"He can go up and play on the right wing. But he took it to another level, to the point where I believe, personally, he started to sacrifice offense.. And I enjoy that.". Besides being astronomically incorrect, this is an overused saying and sets one up for disappointment. 9922 Jefferson Blvd Culver City CA 90232. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. ", Video: DET@CBJ: Veleno roofs PPG for first career goal. He immediately skated to the bench for a new stick, then picked up a loose puck in the corner and flipped a perfect pass to Sergei Fedorov, who scored. All Rights Reserved. "I think it was masterful," former Lightning GM Jay Feaster said of the deal. Great skater, elusive, hockey sense, really, really competitive and then just grew into, really in probably the late 80s, there was no doubt he was the third-best player in the world, Holland said. 15 on The Athletics list of the NHLs 100 greatest players of the post-expansion era. Instead of making the playoffs, the Lightning was a punch line. Steve Yzerman weighed 185 lbs (83 kg) when playing. Every Monday through Saturday until February well unveil new members of the list. He gathers information. 19 jersey. Steve had the right to overturn, but throughout the whole process, he had never done that before, so he wasn't going to do it then.". Do you have a blog? And in my mind, probably when you look at the scoring race there was two or three years there that Steve got 130 to 160 points, and he really took the Detroit Red Wings franchise on his back and made it relevant (again).. But we all like some form of certainty, and this is the biggest period of uncertainty for us all. Steve Yzerman, in full Stephen Gregory Yzerman, byname the Captain, (born May 9, 1965, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada), Canadian American professional ice hockey player whoas the longest-serving captain in National Hockey League (NHL) historyled the Detroit Red Wings to three Stanley Cup championships (1997, 1998, and 2002). Statistics of Steve Yzerman, a hockey player from Cranbrook, BC born May 9 1965 who was active from 1980 to 2006. He is known for The Joe: The Detroit Red Wings & Joe Louis Arena (2018), Salt Lake City 2002: XIX Olympic Winter Games (2002) and Gold Rush 2002 (2002). And his careers second act has been highly successful as well first working in Detroits front office under Holland, then becoming general manager in Tampa Bay, where he helped build the Lightning into an elite organization, and now returning to the Red Wings. The first-best player was Gretzky in his prime. Yzerman's #19 jersey was retired on January 2, 2007, during a pre-game ceremony at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. It wasn't that way for him. Yzerman played for the Red Wings from 1983 through 2006. In last week's game, Toronto winger Garry Valk made the mistake of slashing Yzerman on the knee between where one pad ends and another begins. Steve Yzerman. But it may also obscure parts of Yzermans early days. In 1983, his bronze medal win with the Canadian team at the World Junior Championship added to the confidence of Detroit's management and Yzerman was drafted to the Red Wings. The aformentioned Orr will forever be remembered flying through the air with his stick up just after his 1970 Stanley Cup winning goal and similarly Yzerman was running on ice with the excitement of a kid living out his playoff fantasy after ripping a slapshot over the shoulder of Jon Casey in double overtime of a game 7 against the Blues in 1996. So he wasnt a yeller, he wasnt an emotional speaker he didnt have to be. He had an issue with his elbow that he had to take get taken care of. Find out more. And if you could put the little cartoon bubble above my head, it'd say, 'No (kidding). The stoic exterior masks a competitive fire raging inside of him. (2013). On Sunday, Detroit agreed to terms with 14-year NHL veteran defenseman Marc Staal, and on Wednesday morning, the Red Wings re-signed 14-year veteran center Sam Gagner, hours before he was set to become an unrestricted free agent. "It was a really difficult decision at the time," Yzerman said. Yzerman logged 37 minutes on one leg that night, a 3-2 Red Wings win. Many famous people also have cottages on this lake, such as Steve Yzerman, Goldie Hawn and Martin Short; others, including the late Ted Rogers and William Eli Sanford have had resort properties in the past. The Red Wings retired Yzermans jersey number (19) in 2007. And Yzerman, as their leader and the 1998 playoff MVP, was at the center of it. In the shot, Donnie smiles alongside . It'd be a real challenge to put a team together yourself." Pat Verbeek was one of Yzermans contemporaries