He was initially a scoring sensation - he had 65 goals and 90 assists in 1988-1989. "I said, 'Where could you do better?' He had 692 goals, 1,063 assists, and a plus-minus of +184 in 1514 games played. He had an issue with his elbow that he had to take get taken care of. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Deacon, J. "I can relate to Mario, because I played with him," he says, sitting at a table beside a huge black-and-white of former Wings Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio. He did not go to Florida - doctors made sure of that. But that's for another day. Steve Yzerman | NHL Free Agency 27:31 July 29th, 2021 The first two new free agents the Red Wings signed on Wednesday were defenseman and Michigan native Jordan Oesterle and Swiss center Pius. He works. "We think he has a real bright future. Take, for example, the reddish crescent-moon dent where the bridge of his nose meets the centre of his forehead. And thats why hes revered, and should be revered, in the city of Detroit. He had already played more than 1,000 NHL games and statistically done enough to be a Hall of Famer and when he had finally reached the pinnacle of the sport, his teammates could see in him the joy of winning, Lidstrom said, but the relief of finally getting over the hump, too., He was the guy that, as the captain, made the greatest commitment because he had the most minutes and he had all the points, Holland said. They tell of a man who, though comparatively slight by modern National Hockey League standards (five-11, 185 lb. Better Humans. And I think (its) because of his work ethic, and all those intangibles that he had as a player, hes taken to the front office. Steve was a conscientious hockey player, always, from Day 1.. Or insist that his sticking with the Detroit Red Wings for his entire career, through bad times and good, sets a shining example of loyalty in an era of money-driven transience. And he willed us.. The aformentioned Orr will forever be remembered flying through the air with his stick up just after his 1970 Stanley Cup winning goal and similarly Yzerman was running on ice with the excitement of a kid living out his playoff fantasy after ripping a slapshot over the shoulder of Jon Casey in double overtime of a game 7 against the Blues in 1996. On May 10, the Red Wings will learn the position of their first-round draft pick when the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery takes place. "Steve Yzerman (Profile)". So he wasnt a yeller, he wasnt an emotional speaker he didnt have to be. Yzerman, with his showy puck-handling abilities, quickly became a fan favourite. Yzerman said while the Red Wings have several elite prospects, those young players still have to earn their roster spot and nothing will be given. ', "But I knew it'd be a comfortable interview because it was like meeting a regular guy off the street.". Follow @TBTimes_JSmith. And I would probably say after we had lost in 96 to Colorado, I would have to say that (Yzerman was) like, I gotta do whatever I have to, we gotta win. Kurtis Pykes. In league-wide voting, they elected the 34-year-old Yzerman as the starting centre on the North American squad that will play a similarly elected team of European NHLers at this week's All-Star Game in Toronto. Verbeek can recall one game in which he was playing for Hartford against the Red Wings and had been going after one of Yzermans teammates, Johan Garpenlv. In 1984, he was part of the gold medalwinning team at the Canada Cup. He really worked on his strength, Polano said. Its a well-known narrative in the hockey world that Yzerman was converted from a high scoring, human highlight reel into a two-way playoff warrior, either by Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman (see point 3) or by his own volition. Indeed, intensity was a defining trait of Yzermans. - Advertisement -. There's his very average golf game, which became evident on his 40th birthday trip to Scotland, "We had a lot of fun," he said with a sly grin, "And played golf, too." "What I'm not necessarily doing is going to leave spots open just to hand it to one of the younger players.". In the six years that followed, Yzerman consistently maintained an average of over 100 points per season and, for most of those seasons, scored over 50 goals per year. The combination worked: the Wings won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998, and they appear ready to contend again this year. The uncertainty of leaving kept me up a while. In 1983, his bronze medal win with the Canadian team at the World Junior Championship added to the confidence of Detroit's management and Yzerman was drafted to the Red Wings. I can't think of a more His eldest. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. That year he was also part of the gold medal Olympic mens hockey team at the Winter Games in Salt Lake. "The next day, (owner Mike) Ilitch said, 'Stevie Y isn't going anywhere.' "Wayne is the greatest player that ever played the game," said defenseman Paul Coffey, who played with Gretzky, Lemieux and Yzerman. ". Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. But on the ice, when they were competitors, he got a taste of just how that determination manifested itself. He goes to games. Do you have a sports website? In my opinion hes the best general manager in the National Hockey League, Holland said. Full Ceremony of Steve Yzerman Retirement and banner raising on January 2, 2007. ", Yzerman still has a temper. 1. Stanley Cup Championships (1997, 1998, 2002)
