USA Today article
May 7, 1996
by Kevin Allen

Center Steve Yzerman is never perceived to provide enough glares, swagger or bold oration to be in Mark Messier’s
league as an NHL captain.

“But he is,” says Detroit Red Wings teammate Tim Taylor. “Everyone thinks he’s so quiet. But Steve Yzerman leads this team. He doesn’t lead us by yelling. But when things aren’t going well, he lets us know.”

To his liking, Yzerman doesn’t have to say much to his team these days as the Red Wings lead the series 2-0 heading into Wednesday’s Game 3 at St. Louis.

He’s coming off a team playoff record-tying five points. With 12 points in eight playoff games, he seems primed to achieve the
level of playoff production expected when he checked in as a 39-goal scorer in his rookie season in 1983-84.

The irony is that it comes at a time when Yzerman is being lauded for his development as one of the league’s best defensive forwards. He’s a finalist for the Selke Trophy.

“He doesn’t concern himself with offense as much anymore,” coach Scotty Bowman says. “Now, the points are coming. But the real
key is the team is better, and not everything is on his shoulders.”

All the talk about Yzerman’s evolving into a defensive stalwart seems amusing to Taylor. “We know he’s still Steve Yzerman,” Taylor says. “We know any night he can get five points. If he gets a break, he will put it in the net.”

Although he already has as many points as he had in 15 playoff games last season, Yzerman won’t take the spotlight. Remember,
he’s the guy who insisted the Red Wings downplay their NHL-record 62 wins so they could focus on winning the Stanley Cup.

Yet, he frowns at the suggestion that he’s the man leading the Red Wings’ playoff push. “I just don’t see the ‘C’ means as much as people make it out,” Yzerman says. “Leadership is extremely important, but you don’t have to have a letter to lead. There are a lot of veterans on this team, highly motivated players. There’s not really one guy to look to for guidance; it’s a group of guys.”

That might not be something Messier would say. But no matter what Yzerman says publicly, the Red Wings belong to him as the New York Rangers belong to Messier. And that might be more true this season than ever before.