in the NHL. Coffey, a winner of four Cups with Gretzky's Oilers and Lemieux's Penguins, sat next to the captain, who was questioning his ability and pondering his place in history. The way he got dressed, the way he taped his shin pads, his skates, his stick and all that., Im looking at him (like), What is he doing? Well send you news, analysis and commentary on the Bolts weekly during the season. ), isn't afraid of the rough going. But building his own team has long been his dream. Yzerman spends most off-hours with his wife, Lisa, and three young daughters in the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills, and summers at a cottage in central Ontario's Muskoka region. Connor Bedard, the projected 2023 No. Verbeek can recall one game in which he was playing for Hartford against the Red Wings and had been going after one of Yzermans teammates, Johan Garpenlv. Yzerman wasn't a big fan of talking to the media as a player, but does it more now because he believes it's his responsibility as a team spokesman. March 3, 2023, 6:52 PM Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman: "I was not going to be a buyer under any circumstance. "He was really down," Coffey said. But after the Islanders snagged LaFontaine at No. In the off-season he underwent knee surgery. Finally, in 1997, the Red Wings ended their Stanley Cup losing streak when they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers. Verbeek found a young Yzerman to be friendly and a bit quiet. The one word that comes to mind about Steve was responsible: whether we needed a tying or winning goal, or an important faceoff, or a shot to be blocked on a penalty kill, or any kind of a big play, he was generally responsible for it no player I ever coached could play with a pain threshold like Steve Yzerman Scotty Bowman, 6. Before free agency began, the Red Wings also re-signed a couple crucial veterans who Yzerman hopes provide stability to a club that has seen a huge roster turnover the last few years. Feb 10, 2023 - Entire townhouse for $188. On November 4, 2008, he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. He led without arrogance or self-indulgence, owner Mike Ilitch said. Though he played only 16 games the following season (20023), he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to his sport. Three of those players on the precipice of making their NHL mark are 2018 30th overall pick Joe Veleno, who made his Red Wings debut late last season, along with 2019 sixth overall pick Moritz Seider and 2020 fourth overall pick Lucas Raymond, who hope to make their NHL debuts at some point this season. ". Yzerman went on to explain that this was just the final straw for him as he really is not a big fan of Ilitch. "I was there for a long time and am proud of what we accomplished. Be humble in your celebrations (but when it is warranted, celebrate big). He led by example more so than with fiery tirades with teammates recalling him laying out to block shots, and setting a standard in the gym as examples. His shooting percentage also happened to be the lowest of his career, and by that time with most of the famed Russian Five and Nicklas Lidstrom also on the team Detroit no longer needed to lean so heavily on Yzerman on offense. ), isn't afraid of the rough going.This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on February 7, 2000. Steve Yzerman, you helped build Hockeytown. When you talk about the ultimate will and determination, willing yourself through a hockey game we knew how important that game was too, and theres no way that he was going to miss it, let alone miss a shift.. Joe going over to Sweden last year, I think was great," Yzerman said about Veleno. by ' Martin Lapointe recalled of his own first game as a Red Wing. He could have comfortably stayed in his "lifetime" appointment as an executive with the Red Wings. They played fewer games, and it was more defensive then.". Yzerman sat in on all the meetings, from those at the trade deadline to others with amateur scouts involving the draft. I would probably just say winner,' Verbeek said. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. While Yzerman's work ethic has always been strong, it is his commitment to defence that gets his teammates' attention. "Moritz, if he's in the top six and he's earned that spot in the top six, he'll play," Yzerman said about the German defenseman. Kevin Allen. Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. I think he's got good hockey sense. Yzerman's style, on and off the ice, is discreet. You can sometimes catch Canadian hockey players like Steve Yzerman, Eric Lindros, Shayne Corson and Darcy Tucker chillin with family and friends as all have cottages near by. I was shocked when I found out what Chris did to Al (Sobotka), Yzerman said early Friday morning. 