New England Hockey Journal column
July 9, 2007
by Stan Fischler

Any doubts that Steve Yzerman was serious about his front-office role were dispelled when he was a featured member of the Detroit Red Wings’ high command at the owners’ last conference in Manhattan. …

Steve Yzerman announced the Detroit Red Wings’ first round pick (#27 overall) in his new role as vice president. As the entourage of Wings’ management walked up to the stage, the Columbus crowd first booed and then started to chant “Red Wings Suck.” Once they realized Yzerman was making the announcement, the crowd applauded. I know some newspapers have reported that the crowd booed Yzerman, but that’s not true. They definitely booed the Red Wings, but applauded Yzerman when he stepped up to the podium to announce the pick.

Source: Getty Images

I haven’t talked about Steve Yzerman in awhile so while I’m waiting for the Wings’ game to start at 3pm, I figured I could give you all an update.

Yzerman as management
As I mentioned earlier, Yzerman’s Team Canada won gold at the WHC in Moscow. As GM, he deflected praise to those he worked with including Wings’ GM Ken Holland and Asst. GM Jim Nill.

Yzerman, architect of the squad that won gold at the world championships in Moscow over the weekend, can now be added to that list. (Interestingly, Yzerman downplayed his own role and credited the input of others, and the first name he mentioned was Leaf GM John Ferguson). It was interesting to see Yzerman’s team filled with young players, including a college star in Jonathan Toews. It was a team that stood in stark comparison to the 2006 Canadian team that finished seventh in Turin, a team that always seemed more about past reputations than current quality.

What makes Yzerman even more appealing, however, is that he’s currently, well, underemployed.

He has a senior title with the Red Wings, but mostly is learning the ropes, trying out various duties and finding out what may or may not interest him. Doug Gilmour spent last season doing something similar with the Leafs.

Is Yzerman likely to be a GM in the league next season? No.

Damien Cox @ the Toronto Star believes Yzerman is next in line to be the Team Canada GM. Yes, he was GM for the WHC. But the Olympics are a different matter. Personally, I’d like to see Yzerman develop under Holland and Nill with the Wings and eventually move up the Team Canada management ladder as well. Being a GM for an NHL team and Team Canada is a lot different, I don’t think Yzerman has the business knowledge and understanding to be a GM for a team. Yet.

His success as a GM prompted speculation that he desires an NHL GM position. Yzerman does not feel ready for that role as of now and is not currently gunning for the position of Wings’ GM.

“If there is one thing I have learned from this season is the tremendous amount of time needed to be a general manager,” said Yzerman, who spent his first year of retirement from the NHL as an executive vice-president with the Detroit Red Wings, working with Wings GM Ken Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill.

“It’s a major commitment, and I’m not ready yet because I have a young family,” the 42-year-old continued. “I’m in no hurry. I’m enjoying what I’m doing right now. My schedule has allowed me flexibility to spend time with my family and to do the Hockey Canada thing this year.” …

“I’m not sitting here waiting to become the next general manager of the Detroit Red Wings,” Yzerman said. “Ken Holland [51] is a young guy and has been very successful. Jim Nill [49] is in the same situation. He will likely be the next general manager. I’m not looking over their shoulders, waiting.

“I don’t really know what my long-term goal is. My initial plan was to take a year off and after that possibly getting involved. But Ken Holland encouraged me to stay involved right away,” said Yzerman, who scored 1,755 points (692 goals) in 1,514 regular-season NHL games — all with the Red Wings.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time with Ken and Jim, learning how they handle a draft, how they handle a trade or negotiating a contract. After that, I have been asked for my input, when needed, on our own players and players around the league.”

Personally, I think Yzerman is really enjoying himself right now. Why?

(1) He’s not in the public eye as much. As a member of management, he has a behind the scenes role. He still interacts with players and important people in the hockey business. But he doesn’t have to deal with the media day in and day out.

(2) He has more free time. He gets to spend time with his wife and three daughters. His schedule with the Wings is flexible allowing him to make it to important family events he may have missed before. He doesn’t necessarily have early mornings and late nights everyday. He can kind of pick and choose what events he attends.

