Windsor Star article
September 26, 2006
by Dave Waddell

For much of his 22-year career with the Detroit Red Wings, Steve Yzerman was known as The Captain.

Now you can call him Mr. Vice-President after the Wings announced the 41-year-old has joined the team’s front office.

He’ll work with senior vice-president Jimmy Devellano, GM Ken Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill.

For me, initially, it’s going to be almost an education in how the business works and the management side of running a team,” said Yzerman, who retired July 3 after accumulating 692 goals and 1,755 points in his NHL career.

“What I’ll be doing is spending time with Kenny and Jim Nill and Jimmy D. in the hockey department and observing how they operate, whether it be contract negotiations, player analysis, just sitting in, listening and watching hockey.

“I think I also have some freedom as far as the business side of the organization.”

When fleshing out his role with the Wings, Yzerman opted to take the path he saw Joe Dumars follow after he retired from the Detroit Pistons.

Dumars took some time to observe and learn before stepping into his current job as the team’s president.

“I always wanted to stay in the game,” said Yzerman, who said he’s not the heir apparent to Holland. “The progression I get is a chance to slowly learn and understand how it all works.

“I look at Garth Snow stepping in and being the general manager right away. I think there’s a lot to learn.

“In this role, it allows me to learn the business without a wrong decision being a major step backward.”

Devellano said Monday’s announcement has been 10 years in the making.

“I did a contract with him 10 years ago that addressed a post-playing career post,” Devellano said. “Actually, the last three or four years he’s been involved in the front office, unbeknownst to most people.

“We wanted to give him a meaningful role. How much time he wants to put into it is strictly up to him.”

Yzerman, who has been given an office, plans to attend as many games as possible and expects to spend the bulk of his time learning from Holland.

The future hall of famer spent Monday watching the Wings practise and that confirmed his decision to retire was the correct one.

“I felt comfortable just sitting and watching practice,” Yzerman said. “I felt pretty comfortable in the decision to retire.”

Yzerman also realizes that his new role changes the relationship he’ll have with friends who were his teammates just a few months ago.

“They will be my friends forever,” Yzerman said. “I think in the new role, I won’t be around them as much. I have to accept that.”