Associated Press article
September 19, 2004

Steve Yzerman’s reign as the longest serving captain in NHL history is not over yet.

The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday re-signed Yzerman to a one-year contract, ensuring the veteran center his 19th year as team captain.

Financial terms were not disclosed for Yzerman, who made $5,849,823 last season.

Captain of the Red Wings since 1986-87, Yzerman recorded 18 goals and 33 assists in 75 games last season. He added three goals and two assists in 11 playoff contests before suffering an eye injury that kept him out of Detroit’s final postseason game against Calgary.

Selected fourth overall by the Red Wings in the 1983 draft, Yzerman has 678 goals and 1,043 assists in 1,453 career games.

The 39-year-old has led Detroit to three Stanley Cup championships, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs in 1998.

“We are all very pleased to have Steve back for one more year,” Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. “He brings a great deal of dedication, skill and leadership abilities to our hockey club, and I feel his competitive nature will greatly help this team remain successful.”

Yzerman, who was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1984, has won the Selke and Masterton Trophies and Lester B. Pearson Award during his 22-year career. He also has represented Canada in the 1998 and 2002 Olympics and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

Selected to play for Canada in this year’s World Cup, Yzerman withdrew due to the eye injury he suffered in the playoffs.