Windsor Star article
November 7, 2006
by Bob Duff

The oddity of the Lester Patrick Trophy was not lost on Steve Yzerman.

A Canadian hockey icon being recognized for outstanding service to hockey in the United States with an award named in honour of another Canadian hockey icon.

“There is some irony there,” the former Red Wings’ captain said as he accepted the trophy Monday during a luncheon at Joe Louis Arena.

Yzerman, who earned more assists than any player in Red Wings history, naturally passed credit for the recognition to others.

“I look at it not so much as what I did, I think it’s kind of what our organization did,” he said. “Over the course of the past 20 years, we’ve been one of the most popular teams in the United States.

“I think the Red Wings have contributed to the growth of hockey in the United States and I happened to play for the team.”

Used to play for the team, that is.

Yzerman is clearly at peace with his July 3 decision to hang up his skates after more than two decades with the club.

Never a guy to do anything halfway, he’s dove full-bore into his new role as vice-president of the hockey club.

Yzerman spent Friday at Munn Arena in East Lansing, Mich., scouting 2005 Detroit draft pick Justin Abdelkader as his Michigan State Spartans tangled with the Michigan Wolverines.

“It was the third college hockey game I’ve ever been to,” Yzerman admitted. “I was pretty impressed with the level of play — very impressed, actually.”

Yzerman figures he’s found the next-best thing to being on the ice.

Getting paid to see others skate.

He’ll be doing that a lot this winter — watching games.

All sorts of games.

Don’t be surprised if some Thursday night at Windsor Arena you spot him taking in a Spitfires game.

“I enjoy watching hockey,” he said. “The benefit of being in the Detroit area is that there’s a lot of hockey being played and not just the Red Wings. You have Canadian junior hockey, U.S. college hockey. I guess it is work, but it’s also a lot of fun.”

These days, he suits up in a suit and tie, although to suggest Yzerman keeps banker’s hours would be far-fetched.

He doesn’t exactly punch a clock.

“If there is (a clock), I haven’t been using it,” he said. “My schedule’s flexible. Somewhere between 8 and 1 o’clock, I roll in.”

At the rink and behind the scenes, Yzerman is all about studying, watching and listening alongside general manager Ken Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill, the veteran Wings executives.

“I’m learning a lot just spending time with Kenny and observing how they watch the game, seeing the things that they look at,” Yzerman said. “I’m trying to learn the business, some of the things I don’t know about it and hopefully have some input in keeping the team strong as time goes on.

“One thing I’ve learned very quickly is people have to be allowed to do their jobs. I think it’s best that if Kenny (or coach) Mike (Babcock) or somebody wants to ask me something, that they ask me, as opposed to me barging in and saying, ‘This is the way I think it should be.’

“When they ask me something, I’ll give my opinion. I’m around, I’m observing, I’m trying to stay on top of everything, asking a lot of questions.”

One question he no longer ponders is what life after hockey will be like for him.

Yzerman has found that answer and, so far, is loving every minute of it.