Mark Madden: Which Penguins will be next to have their numbers retired?

No. 68 is in the rafters at PPG Paints Arena. Sunday’s ceremony to honor Jaromir Jagr was among the best of its kind, as was Jagr’s charismatic speech. Jagr’s return to Pittsburgh was everything that could have been hoped for. His legend was heightened.

The question now: Who’s the next Penguin to get his number retired?

The Penguins have been very good at limiting this honor: No. 66 for Mario Lemieux (who was there Sunday, wisely deployed in a limited fashion that didn’t steal Jagr’s pop), No. 21 for the late Michel Briere and now No. 68 for Jagr.

Too many franchises overdo it.

The Montreal Canadiens may be hockey’s most legendary team with 24 Stanley Cups. But retiring 15 numbers has left their current team looking silly with too many high non-hockey numbers: 13 players sport digits above 40. Such numbers should be exceptions, not the rule.

You didn’t need to retire the checking forward’s number. Be more selective.

There are other ways to honor club legends, like an in-house hall of fame, ring of honor, whatever.

But what helped make Sunday night so very special is the Penguins so rarely do it. It makes those honored even more notable.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are locks. Their resumes mandate.

After that, nobody seems obvious.

Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby and Malkin are in a group of four. Everyone else sits below.

Jagr's return:

• Tim Benz: Emotions surrounding Jaromir Jagr's jersey retirement were as unique as the player himself
• Penguins retire Jaromir Jagr's No. 68 on 'a great day for me'
• What they're saying about Jaromir Jagr's jersey retirement
• 'You say Jaromir Jagr, they’re going to say Pittsburgh Penguins'
• Jaromir Jagr dazzles the current Penguins in practice
• Jaromir Jagr's return to Penguins sparks flood of memories from teammates

There will be a clamor for goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury ranks second all-time in the NHL in goalie wins. He won three Stanley Cups with the Penguins. He’s one of the most popular players in franchise history.

But popularity is a slippery slope with honors like this. Phil Kessel was popular, too.

Fleury’s local acclaim is a bit revisionist. The citizens scapegoated Fleury when the Penguins underachieved. Fleury later got placed on a pedestal when Matt Murray took the starting position and made Fleury the underdog.

Fleury is great and will go into the Hockey Hall of Fame, perhaps on the first ballot.

But he won one Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie and didn’t do that with the Penguins. He made second-team All-Star once but not with the Penguins. He made five NHL All-Star weekends, two with the Penguins.

Fleury’s career numbers have resulted from longevity as much as excellence. That’s to be praised but also considered.

If the Penguins retire Fleury’s No. 29, how do they not retire Tom Barrasso’s No. 35? Fleury had the better career, but it’s close. Fleury won three Stanley Cups but was in goal for the Cup-winning game just once. Barrasso did that twice.

I’m a big Fleury fan both personally and professionally. His induction would be magic. I’m not against it.

But if the Penguins go to the level below Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby and Malkin, there are lots of players at that level. Floodgates open. Next thing you know, the rafters are jam-packed and your on-ice product is wearing crazy numbers like a men’s league roller hockey team.

I would like to see Barrasso’s number retired. If all his friends showed up, the ice would be nearly empty.

I’m for keeping the honor as exclusive as possible.

As the Penguins fade, however, it’s possible that retiring numbers could be seen as a way to sell tickets on the night. That, too, is a slippery slope.

It was great to see Jagr and to hear him speak. He’s become almost Zen. He seems content and happy as could be imagined. Good for him. Watching his highlight reel was exhilarating. He was a one-man wrecking crew. Flew like an eagle and played with absolute joy.