Mathieu Dandenault of the Montreal Canadiens remembers his NHL line during his rookie season, one that happened to include Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman.

And Dandenault recalled he had a fast start in the NHL.

“I played with Stevie Yzerman my rookie season and I scored five goals in my first 12 games,” Dandenault said. “I was a scratch a lot of the time that year, but when I started the season I was with him. It was amazing. But I ended up the season with five goals because I went to the fourth line. I started the season with Yzerman and finished with Stu Grimson.”

According to two Detroit News columnists, Sidney Crosby has a lot in common with Steve Yzerman.

It’s not in the way they play the game. Crosby’s style is much different from the way Yzerman played. It’s in the way they handle themselves and what they say. Crosby won’t be fazed by the ‘C’, just as he hasn’t been bothered by all the attention and expectations. He has been the focal point wherever he has gone and he has worn the ‘C’ at every level he has played.

“I’m just going to keep everything the same,” Crosby said earlier this week. “I’ve always tried to lead by example. As far as playing with emotion, I think I always have played with emotion, and I need to keep playing like that.”

Crosby isn’t the kind to stop and consider where he is in his career.

“I don’t really think about it, to be honest,” he said. “There’s not too much time to think about it. I think I’m always looking to improve and get better.

“I have to focus on the things that are really important. and I don’t think it’s really important to worry about that too much.”

The Detroit News had a great roundtable discussion with the big names in the Detroit Red Wings management including the team owner, GM, assistant GM, and VP. One of the many topics discussed was Yzerman.

News: How close was Steve Yzerman to being traded?

Devellano: There were talks. Steve Yzerman knows that. I’ve told him that. But as I told Stevie, even while it was going on, ‘Look, Steve, if you’re going to be dealt to Ottawa, we have to get something real good now to replace you and a whole lot more for the future.’ Ottawa couldn’t deliver on it. I don’t even think they could pay the contract, could they, Scotty?

Bowman: No, I don’t think so. I remember Jimmy saying, ‘You’re just spinning your wheels, because Mike Ilitch would never trade Steve Yzerman.’ And I remember Mike coming to me after my first year here — because Steve got injured that year — and saying, ‘You haven’t even seen what this guy can do.’

News: Did it ever come to your desk, Mr. Ilitch?

Ilitch: No, and I didn’t want it to come. (Laughter.) I’d heard the rumblings, but…

On his role in management after retiring as a player:

News: Touch on Steve (Yzerman) for a second. What’s his role going forward? Is it still being defined?

Devellano: Steve and I and Mr. Ilitch used to have these talks, so when we finally sat down to try to figure out just how we could utilize a guy like Steve, the more we talked, the more we felt like, you know what, let’s utilize him in every area that he would like to be involved in. Whether it be scouting, whether it be helping in Grand Rapids with the young players, whether it be marketing, maybe helping Mike Babcock with a certain problem player, or working with Kenny and Jimmy Nill on contracts.

We told Steve he can be as involved in every area of the franchise as he wants to be, and he can put in as much time as he feels he wants to. It’s kind of evolving.

Holland: For Steve, it’s how much time you can commit, because there’s a lot of down time, when not much is going on. But you need to be there every day, just to talk about things. Certainly, Steve can be right beside me.

Ilitch: He’s happy, though. He loves it. And he could end up being an owner, too, one day. He might be part of a group one day, who knows?

News: It seems you’ve always got room for another brain in the braintrust.

Devellano: Absolutely. And you know, it’s a little bit like what I’ve said about Scotty Bowman. Steve’s presence means so much, his presence to the fans, to the players, to the coaching staff, to us. Just like Scotty, I think his presence just elevates our organization, I really do.

Ilitch: Because he cares so much.

Holland: He’s a Red Wing. He can be as involved as he wants to be.