15 Aug 2011. Devellano saw this early on, Yzerman one of the rare players who peppered him with questions on the inner workings of the organization. Video: Sam Gagner signs one-year extension with Red Wings. NHL 2020. He had to buy into what the coaches were trying to implement and hes done that, which is a big reason why weve been successful.. In, Deacon, James. And if we did, we would have success. Yzerman called it a very difficult decision. ", Yzerman still has a temper. But, Yzerman was also the GM of the Lightning, and his captain, Marty St. Louis, the best player in franchise history, didn't initially make the Canada roster. In 2002, he won an Olympic gold medal as part of the mens hockey team. "But I have no interest, and no time, really. Yzerman was captain of the Detroit Red Wings . DETROIT -- Before last week's 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Steve Yzerman suggested it could be the most unpredictable week in modern hockey history. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. I'm in a position now where you're trying to win. All Rights Reserved. We've got just what fans of all ages need in terms of authentic Steve Yzerman Jerseys, with home, away, and alternate color combinations . " Devellano said. He missed all of March on the NHL schedule, returning for only the final game of the regular season before the playoffs. Where my stall was, I was watching just everything, Draper said. Yzerman knew he had to tell "Mr. He's not that tough. On Friday, the Red Wings made another move by acquiring 24-year-old center Mitchell Stephens from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. The organization needed a spark, and with the No. Currently, the 19-year-old University of Denver defenseman has six points . His eldest. He gives us some depth to play here, to play in Grand Rapids, gives us the flexibility to play him at two positions. When he was named Detroit's first pick in the 1983 draft of junior players, Yzerman was saddled with the pressure of leading a then-dreadful team back to glory. Frank J. Selke Trophy (2000) Yzerman was executive director of the Canadian mens hockey teams for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and the 2014 Games in Sochi. In the stands at last week's Detroit-Toronto game at Joe Louis Arena, thousands of fans turned up wearing his No. Yzerman is so central to the story of hockey in Detroit that his career has become part of the citys sports lore. Yzerman had taken his two daughters to the St. Pete Times Forum to see Justin Bieber in concert, but Bieber only had eyes for Stevie Y, pointing out to the crowd how honored he was to be in Yzerman's presence. The Official Site of the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has signed an eight-year extension with an $8.7 million AAV, the team announced Wednesday. Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. And I would probably say after we had lost in 96 to Colorado, I would have to say that (Yzerman was) like, I gotta do whatever I have to, we gotta win. 250. Canadas Sports Hall of Fame (2008) And while that run ended in disappointment too as did the next years to arch-rival Colorado those years set the stage for both Yzerman and the Red Wings to take the final step. Conn Smythe Trophy (1998) Before Jeff Vinik bought the team a few months earlier, Tampa Bay was run by a couple of cowboys, meddling and bickering owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie. Steve Yzerman | NHL Free Agency 27:31 July 29th, 2021 The first two new free agents the Red Wings signed on Wednesday were defenseman and Michigan native Jordan Oesterle and Swiss center Pius. Akshad Singi. This moment required one. Steve Yzerman had 692 goals over his career. [DIRK SHADD | Times], Lightning assistant GM Jamie Pushor found his post-playing passion in scouting, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning shut down Red Wings, As one generation awaits womens pro hockey, they pass their lessons down to the next, Panthers pile on early, snap Lightnings home points streak, New Lightning forward Tanner Jeannot ready to get things going, This Lightning trade is not just a risk, its a full-blown battle cry, Maple Leafs: Lightning, other division rivals did not spur deal. Before Yzerman reached rarefied air, he failed. "But Bobby Hull? Yzerman wrote into his Red Wings contract that he'd have a position in management after he retired in 2006. Yzerman said while the Red Wings have several elite prospects, those young players still have to earn their roster spot and nothing will be given. "Generally, he's a great pro. