USA Today article
February 25, 2003
by Kevin Allen

When Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman opted for an osteotomy to repair severe knee damage last summer doctors told him to set his goal at being able to carry his kids instead of an NHL team.

“I think a lot of people thought he would never play again,” Detroit coach Dave Lewis said. “He’s proved them wrong before, and now he’s back in the lineup. I never thought (he was finished). I know his character.”

Yzerman, 37, made that clear Monday when he played 13:17 in Detroit’s 5-4 win against the Los Angeles Kings. His return came almost seven months after he had a bone realignment procedure that is done primarily on older patients suffering from severe arthritis.

“I didn’t do anything especially well, but I played better than I thought I would,” said Yzerman, who didn’t figure in the scoring.

He clearly looked stronger than he did last spring when he endured the pain of a mangled knee to stay in the lineup to help Detroit win the Stanley Cup championship.

When asked when he thought he might be 100% again, Yzerman said he didn’t believe that was possible. Doctors don’t know of any athlete from a major sport that has come back from this procedure to play. Yzerman was told at the time of the procedure that his return was iffy.

“I don’t know if I will ever have the speed I once had, or the mobility I once had,” he said.

Still, the Red Wings believe he will be an effective player. In his first game back, Lewis used him in some key faceoff situations.

“It was very nice to have him back,” Lewis said. “He brings a lot of composure, character, history . . . as the game went on he felt more comfortable.”

Yzerman said he wants to see how he feels today and Wednesday before deciding whether to play Thursday against Toronto. The plan is to take some games off as he readies himself for the playoffs.

Considered one of the most popular athletes in Detroit sports history, Yzerman received a loud ovation during warm-up and when he took his first shift.

“You don’t know whether you should clap, too,” Los Angeles coach Andy Murray said. “Everyone has so much respect for him.”

Yzerman admitted that he had doubts early on in his rehabilitation when he struggled to accomplish much. “I was thinking you can’t go on like this,” he recalled.

But after the holidays he made enough progress that he was convinced he would play again.