ESPN.com’s Sportnation Mailbag
July 3, 2006
From Sparky Anderson’s Tigers in 1984 to Chauncey Billups and the Pistons winning it all in 2004 (with some Barry Sanders and Isiah Thomas thrown in for good measure), Steve Yzerman has seen it all in Detroit. Other stars came and went in the Motor City, but “Stevie Y” led the way for the city’s most successful pro team for more than two decades.
But all good things must end, and sometimes the finale stands no chance of living up to the prelude. After losing a first-round series at the hands of the eventual Stanley Cup finalist Edmonton Oilers, Yzerman is hanging up his skates after 22 seasons in the NHL.
From the young center who tallied 39 goals as a rookie and soon ran off six consecutive 100-point seasons to a veteran leader on Stanley Cup champions and Team Canada, Yzerman played every role in his hockey career and played them all well.
So how will you remember Yzerman, SportsNation? Does his retirement signal a passing of the torch to new stars like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin? Will the next generation be able to live up to those standards? Whatever you have to say, sound off below!
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Kurren (Houston): Stevie was the best captain to ever play, and will probably be the best ever. To stay with one team for his whole career is really something, and that rarely happens anymore. It’s a sad day in the NHL, but we should learn from his career and enjoy what he did on and off the ice. You’ll be missed Stevie Y!
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Chris: All you can say about Stevie Y is … “The Captain”. He is without a doubt, the greatest sports figure in the history of Detroit sports. He is above Ben Wallace, above Isiah, above Barry, above Gordie. Greatest ever in Detroit.
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Sandy (St. Clair Shores, MI): Growing up in a suburb of Detroit in a hockey-crazed family, I was fortunate enough to grow up watching Stevie Y play. THE CAPTAIN, as he is known to many Detroiters, is more than a hockey player. He is a role model. After watching the press conference of his retirement I realized something that made him so beloved in the organization. Yzerman is a genuine person. He is a fair, kind leader in a city where we don’t get that very often. Through his sport, Stevie Y has uplifted a city when things were not going well. It’s amazing that one person, one sport, one team, can have such a positive impact in so many people’s lives. The captain will be deeply missed, but his legacy and commitment to Detroit and the community will never be forgotten.
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Ron (Vancouver): The first two things that come to mind when I think about Steve Yzerman are Champion and Class. That sums up his career. Thanks for the memories!
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Ron (Phoenix): May 16, 1996. You’ve all seen the highlight. It’s been shown many times. Yzerman cranked a long slapper past Blues goalie Jon Casey to win a Game 7 double-overtime thriller, 1-0, in Detroit. Yzerman jumped for joy after netting the series-clinching goal in the Western Conference semis. I will never forget this game because I was up until 4am. I couldn’t sleep when the game was over
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Larry Pouget: Such a sad day for not just the city of Detroit, but the entire NHL because one of the classiest people you will ever meet called it quits. I live in Windsor Ontario where the loyalties are divided about 50-50 between the Red Wings and Leafs, and even most of the Leafs fans (a.k.a Red Wing haters) admit he was one of greatest. Corny as it may sound, thanks for all the memories and being my hero growing up.
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Jeff (Dearborn): Yzerman will be remembered as the last great player of the “Old Guard” of the NHL. The new players like Sidney Crosby, Eric Staal, and Alexander Ovechkin are all great but not one of them will be able to do what Yzerman did and none will be able to live up to what Yzerman is, was, and always will be.
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Ian (Flint, Michigan): I cannot express with words what Steve Yzerman means to us in Detroit. He IS Detroit sports. I started watching this legend at the age of 2 (also the year he became captain). And I for one am having an impossible time holding back the tears. Even now I can’t imagine the Wings without number 19 out there. He was only 8 goals away from 700, but knowing Steve Yzerman, is to know that he only cares about the team, and winning. All the personal achievements are irrelavent to this modest legend. I will always wear my number 19 Steve Yzerman jersey at every game. This is the saddest day in sports history for me and many here in Michigan. Steve Yzerman will be sorely missed and we all hope to see him get a position with the Wings. And maybe one day see him behind the bench.
