A collection of quotes about Steve Yzerman from the book by Bruce Dowbiggin called Of Ice and Men. One chapter of the book highlighted Yzerman’s success as a leader. I wouldn’t suggest this book as there were plenty of factual errors and even though the chapters were supposed to be about a specific player, he’d go off and talk about other players at the same position.

“I’ve been through it all. After you go through everything you learn to deal with failure and not fall apart.” - Yzerman (p.1)

“Trade Yzerman? That’s like asking me if I want to trade my son Jason for the kid next door.” - former head coach Jacques Demers (p.2)

“Being a center in the era of Gretzky, Lemieux, and [Mark] Messier - three of the greatest centers in the history of hockey - was just tough luck for Steve.” - Brendan Shanahan (p.3)

“It made my career to play with Yzerman.” - Gerard Gallant (p.5)

“There are guys who’ll get mad during the game and raise their play. Yzerman starts the game mad. There are certain players who get a look on their face and you know you’re in for a long night. That’s Yzerman. He won’t accept being covered. Whether it’s an elbow or a chop, he just won’t accept it.” - Anonymous Opponent (p.5-6)

“You can see how he is willing to compete and fight on every shift on the ice. Even when he makes a mistake, you can see the expression on his face. Everyone nows he is unhappy and will fix it.” - Slava Fetisov (p.6)

“He dragged his left foot behind him when he skated. His older brother was a much better skater. But even then Steve had a tremendous intensity to get better.” - his father, Ron Yzerman (p.20)

“He is the most intense kid I’ve ever seen in my life. He was better than anybody in the city. He had pro written all over him from the time he was 13.” - his bantam coach Ron Goddard (p.21)

“You can intimidate players, but you get some guys like Yzerman who’ll give it back to you. I respect him more than anyone else in the league. He’s tougher than people know. He takes it and doesn’t let it affect his game. He’s a leader.” - Chris Chelios before he joined the Red Wings (p.46)

“Yzerman has been very good at captaining the Wings and showing that he accepts the Europeans. He’s been very cordial. If Yzerman wasn’t accepting of a guy like Larionov, I could see that things would not go well. But he and Larionov are friends, and their wives see each other.” - former head coach Scotty Bowman (p.55)

“He provides great leadership on the team. He arranges things on the road. Last time we were in Vancouver, he had us play paint ball. We’ve done that in a few places.” - Nick Lidstrom (p.55)

“I really think team meetings are overrated. I think if you want to make a point to a guy, it’s better to do it one on one. Speaking a lot loses its effectiveness. But it is important to have guys in the locker room - and it doesn’t have to be the captain - who show some emotion and excitement. The class clown is as important as the guy who comes in and breaks his stick after a bad period. It’s good to have that mix of emotion in the locker room.” - Yzerman (p.57)

“He has an amazing work ethic. He never goes more than a week or so without working out, even during the season - bikes, running, sprinting, lifting weights, explosive jumps, the medicine ball…he uses every inch of the gym. He’s like a sponge for information on fitness and conditioning, he’s got all the best information. And he knows his body so well, he knows what part needs work, which exercises to concentrate on. As stars go, he’s very, very low maintenance. … I think everybody in the organization looks up to Steve. Not just what he does on the ice, but morally and ethically too.” - Red Wings’ athletic therapist John Wharton

“Steve built up really big thighs from all the work he did rehabbing his knee. He’d never want to talk about the injury, just worked like crazy on his own, never complaining.” - his father, Ron Yzerman (p.61)

“Steve’s the heart and soul of this team.” - Joey Kocur