Why was Larry Aurie's jersey unretired by Mike Ilitch?

Question

They still don't wear the number 6 in Detroit, but it's not hanging from the rafters anymore.

Answer 1

They also don't wear 16 and that's not hanging from the rafters.

I don't know why Mr. Ilitch didn't raise Aurie's number to the rafters when they opened the Joe.

Answer 2

I'm almost certain it's because Aurie isn't in the HOF so Illitch doesn't believe he should have his number retired.  That said, it's out of circulation, as is 16 for Vladdy.

Answer 3

It was never retired officially. As long as I can remember it was a number that was not available but not retired. I never remember it hanging from the rafters at the Joe or  at the  Olympia either.

Answer 4

well maybe because nobody wants the number idk tht cud be the reason

ADD- i just found this

6 Larry Aurie, RW, 1927-1939, following his retirement from the NHL. This was the first number ever retired by the Detroit Red Wings, however Aurie does not have a banner hanging in Joe Louis Arena. The NHL's official information publication, the Official NHL Guide And Record Book, listed the number as being retired from 1975 until 2000 when reference to it was removed at the request of the Red Wings organization. The team no longer considers the number to be retired, although it is not available for use

thts from wikipedia