with a Beer Mug instead of a #. Just make sure one of the season ticket holders in each group is a sober designated driver.
Bob Miller should have that honor and it should be done sooner rather than later.
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Lewes Reply:
June 16th, 2010 at 11:30 am
@JWR, Absolutely agree 100%. I think he should be honored BEFORE he retires, because I honestly think (like the great Chick Hearn) it could be his death that forces his retirement (although I think he still has a lot of great years left).
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Bob Miller, who has for decades and decades made a game fun and interesting even in the face of knowing we were going to lose many more times than not. I honestly believe the King’s fan base would have withered to nothing if not for Bob. He essentially kept hockey alive in California for a long stretch.
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I think Bob deserves something along the line of what Chick Hearn got up in the rafters (although a statue outside would be a little much).
No other player can even be considered at this point, but I don’t foresee anyone else ever wearing the number 8 for the Kings if the last two years were any indication.
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number 6 Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
@Istillhategrantfuhr,
Bob is a gentle and kind human being. I had the opportunity to meet him many years ago. As pointed out, it’s almost incredible what an exceptional talent he is, and how he managed to be such with such amazingly mediocre teams for so long. He absolutely merits it. Not only that, but to see just how much he means to all of us. 18,000 people giving him a long and extended standing ovation.
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#8 Drew Doughty
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Bob Miller.
Note that most teams tend to retire numbers for players that lead them to championships. That obviously in not an option here.
The only player I would consider would be Bernie Nichols. Blake, no.
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Blake at some point in the future. Would suggesting that the team retire Mark Hardy’s number be poorly timed right now?
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Marc Nathan Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
@Will Hutchison, Hardy wore THREE different numbers, MAYBE FOUR during his stay(s) with the Kings, so… let’s just hope we don’t have to retire his booking number!
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Foxy should have his coif retired in the Great Hair Coverage Hall of Fame. His scalp coverage and prolific use of pomade, AquaNet and hair gel is truly unfair to the rest of us…
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Kings Fan In Idaho Reply:
June 14th, 2010 at 6:30 am
@KingsFan,
LOL, I think maybe you are jealous…or losing your hair. Okay, maybe just trying to be funny. It made me laugh.
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I choose Butch Goring. With him and Vachon on the ice we had the very best at breakaways. However, I would rather they hold this honor for a while.
Over the years, the Kings have had a lot of great players but the rafters should be held for leaders in all aspects. They should be leaders on the ice, in the locker room and in the hearts of the fan base. Of the choices, Butch Goring is the only one that fits all.
Bob Miller will be up there when he retires.
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HeyChief Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
@JGSmall,
I also voted for Butchie. Was there ever a more popular King? Well Maybe, but in his day he was a fan favorite. Unfortuately, he won all his Stanley Cups with the Islanders. Does that disqualify him from retiring his jersey?
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BringBackTheShieldJersey Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
@HeyChief,
Yes.
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How about we win the Cup before we start retiring any more numbers?
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I voted Jim Fox and Bob Miller, but not in that order. Bob is pretty much a no brainer, but of course, do it when he retires. Same for Foxy.
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txkingfan Reply:
June 12th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@MR King, I’m sorry, Jim Fox was a mediocre player at best. Unfortunately he is a better color man than he was a player. Sorry, don’t mean to be an ass but let’s not let our emotions get the best of us here.
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MR King Reply:
June 12th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
@txkingfan,
Just cause you didn’t mean to be one doesn’t mean you weren’t.
Bob Miller wasn’t even a player at all. So what? Bob and Jim were, are, and forever will be the VOICE of the Kings for me. The poll asks who should be honored. I think they should both be honored, WHEN THEY RETIRE, for being dedicated to the Kings organization. Just like Chick Hearn got his microphone banner for his coverage of the Lakers.
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# 9 Bernie Nicholl’s was a dynamic player and consistently put up solid numbers. I would also put Steve Duchene’s name in the mix as well
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smoKING gun Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
** As far as Bob Miller goes, he already gets enough recognition with a BHOF status, his lifetime contract, etc and will get more accolades when he retires. I hope the Kings win a cup while he’s still around but I’m not a hockey fan because the play by play guys are great. Irrelevant!