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Justin (Ann Arbor): Very simply put Yzerman is the embodiment of what leadership is.
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Jerry (Odenville, AL): I will always remember watching Stevie skate around the rink with his first Stanley Cup. It sent chills down my spine. I named my first son Steven.
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Paul (Dallas): I detest the Red Wings. But I’ve always had an immense amount of respect for Steve Yzerman. I would guess that vast majority of anti-Red Wings fans would say the same. That pretty much says it all.
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Donald Ernest III: He didn’t cure cancer, but he thrilled me, gave me chills, and carried himself better than any athlete in the past quarter century. I will never forget him, I was honored to meet him once, and the tear that wells in my eye is because we’ll never see the likes of him again in any sport. Thank you, Steve, enjoy your retirement, and know you provided many a working guy like me countless great memories. Loving something always means you have to let it go.
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Chris Pavlica (Burbank, CA): RIP Hockeytown, June 8, 1983 - July 3, 2006
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Todd (Hamilton, ON): Stevie Y is one of the true greats on and off the ice. Always respectful and appreciative of everything the game and his teammates have done for him. A truly great “professional” hockey player.
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Steve (Edmonton): Job well done Stevie!!! You are the best Captain to ever play this game!! Thanks for all the memories! As much as we all wanted to see you play one more year, we wish you all the best.
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Greg(Dearborn MI): Steve Yzerman in my eyes was the best all around player in NHL history.Wayne Had more scoring skills,Mario was better with his moves. But no one had a better all around game.Thank you Steve.
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Jon (Troy, MI): I am 23 years old and have never known a Red Wings team without Steve Yzerman. He is a hero in this area, and will be remembered as one of the best leaders in sports history. A no doubt first ballot Hall-of-Famer, and number 19 will soon be hanging in the rafters at the Joe. It will never happen, but I think the Wings should retire the “C” with it.
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Frank (Chicago): Stevie Y’s soft spoken, “lead by example” type of play and dedication made it easy for Red Wing fans to love their captain. But it also made it easy for Avs, Blues and Blackhawk fans to love and respect him as well. My NHL is now without my favorite player.
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Rob (Houston): I bleed Blue and I have despised the Red Wings for my whole life but I shed tears for the loss of the greatest captain of modern-day hockey. The NHL will suffer without you Stevie Y. We will all miss you dearly!!!!
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Dex (Utica, Mi): I don’t even want to think of another person being the captain of the Wings. They should just retire the C along with the number 19 lol
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Jeff (Asheville, NC): Class, Character, Discipline, Heart. Steve Yzerman is my hero.
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Chad (Ashburnham, MA): One player, one team. Witht the currents state of free agency we will NEVER see the likes of The Captain again. Stevie Y and Ray Bourque were the two classiest players I ever saw. You’ll be missed Steve.
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Nathan (Austin): Steve Yzerman is the gold standard for successful, honorable, and selfless athletes. His dedication to the game, the fans, and the city are unparalleled by any athlete anywhere. You will be sorely missed, mon Capitaine.
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Dave (Clinton Twp.): Watched the press conference and The Captain was all class as usual,showing respect to everyone past and present in the Wings organization who helped him along the way. We knew it would happen eventually but it still a sad day for hockey. Thanks for making it possible to witness 3 championships!
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Mary (Berkley, MI): I was born two years after Steve Yzerman joined the Wings so for me, the Red Wings without Yzerman is a completely foreign concept. I saw him in a coffee shop once but I was too chicken to say anything. Hopefully someday I’ll have a chance to thank him for being what made me love hockey.
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Steve (Tampa): It’s important to remember what Steve Yzerman has meant to Detroit and to hockey at large. In a city desperate for heroes, Yzerman carried himself with class and distinction during his entire career. Always the consummate gentleman and leader, no finer athlete has ever played for any Detroit team.
