Calgary Herald article
January 2, 2007
by Jean LeFebvre
Link to Article
The quiet teen from Nepean, Ont., hardly looked like someone with nearly 700 National Hockey League goals in his future.
“Steve was obviously very skilled,” recalled Calgary Hitmen boss Kelly Kisio, “a very good hockey player, but in practice, when he used to take a shot, it looked like he could hardly get it to the net. It was amazing.”
Like Steve Yzerman, Kisio was a Detroit Red Wings rookie in 1983-84, although the latter was six years older. If the Wings — including Ron Duguay, Danny Gare and Reed Larson — were underwhelmed by the kid’s warm-up deliveries, things changed when Yzerman started playing for keeps.
Detroit News column
January 1, 2007
by Terry Foster
The debate regarding the true Mr. Red Wing will go on forever. Many older fans say the title belongs to Gordie Howe, who scored 801 NHL goals, led the league in scoring six times and was league MVP six times.
The youngsters throw their support behind Steve Yzerman, who scored 692 goals and led the Wings to three Stanley Cups before retiring after last season.
It’s Mr. Hockey against the Captain.
Canadian Press article
December 5, 2006
by Pierre Lebrun
Steve Yzerman is at peace. He made the right decision when he called it quits on a sensational 20-year playing career.
“I have no regret at all,” Yzerman said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “The last couple of years was a struggle just to get out there. I put a lot of effort in getting ready to play. To me, I’ve almost found it a relief to not have to physically try and keep up because it was becoming very difficult for me to do that. “I’m very happy with my decision.”
So happy that when he watches his team play these days, in his new front-office role as team vice-president, it feels right.
“I’ve really enjoyed watching hockey games, moreso than maybe I expected,” Yzerman said.
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.
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.”
The Hockey News article
August 18, 2006
by Mike Brophy
Though you would never have guessed it at the time, if you were among those at the North York Centennial Arena and watched as Yzerman rose from his seat in the stands and began his descent toward the floor and the Petes table, you saw the beginning of his ascent toward becoming one of the greatest NHLers of all-time.
SI.com column
July 27, 2006
by Michael Farber
I don’t necessarily want to start a tribute with bathroom material, but this story must be told:
A short time after Detroit Red Wings general manager Jim Devellano had trudged up to the podium to announce that he was pleased to select Steve Yzerman with the fourth pick in the 1983 entry draft, he was in a restroom at the Montreal Forum muttering imprecations about the hockey gods and the New York Islanders, who, one spot ahead of the Red Wings, had snatched an honest-to-goodness Detroiter, Pat LaFontaine, the perfect fit, a man-child seemingly capable of resuscitating his moribund hometown franchise. (Over the years Devellano has steadfastly denied that the Wings preferred LaFontaine to Yzerman, but I was in the room. I was, er, privy to his thinking.)
The Hockey News article
July 23, 2006
by Bob Duff
For much of his speech, Yzerman was even able to smile.
The man who first brought Yzerman to Detroit felt that was the way it should be.
“I don’t look upon this as a sad day,” said Red Wings senior vice-president Jimmy Devellano. “This is the celebration of a tremendous career.”
A career that may never be repeated.
NHLPA.com article
July 14, 2006
“We’ve been through a lot together. There’s no place to play that you get this kind of treatment, respect and adulation.”
– Steve Yzerman
When a player that has recorded nearly 1,800 points announces his retirement, you would expect a collective cheer from his rivals. Not so when the player in question happens to be Steve Yzerman.
For three decades, he made even the best in business look like amateurs, scoring goals, setting them up, or preventing them in every conceivable fashion.
So why, some 22 seasons after his National Hockey League career began, are fellow players sad to see Yzerman hang up his skates?
Because few NHLers in the history of the game are as beloved as the class act from Cranbrook, British Columbia.
Detroit News article
July 4, 2006
by Vartan Kupelian
The rookie walked out of the restaurant at the team’s New York hotel with a befuddled look. That’s not all that unusual for a teenager making a first foray to the Big Apple.
He walked head down toward the bus, his attention riveted on the coins in the palm of his hand. He counted the change carefully, but couldn’t make any sense of what had just happened.
Just then, the late Sid Abel, at the time color analyst for the Red Wings and former general manager, coach and Hall of Fame center for the team, appeared from around the corner. Abel spied the young man’s predicament.
Steve Yzerman, the rookie, was trying to sort out how it could have cost him so much money out of his $20 bill to have breakfast. He muttered something about two eggs, toast and coffee — and a $14-plus tab, before the tip.
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