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I think they should retire your jersey mr rich hammond.
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number 6 Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
@USCG,
Rich doesn’t wear a jersey (that I know of). He tends to wear sports coats … at least to the games.
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In about 15 years, retire:
11 Anze Kopitar
8 Drew Doughty
3 Jack Johnson
45 Jon Bernier
5 Brayden Schenn
4 Thomas Hickey
23 Dustin Brown
You know, the core of the Kings dynasty that won 7 Stanley Cups between 2011 and 2025 =)
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Eberlin Reply:
June 14th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
@Garrett, you forgot to mention retiring Juraj Mikus’ infinity symbol. In the meantime, changing the trophy’s name to Lord Mikus Cup might be a good start in honoring the man.
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exactly why are we retiring so many numbers? Is it because we need them to go along with all the stanley cup banners in the rafters? it really is ridiculous how we retire these players, as great as they may be, when they never even accomplished the thing they came out to do, win the cup!
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Shoudnt the person retire before his number? Bobs number/symbol should most definetly be hung up, But lets wait till he is done.
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Definitely Bob, once he retires that is.
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Honestly, I would rather retire the PLAYER Bob Miller’s number before I’d see Rob Blake’s jersey on the wall.
Of course, if Rob were actually IN IT, and left to hang for an extended period of time, with season seat holders able to hit him pinata style with a hockey stick, that might be a marketing bonanza. Stuff him with the 12 mill he stole from AEG over his last two King seasons…
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We need an anti jersey for alot of the x-Kings out there.Start with Aki berg,and work up.Put’em on the floor next to the toilet,so that next time I’m drunk and miss,I’ll still hit something.
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Mattias Norstrom.
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whoa!!! lets not put up a jersey for Bob until he retires. jeesh!!!! hold ur horses…… when he retires, absolutely retire a jersey for him
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Kinda off topic…..does anyone remember Bob’s comb-over back in the 90′s? Not to pick on Mr. Miller, but I am sure glad he bit the bullet and chopped that thing off! My dad and I always wondered why he let it go for so long, but we got a good chuckle out of it.
No disrespect Bob…we love you!
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Bob Miller hands down!
I can’t tell you how annoying melodramatic ‘Doc’ Emrick was to listen to. I feel for the Devils fans who have to listen to him for a full season.
On the other hand, Bob is smooth. He raises his excitement accordingly. He’s not shouting “Ooooooooooooooooh blah blah blah…..” on every play.
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Those who aren’t voting for Simmer, Nicholls, or Goring are probably too young to remember them play. You guys are mistaken for not voting for them, especially Simmer and Nicholls.
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I would like to see Anschutz and Leiweke hanging on the Staples Center wall….
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Putting up a banner would be a great and fitting honor, but please, please, please Kings…get Bob Miller a Cup.
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Bob Miller for sure.
Blake next i guess, but no one comes close to Bob
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How about we retire Mark Hardy’s number…prison number…
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Old Man Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
@The Hockey Don,Thank`s i needed a laugh today.
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Marc Nathan Reply:
June 12th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
@Old Man, Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
See:
Marc Nathan Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 3:54 PM
@Will Hutchison, Hardy wore THREE different numbers, MAYBE FOUR during his stay(s) with the Kings, so… let’s just hope we don’t have to retire his booking number!
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No one other than Bob Miller deserves to be up there & I’d bet all the players jerseys who are up there would agree.
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Ok Miller will be up there for sure one day!
If we are talking a # then no one at this time!
Blake maybe one day maybe! They should retire his Vollyball # since he played on Manhattan beach all summer and never did what Brown did as a Captian and said lets all get in shape this summer and take this team to next level. Blake never did that as a C and all he did was play Volly with his friends and his NHL Buddies. Then getting the team ready for Oct!!??
