London Free Press article
February 27, 2003
by Ryan Pyette

There are a lot of good phrases used to describe Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman.

Great leader. Skilled centre. Stanley Cup winner. Olympic champion. Future Hall of Famer.

Time to add one more to that list: medical marvel.

Personally, I thought a Stevie Y NHL return was as likely as a Bill Gates bankruptcy.

With what his knee has been through, I’m surprised he can successfully negotiate a short flight of stairs.

More than a few folks figured the determined Yzerman would give a comeback the cursory college try, realize its futility and buy a couple acres in Retirementville.

But there he was back on the ice Monday night, playing 13-plus minutes to help the defending champs beat the injury-riddled Los Angeles Kings.

Maybe after watching Bryan Berard, Eric Lindros, Mario Lemieux and Saku Koivu return from career-threatening injuries and illness, we should be immune to surprises. But Yzerman’s scenario remains rather baffling.

When he drove to London last summer to talk options with surgeon Pete Fowler, the good doctor indicated an osteotomy (a knee realignment procedure) would help Yzerman enjoy life a little more.

Hockey didn’t exactly enter the equation. This is, after all, a procedure usually reserved for arthritic old folks.

“I don’t know of a pro athlete who has had an osteotomy,” Fowler, who is recovering from the procedure himself, told the Detroit Free Press last week. “I certainly don’t know of a pro athlete who has had an osteotomy while they are still a pro athlete.”

Fowler also mentioned an Yzerman return would be “a little bit of ground-breaking.”

“We didn’t do it so Steve could return to hockey. We did it so Steve could return to walking without pain and for day-to-day activities,” Fowler said. “If he returns to hockey relatively pain-free, that’s a bonus. If he returns to hockey with pain, he shouldn’t be doing it.”

If he makes it to the end of the season, Fowler’s scalpel should be displayed in the Hockey Hall of Fame.