CBC.ca From the Pressbox article
January 4, 2007
by Elliotte Friedman

There were two Steve Yzerman tributes on Tuesday. One was held on the ice at Joe Louis Arena. The other came 90 minutes earlier in a nearby building, as politicians and fans feted one of the greatest in the city’s history.

In both ceremonies, one thing was clear: How uncomfortable such a humble person was in such a spotlight. One of the best pieces of advice I received early in my career was: when someone pays you a compliment, you shake their hand firmly and give a sincere, “Thank you.” That was Yzerman’s way as well.

Yzerman recognized that this was one of those rare occasions where he couldn’t just give a handshake and a thank you. This called for something more than that, and he delivered. Not that he wasn’t nervous. The HNIC cameramen twice captured terrific shots of his hand shivering as he tried to drink some water.

It was particularly impressive that he singled out Scott Bowman for so much praise. While Jacques Demers took the first steps in developing Yzerman as a two-way player, it was Bowman who really cracked the whip. Although Bowman downplayed it when I interviewed him before the puck drop, there was a time when it didn’t look like things were going to work out between them. Bowman was unafraid to get on Yzerman in front of the team, and Yzerman was unafraid to snap right back at them.

It was incredible to see Bowman, as stoic as they get, fighting back tears during Yzerman’s tribute to him. That was the highlight for me.

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Twice during Yzerman’s tenure, there were rumours that he was going to be traded. It’s well-known by now that Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch wanted Pat LaFontaine in 1983, visibly slumping in his seat when the Islanders took him one pick before Detroit would draft. Legendary New York general manager Bill Torrey admitted that one of the reasons he made that choice was for a potential trade years later.

That opportunity came in 1991. LaFontaine demanded a trade and Torrey’s first call was to then-Red Wings GM (now Ottawa coach) Bryan Murray. There were some discussions, but Murray asked Torrey if the trade could get done without Yzerman going in return. When Torrey said no, Murray ended the conversations.

In 1994, with Bowman now making the hockey decisions, the Red Wings were coming off the seven-game stunner to San Jose. The Senators wanted Yzerman and were willing to give up Alexei Yashin to do it. (Really, can you imagine Bowman and Yashin? What a sitcom.) Bowman kind of confirmed this the other night, but the team learned there was no way Yzerman could be traded during Detroit’s home opener after that season’s lockout.

Fans – realizing their captain might be dealt – provided such a show of love and support that Bowman and everyone else realized they couldn’t trade him. He was simply the most popular person in the organization, and no one else was close. That’s when any discussions died.

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Final tribute to Yzerman: According to several of those who played on the 2002 and 2006 Canadian Olympic Teams, Yzerman’s absence from the second group was one of the biggest reasons Canada lost.

“We were so nervous,” said one player. “Yzerman was so calm, so reassuring in 2002. We didn’t have him to take the pressure off us this time.”

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The only problem with Yzerman tribute night is that the game was awful. I still think the way the Celtics retired Larry Bird’s jersey is the best way to handle lengthy ceremonies. That night, Boston did not have a game.

The team just held a “Larry Bird Night.” Sell tickets, hold a ceremony, just don’t have players sitting around waiting to go. That way, when immortals like Yzerman and Bird retire – remember Mark Messier in New York? – you can have as long a ceremony as you want.