"As superstars go, he's definitely unique." But here is Steve Yzerman, the former Red Wings iconic captain, staring down at the Amalie Arena ice, watching, analyzing a Lightning team he has molded since becoming general manager in 2010. Yzerman explained that due to a recent decision by Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch to terminate long-time Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Sobotka, he just could not move forward in . He is not one to celebrate goals with showy fist-pumps or war dances, or to attract endorsements by calling attention to himself. Shanahans words have significant backing: In Yzermans most productive season as a pro, his 155-point campaign in 1988-89 (when he was 23), he also finished 11th in Selke Trophy voting. Of course, there are times to celebrate, often in unbridled fashion. Build Systems. I like the whole process. Pat Verbeek was one of Yzermans contemporaries in the NHL. ". Yzerman said he'd prefer not having to face Detroit in this first-round NHL series that begins tonight at Amalie Arena. The rest was history.". He led by example more so than with fiery tirades with teammates recalling him laying out to block shots, and setting a standard in the gym as examples. Stevie was a guy that wasn't 6-foot-6, but had the heart the size of the rink. Yzerman called it a very difficult decision. 1 its the 99 spots behind No. NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark NHL Winter Classic are registered trademarks and Original Six is a trademark of the National Hockey League. "Lo and behold, Bruce is there watching his . Sometimes that can be a challenge, but I think our back end is a little stronger, it's a little bit more mobile, maybe a little bit more offense out of it.". "I think it was masterful," former Lightning GM Jay Feaster said of the deal. Returning home in the summer months, Yzerman stopped participating in summer shinny outings with many of his childhood friends, insisting they were too enjoyable. Letsgetstarted. ago] Height 5.11 -- Weight 185 [180 cm/84 kg] Drafted by Detroit Red Wings - round 1 #4 overall 1983 NHL Entry Draft Regular Season "For our younger players, if they come in at training camp and do well and they earn a spot, that's great," Yzerman said. Resides in Culver City, CA. When he felt that the team needed a little bit of a spark, he usually made it first about the fact that he felt he had more to give, and that he was going to demand more from himself, and we should all be doing the same, Shanahan said. He has been GM of the Red Wings since April 19, 2019. He seems much more comfortable behind the scenes, saying GMs should just do their jobs, "not be on the front page of newspapers.". [DIRK SHADD | Times], Lightning assistant GM Jamie Pushor found his post-playing passion in scouting, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning shut down Red Wings, As one generation awaits womens pro hockey, they pass their lessons down to the next, Panthers pile on early, snap Lightnings home points streak, New Lightning forward Tanner Jeannot ready to get things going, This Lightning trade is not just a risk, its a full-blown battle cry, Maple Leafs: Lightning, other division rivals did not spur deal. Follow Max on Twitter @m_bultman, Steve Yzerman raises the Stanley Cup in 1997. Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (2003)
Some of the music had to be edited out due to copyright claims. He gathers information. in. Talk to those who know Yzerman, and youre going to hear the word determination over and over again. Steve Yzerman weighed 185 lbs (83 kg) when playing. Yzerman was captain of the Detroit Red Wings . Steve Yzerman is 57 years old. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. His eldest daughter, Isabella, is 5 and excelling in soccer and ballet. That came from stopping a Paul Coffey slapshot just before last year's All-Star Game in Tampa. "He is an offensive-minded, playmaking centerman, which was a real need for our team. Many famous people also have cottages on this lake, such as Steve Yzerman, Goldie Hawn and Martin Short; others, including the late Ted Rogers and William Eli Sanford have had resort properties in the past. On car trips, he picked the brains of Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill. Claim this business. Offensively, he does have that versatility that he can play on the power play, a lot of different spots on it. This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on February 7, 2000, There are stories for every scar on Steve Yzerman's otherwise handsome mug, and they are not for the faint of heart. If you want to watch him squirm, offer him a compliment. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Data Provided By He was also executive director of the mens hockey teams that won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Cooper remembers when, a few months after he was hired in 2010, he joined the Lightning for its preseason game in Winnipeg. And even that was not his first time finishing in the top 20 for the Selke. 9922 Jefferson Blvd Culver City CA 90232. Starting Tuesday, you'll be able to book his waterfront property on Lake Rosseau, which is 200 kilometres from Toronto and boasts a handful of other recognizable part-time residents, such as. But he never has been one for ceremonial titles. And the ultimate test came in Game 3 of the Final, a game that went to triple overtime. "I don't look that far ahead. That year, Yzermans chronic right knee injury had flared up while representing Team Canada at the Olympics (where he won gold) in February. He gives us some depth to play here, to play in Grand Rapids, gives us the flexibility to play him at two positions. Devellano wanted to pick Pat LaFontaine, a local product (and future Hall of Famer) who could put butts in the seats. But in playing against Steve all those early years, Steve was always competitive defensively. He is known for The Joe: The Detroit Red Wings & Joe Louis Arena (2018), Salt Lake City 2002: XIX Olympic Winter Games (2002) and Gold Rush 2002 (2002). ' Martin Lapointe recalled of his own first game as a Red Wing. ", Said Devellano: "I always knew he'd eventually take over a team. Steve Yzerman amassed some 1755 points (692 goals) in his illustrious career, but despite having plenty of reason to celebrate was often pretty mute after putting one in the net unless the goal was a big one. Yzerman jets back and forth as often as he can, squeezing in trips to Michigan to reconnect with his family. He won the Stanley Cup three times and the 1998 Conn Smythe Trophy. The distinction is well made, but it does not detract from what he has achieved. 6 overall draft pick. "I get more attention for being a 20-goal scorer than when I scored 50," he says, chuckling at the irony. "But Bobby Hull? How old is Steve Yzerman? Lightning trade Vladislav Namestnikov to San Jose. When the Red Wings drafted Yzerman fourth overall in 1983 coincidentally three spots after his predecessor as Lightning GM (Brian Lawton) they hadn't made the postseason in four years.