"Gordie was a great, great man and of course the greatest hockey player," said former Whalers owner Howard Baldwin. "Playing with his sons Mark and Marty in the NHL at the age of 52 will always be something no other athlete will be able to do. His impact on the city and the state was enormous, and the main reason why the Hartford Whalers are still an iconic franchise. Bringing him to Hartford and being able to say he was my friend is my proudest achievement. Now I say to the leaders in Hartford let's put a fitting statue in front of the XL Center honoring him. Like other city's have done for their heroes."