(3) He has a role within the organization. He’s learning from some of the best in the business. He can also be used as a tool in contract negotiations (ie. sitting down at dinner with Pavel Datsyuk and his agent before Datsyuk had re-signed with the Wings). I believe Holland and Nill value his input and Yzerman has enjoyed learning about the business side of the NHL.

(4) His knee doesn’t ache so much anymore. I’m sure it bothers him here and there, but he doesn’t have that daily reminder.

Response to Burnside article
Three days ago, ESPN writer Scott Burnside wrote a column with the title “Wings’ evolution couldn’t have happened without Stevie Y, Shanny.”

It is almost sacrilege to suggest, but it is nonetheless patently clear that this Detroit Red Wings team is far better team now that icons and legends Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan are gone.

This is not to diminish in any way the contributions both these players made to the Red Wings. Both are Hall of Fame material — Yzerman a first-ballot Hall of Famer to be sure. Both were crucial elements of three Stanley Cup teams between 1997 and 2002. Yzerman was the playoff MVP in 1998.

Each was, in their own way, a significant part of the team’s identity through the 1990s, a time when the Red Wings were the toast of the Motor City and the envy of other NHL franchises.

But the truth of the matter is, in the past two or three years, their presence stunted the team’s growth and contributed to early exits and unfulfilled promise in Detroit. The Wings didn’t lose because of them — but they couldn’t win with them. Not at the end.

A day after the article was published, Yzerman went on CBC’s Behind the Mask during the first intermission in Game #4 of the Wings-Ducks game Thursday night. During the interview, he was asked by Scott Oake, “Do you think it’s possible the Wings are a better team without Steve Yzerman?”

His response?

“I think the team’s a better team without a broken-down, 41-year-old Steve Yzerman, no question,” Yzerman told CBC’s Scott Oake and Kelly Hrudey . “That’s why I retired. I didn’t feel I could help this team anymore.

“But to think that my presence was a hindrance or a negative in the locker room, I would say that’s completely inaccurate or ridiculous.”

You can view Yzerman’s entire interview here.

BTJ reader Joe asked me what I thought of this article and Yzerman’s response.

As much as I hated to see Yzerman retire on July 3rd, I think it was the right time for him to do so. He wasn’t getting any younger and his body was just wearing out on him. I still find it amazing that he played for as long as he did following that osteotomy procedure in 2002. I think his leadership and heart did a lot for the team. Could he produce offensively like he once did? No. Did he take ice time that could’ve been given to a younger player? Yes. Looking back, would I still have had him play in the 2005-2006 season? Heck yes.

As much as I like Shanny, I think we saw a different team this year because we lost both Shanny and Yzie.

Misc. Article
In the past couple of months, a few articles about Yzerman as “The Captain” and a player have surfaced.

NHL.com’s Shawn P. Roarke wrote about Yzerman’s journey to become the well known and respected leader he retired as.

Late in his career, Yzerman was revered as much by opposing fans as he was by the Detroit crowds. Players across the League also understood they were in the presence of greatness. Today, it is impossible to find anyone with a bad word to say about Yzerman.

And, even though he is now done as a player — having moved seamlessly into management in Detroit — Yzerman’s legacy of skill and class remains, serving as inspiration to a new generation of players.

Edmonton center Jarret Stoll, 24, was still in diapers when Yzerman took his first twirl around a NHL rink. Yet Stoll now worships at Yzerman’s alter.

“Anybody that wins Cups and is a leader is looked upon as a very important player to their team. Not only (with) their team; he is a pretty well-respected throughout the League. With him retiring, his last game was here in Edmonton and that was pretty special to play against him in his last game.”

GM Steve Yzerman has added another gold medal to his resume, but this time it came as the GM instead of team player.

Team Canada defeated Finland, 4-2, earlier today to win the gold medal in Moscow where the World Hockey Championship was being held.

The country’s third gold at the event in the past five years only looked in doubt in the final minutes after Petri Kontiola and Antti Miettinen scored late. But the Canadians were able to hold on for the win after Rick Nash scored his second of the game with just over a minute to play.