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Graham (Thunder Bay): On January 3, 1988, Stevie Yzerman scored the best goal I’ve ever seen live. It was in Winnipeg against the Jets — a very cold, blizzardy day if I remember right. He scorched up the left wing with the puck, with one D backing up with him and the other covering the pass. It seemed like Stevie was going to take it into the corner, but with one lightning move he scooted the puck between his own legs and into the slot. Suddenly all alone, he took a quick wrister, top shelf. Although I was rooting for Winnipeg that game, it was amazing to see that goal, that talent, that finesse. Good Bye, Stevie Y, and make the best of your retirement…
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Andrew (Rochester, NY): Wayne gets called ‘The Great One’, but Stevie Y is just as deserving of the title. Loyal, a role model and an all around winner. You will be missed, Captain. Here’s to the Wings retiring No. 19 on opening night.
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Doug (Lake Forest, IL): Steve Yzerman was a working-class superstar in a working-class town. He is the greatest sports figure in the history of Detroit. He played hurt and led his team and city like nobody we’ve ever seen. I challenge anyone to find anything negative to say about “The Captain.”
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Vinny Baglini(Sarasota, FL): Steve Yzerman was the greatest all-around player to ever lace up hockey skates. He ranks among to eilte in points, became a force defensively and on face-offs, and led his one and only team to three Cups. He is the symbol of the ultimate team player, a quiet captain that lead by example, often playing we severe injuries. Had he not arrived in the league during Gretzky and Lemeiux’s prime, he would have clearly won numerous MVP awards. Yzerman is the last of a remarkable generation, and his retirement definitely signals the passing of the torch. With the salary cap and greed present in hockey today, I doubt there will ever be another captain to play his entire career with one team, and though this new generation has shown glimmers of hope of being something special, their talent will never match the complete game and character of Steve Yzerman and his generation.
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Tharp (Detroit, MI): The Detroit Red Wings would not have won 3 Stanley Cups in the last 10 years if it weren’t for Steve Yzerman. You can argue about the star power that the Wings have had over the years, but without him I seriously believe that none of it would have been possible. He is the face, heart, and soul of that team and now that he’s retired there will be dark days ahead in Hockeytown. On behalf of the City of Detroit and hockey fans everywhere THANK YOU, STEVE. You’ve given us so many thrills and great memories that will forever be remembered. God bless you.
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Ed (Flint, MI): Steve is up there with Barry Sanders in that they have no problem of “carrying the burden” of being a decent person and even a role model for kids. We have truly been blessed with his talents, guts and above all class. Thanks Stevie, We miss you already.
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Mike G (Detroit): This is one of those days I wished would never come. Steve Yzerman is a role model for all athletes in sports today. I am 22 years old and Yzerman has been playing in the NHL, for the Redwings, for all the years of my life. I cant imagine asking him to play another year. He has accomplished so much and has taken the Redwings from the bottom to the top. I just want to thank Yzerman for all the great memories and for making Detroit one of the best cities for hockey. He inspired dreams in all of us. Thank you for everything Steve!! Detroit loves you!!
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Ken (Detroit): Having lived my entire 53 years in Detroit, I believe that other than Al Kaline, no other Detroit athlete has displayed such a combination of talent, leadership, and CLASS as Steve Yzerman!
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Mike (Detroit): This was something every hockey fan in Detroit was dreading. After the sudden retirement of Barry Sanders, Stevie Y WAS Detroit sports. A talent that we took in as our own. You will be missed Stevie. Hopefully they retire his jersey on opening night.
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Glenn (Livonia, MI): There are so many great moments to choose from for The Captain, but I’ll personally never forget his winning goal in Game 2 of the 1997 conference finals against Colorado. He made a great move around D-man Sandis Ozolinsh, got the shot on Roy, recovered the rebound behind the net and then banked it in off Roy’s glove for a 3-2 lead. That may have been arguably the biggest goal of his career as it was a pivotal momentum-changer for the Wings against their hated arch-rival Avs, at that time the defending champ. The Red Wings went on to win the series in six, and ultimately their first of three Stanley Cups.