Now Brown said, lets get the team working in Aug and make the playoffs and he did it! Now thats a Captian who takes his team to next level of pro sports. Future Brown for life in LA, if you ask me and a ture leader since Taylor wore the C.
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Bob Miller.
This one was easy, let’s just wait til he retires first.
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I picked nobody. The most deserving on that list IMO is Bob Miller. You wanna honor Bob Miller? How about winning a cup for him. I bet he would love that more than anything else.
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Buck Flake.
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Once Bob Miller retires Figueroa should be renamed to Miller Way. What an honor that would be for the legend.
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Edward Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
@macdup,
Now THAT would be ideal! Naming a block or two along Figueroa at Staples MILLER WAY is a dandy idea! Similar to the street in front of Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati called PETE ROSE LANE. Since the Hall has snubbed Pete, his hometown hasn’t.
Bob should get a banner at Staples but if the press box is named for him, that is tribute enough. As far as players go, let’s wait until the Kings exit mediocre, which was the history of the franchise before and after Wayne Gretzky. Simmer had several great years as being Dionne & Taylor’s LW however before and after, Simmer was just average.
I think there are enough retired jerseys.
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For anyone who doubts Goring being the next to have a jersey retired should read this article.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/351722-butch-goring-was-the-la-kings-first-star-fan-favorite
Goring had the crown tattoo for sure! He turned down a $1M contract to defect to the WHA…to stay in LA. He would have had the highest paying hockey contract at that time. When traded to the Isles, he was in the 2nd year of a 6 year contract in LA…which would have most likely made him a life-long/career-long member of the Kings organization. He was one of the few, if not the only talent that came through the Kings farm system and stayed with the big club. Having met Butch several times, and having watched him play for the Kings from beginning to end…it is a travesty that his jersey and number have not reached the rafters at Staples. Shame on the Kings organization for being so short-sighted. Shame on the NHL for not sending Rogie Vachon to the HHoF too!
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In Order with reason why:
#1 – Bob Miller. Best hockey sportscaster in history. If he can be in the HOF without being retired, he can be on the friggin’ wall of Staples too. This needs to happen like YESTERDAY. His 50th anniversary in broadcasting is here, it would be a perfect way to honor that, maybe with the number #50.
#2 – Butch Goring. 11 seasons with the Kings. Consistent player, fan favorite, only player ever to be carried off the ice after a game. Gann Matsuda’s article back in February says it best: http://frozenroyalty.net/2010/02/24/butch-goring-was-the-la-kings-first-star-fan-favorite/
#3 – Charlie Simmer. 8 (Really 7) seasons with the Kings. 1/3rd of one of the all-tie best lines in hockey. 2/3rds of that line is in the rafters. Retire the line. It’s like a missing tooth up there.
#4 – Bernie Nichols. 9 seasons with the Kings. Put him in for the Pumpernicholl alone! He did it a lot, that might be another reason.
#5 – Jim Fox. 9 seasons with the Kings as a player, Next season will be 30 years with the franchise in some capacity. This guy is a King. How do you not honor his dedication to the franchise? Solid, top line player, Best in the business color commentator, this needs to happen a little down the road, but as a DUAL retirement with his number AND a teleprompter.
HON. Mentions – Daryl Evans & Peter Demers. Both long commitments to the franchise. Pete is a Kings HOFer already. Maybe that’s enough?
EVERY SINGLE ONE of these choices makes me smile when I think about seeing their numbers/symbols in the rafters. EACH ONE contributed incredible and lasting memories to the franchise and us fans. IMHO, these people belong up there.
Rob Blake does not belong on this list. His accomplishments with the franchise are better than average, but not so much memorable. The memorable stuff is mostly bad quite frankly. I know Rob has a nice side to him, but from a fan standpoint, it’s not Jersey retirement level. A King’s HOF level, yes, but not Jersey retirement.
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Cynic: My sentiments (and order) exactly.
With one exception. And it’s a trivial thing.
I would consider Bob Pulford. But, his number has already been retired by the Kings.
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Bob Miller…. absolutely.