The win earned St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray his third gold medal in four stints as Canada’s coach in the tournament.

“I’ve had the ability to surround myself with quality people,” Murray told TSN afterwards about his impressive tenure at the world championship.”

You can view a two minute interview that TSN conducted with Steve Yzerman here.

April 4, 2007

Blues president John Davidson has been impressed with what he’s seen from Wings vice president Steve Yzerman, who is also general manager for Canada at the upcoming Internatinal Ice Hockey Federation world championships.

Yzerman tabbed Blues coach Andy Murray to coach Canada on Tuesday and chose Blues defenseman Eric Brewer for one of the first few spots on the team.

Murray guided Canada to gold at the world championships in 1997 and 2003.

“Steve called me; we talked a few times,” Davidson said. “He’s doing his due diligence, no question. He’s a very thorough man. He had some options. He wanted to know our blessing, regarding letting Andy go and we certainly would.”

Davidson said Yzerman “very quietly goes about his business.

“People don’t know Steve well, because he’s a quiet guy,” Davidson said. “But he’s a very determined and hardworking individual. He can go anywhere he wants in this business. He’s not going to take it because he’s handed it. He’ll earn it and once he gets something, whatever he wants to do, he’ll be good at it.”

Canadian Press article
April 4, 2007

Steve Yzerman feels like a rookie all over again.

Two months after taking the job as Canada’s general manager for the upcoming IIHF world hockey championship, Yzerman is still getting a feel for the position.

“It’s been a real learning experience for me,” he said Tuesday night from Winnipeg. “Just in calling a hockey player and inviting him or talking to coaches and other general managers.

“Everything is new to me. A lot of these situations I’m handling for the first time.”

Fortunately, he hasn’t had to go it alone.

Read the rest of this entry »

It appears that Team Canada’s GM, Steve Yzerman, will pick St. Louis Blues’ head coach Andy Murray to coach Canada in the World Championships held in Moscow.

Murray is the only coach to lead Canada to two world championship titles. Yzerman, who is also expected to bring along Boston assistant coach Marc Habscheid, is focused on trying to get players. It’s believed Phoenix captain Shane Doan, St. Louis D Eric Brewer and Islanders W Ryan Smyth will all be invited.

RedWingsWorld.com article
March 19, 2007
by Bob Duff

Steve Yzerman entered the arena and jaws dropped. Hurriedly, people fumbled through their belongings for pen and paper.

Yzerman was back in his element, even though his game uniform was unfamiliar. The No. 19 sweater with the “C” in the upper left corner was gone. A suit and tie are elements of Stevie Y’s new uniform.

A vice president in the Wings’ front office, Yzerman still spends much of his life at the rink, even if the task he performs in this new arena has required a complete readjustment in his thinking.

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As a big Steve Yzerman fan, I felt I had to report this quote I saw via George at Snapshots.

I guess I’m not the only one who has a picture of Yzerman placed prominently as a source of inspiration. McKeen’s Hockey recently interviewed Henrik Zetterberg. Their first question asked Hank how the team has adjusted to the absence of Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan. Part of his answer included the following quote:

You are never going to replace those players. I would be naïve to tell you that. Their presence in this locker room helped to shape the Wings into Stanley Cup Champions. There is a picture above my stall where I change of Yzerman so I am fully aware of the contributions he has made every time I dress for the Red Wings.

TSN.ca column
January 25, 2007
by Bob McKenzie

It is not yet official and probably won’t be for another week or two, but it looks like Steve Yzerman will be the general manager of Team Canada at the 2007 World Championship in Russia.

The recently-retired superstar, who is now a vice-president with the Detroit Red Wings, has had several conversations about the job with Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson. Hockey Canada wants Yzerman to do it. Yzerman, by all accounts, is extremely keen and when he returns from a ski vacation in Colorado, he and Nicholson are expected to nail down the final details and make it official.

Yzerman is said to be very excited to try his hand at managing in a hands-on role and Hockey Canada likes the idea of bringing another Canadian hockey icon into its fold, just as it did when it named Wayne Gretzky the executive director of the 2002 Olympic team.

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