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Carbo's number might be retired
But it's the Dallas Stars, not the Canadiens, who are thinking of honouring retired player

by Red Fisher for The Montreal Gazette, September 23, 2000

This Guy Carbonneau chap has a way of getting things done in a hurry, doesn't he? I mean, when was the last time a professional athlete in any sport had fans clamouring for the retirement of a player's sweater, as they are for Carbonneau. After all, Carbo was with the Dallas Stars for only five seasons.

It seems that the heat is on through a community newspaper distributed to Dallas fans. Normally, team managements take their own sweet time in matters like these (see Larry Robinson), but it could happen in Carbonneau's case. The campaign hasn't escaped the attention of Stars general manager Bob Gainey, who's about to sign a two-year extension with the organization through the 2002-03 season, and Gainey isn't one to sit on his hands in matters of this kind.

"He's had a great impact on everyone," Gainey told me. "The fans saw how hard he worked. They appreciated it. Right now, there's a lot of emotion involved with his retirement. We'll have to wait for that emotion to die down, and then we'll see. For now, though, nobody will be wearing his number this season."

"Good heavens," Gainey was told, "you're going to retire Carbo's number before your sweater is retired in Montreal!"

"I think there are a few others who might have their sweaters retired by the Canadiens before mine is," Gainey grunted.

Le 21 de Carbonneau retiré?

par Jean-Patrick Balleux pour Radio-Canada, 23 septembre 2000

Guy Carbonneau pourrait voir son numéro de chandail retiré de la «circulation». Les partisans des Stars de Dallas, où Carbonneau a passé les cinq dernières années de sa carrière de joueur, ont commencé à manifester en ce sens. Un journal texan aurait même publié de l'information à ce sujet.

Le directeur gérant des Stars, l'ex-Canadien Bob Gainey, n'est pas contre le fait de voir, avant le sien, le chandail de l'ailier et ex-capitaine du Tricolore entrer dans l'histoire. Il considère que le numéro 21 a eu un impact important sur les autres joueurs et sur les amateurs de hockey, a-t-il mentionné au quotidien montréalais The Gazette. «Il y a beaucoup d'émotion depuis l'annonce de sa retraite. Il faudra patienter un moment et laisser la poussière tomber avant d'agir. Mais pour l'instant, personne ne portera son numéro cette saison.»