Maybe not until he retires, but I don’t see that happening any time soon.
Rob Blake is the only one of those guys who I saw in my lifetime (early-90s guys I don’t count, because I hadn’t started really following yet).
But the first ever hockey player I met was Bernie Nicholls. It was back at the Forum, when he was with the Sharks. He was injured one game (I believe this was back in 1998, when I was only 8 years old) and was up in the press box-section thing they had back at the Forum. My dad recognized him, so we went up there to talk.
I don’t remember much, but I knew he was a great player with us in the ’80s. His numbers are staggering, especially that 70-goal, 150-point season in ’88-89. He signed a puck for me, and we had a great conversation. He was a class act and cared so much for the young fans.
He was the first great player I knew. He was before Gretzky and Robitaille, and had a great career. He wasn’t exactly the first King player I ever knew of (aside from #99 and #20, I remember the old days of Yanic Perrault, the Vopats, Fiset and Storr, and Steve Freakin’ McKenna), but he was a great person to meet as an 8-year old boy.
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I voted Goring but obviously at this point it probably won’t happen unfortunately.
Miller is another obvious choice but I wanted to get a vote in for Goring instead.
The other choice would have been NONE. I don’t believe any of the other choices quite have the merit, IMO.
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ABB = ANYONE But Blake.
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I didn’t take time to read through the 70 posts before I posted this, so forgive me if someone has already brought it up but….
Where is the “everyone but Blake option”?
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I feel like retiring anyone now is sort of an after thought. I do not think Blake deserves his jersey retired, although he was my favorite King in the 90′s. I think the Kings should wait and see what happens. I feel like the next players that could potentially have their jerseys retired by the Kings are Doughty or Brown. Just saying.
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Mattias Norstrom
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I agree with those that believe jersey retirement should be reserved to those making the spectacular happen. Of course Bob Miller should be honored in some way, later, and of those listed as possibilities, I like Bernie Nichols.
An interesting tid-bit concerning Jim Fox. If his number was retired, it would probably would be the “19″, but he also skated with number “4″ after giving 19 to Larry Robinson.
Granted, numbers retired would be under the player that had the most impact, but just who will always create controversy. Let’s keep jersey retirement to a minimum and save that space in the rafters for division, conference, AND CUP titles!
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Jersey retirements are for players who have hall of fame type careers. Blake, as much as I despise him, does fit into that category. Bob Miller, by virtue of the fact that he is in the HHOF, should be up on the wall.
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RETIRE NUMBER 8!!!!!
I’ve always been a fan of Terry Ruskowski!!! lol
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Guess who I want? BTW Tery Ruskowski? that’s a name from the past! How bout Don “Crazy” Kozak.
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There is no choice but Bob MIller for the very simple reason that he is the straight line thread thru all the other choices.
Bob MIller is us. Bob Miller has suffered through Kings history, just as we have, but there he is, excited at the drop of every first puck. How lucky we have been in LA to have Bob and Vin and Chick all working at the same time! It’s either been a wonderful mistake, or there really is something in the broadcast water here.
Get him up on the Wall now, and my suggestion is to not have a statue of Bob, but name the Metro Station across the parking lot from Staples Center “Miller Station”, because the people who love Bob most are those crazies in the upper bowl, the regular folks and true fans who love the Kings, just like Mr. Miller. Those are the people who ride the train and not the limos.
“Next stop, Miller Station!”
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Jari Kurri 17.
He was great.
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Surely not Blake, he runs where the money is and was never a true King like the jerseys that are hanging from the rafters now. They should retire his number in Colorado.
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Bob Miller, no question. All of the above were very good Kings in their time, shoot I’m surprised Daryl Evans name isn’t up there. But shoot, give it to Bob, the greatest hockey announcer of all time and possibly in all of sports history.
LA fans have been so blessed throughout the years. We’ve had the best announcers in all sports, Hearn, Scully & Miller. It doesn’t get any better than that!
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Win one for Bob! I think it would be great to see the Kings retire Bob’s Mic.
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