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. Springsteen, like Yzerman, was just another face in the crowd. But Yzerman had seen a successful rebuild before he was part of one. At 16, Steve Yzerman joined the Ontario Hockey League's Peterborough Petes, where scouts for the Detroit Red Wings soon took notice. Welcome toNHL99,The Athletics countdown ofthe best 100 players in modern NHL history. But we're starting to build something and, hopefully, we can get there and win, and just keep doing it over and over and over. But here is Steve Yzerman, the former Red Wings iconic captain, staring down at the Amalie Arena ice, watching, analyzing a Lightning team he has molded since becoming general manager in 2010. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. I felt it was in his DNA.". This is his chance. There was immense pressure on the Red Wings that season after they had brought in three new Hall of Famers to their already dynamic core during the 2001 offseason. Yzerman said he's also pleased with Raymond's development and said the 19-year-old is on the right timeline to possibly join the Red Wings in the near future. Detroit won the next four games to beat Vancouver, then knocked out St. Louis in five games and Colorado in seven to reach the Cup Final. The Red Wings lost in Game 7 of the Norris Division semifinals the summer of 1993, and a dejected Yzerman took a seat in the dressing room. "That's the meticulousness of Stevie.". In the years that followed, the late 1990s Red Wings cemented themselves as one of the great dynasties in NHL history, winning back-to-back championships in 1997 and 1998, then again in 2002. March 1, 2023, 1:19 PM. Lester B. Pearson Award/Ted Lindsay Award (1989) However, Yzerman famously gave a smooch to Martin Lapointe on the Kiss Cam when Brendan Shanahan would show the power winger no love. He's got good hands. In my opinion hes the best general manager in the National Hockey League, Holland said. 1 its the 99 spots behind No. "It hurt him. Were ranking 100 players but calling it 99 because we all know whos No. Devellano sought out the captain's opinions on moves by the club. ", "The talk radio shows and media were saying, 'Can you ever win with him? On car trips, he picked the brains of Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill. Rumours of a trade involving Yzerman surfaced soon after, but his personal success at the 1996 World Cup endeared him to Red Wing officials once again. But certainly watching him eight times last year live over a relatively short period of time gives you a good feel for what their strengths are.". With 10 picks in this year's entry draft . On the franchise's Mount Rushmore, he trails only Gordie Howe, and even that's close. "I think every team sits back and you look at your board and you think, you know what, I think we're a better hockey team. Everybody knows that Chris Ilitch is the worst owner in sports and, to be honest, he is a complete tool. He works. Or insist that his sticking with the Detroit Red Wings for his entire career, through bad times and good, sets a shining example of loyalty in an era of money-driven transience. But those who had a front-row seat for Yzerman's journey said he was a shy superstar who experienced his share of scars. For more of Steve Yzerman's 100 Greatest Players bio, please click here. Yzerman became vice president of the Detroit Red Wings following his retirement as a player, and in 2010 became general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He started his office career with the Red Wings, but when there was no sign of supplanting long-time GM Ken Holland, Yzerman moved on to join the Tampa Bay Lightning as General Manager. But if Yzerman was, as Holland puts it, putting all of his energy into defense, and to checking, the results were hard to argue: That season, the Red Wings won the Presidents Trophy with the leagues best record and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. The accepted narrative goes something like this: Yzerman entered the league as a pure offensive dynamo, but after years of playoff disappointments, proven winner Scotty Bowman arrived to coach the Red Wings in 1993 and made Yzerman realize he needed to learn to defend at which point, the Red Wings began winning championships. Photos: Lightning fall 4-1 on home to Panthers. And I think (its) because of his work ethic, and all those intangibles that he had as a player, hes taken to the front office. But while Yzerman wants to remain anonymous, he can't escape the reality of how famous he is. Very responsible defensively. You can ZOOM and also change the views by clicking on N, E, S or W. Photos of Steve Yzerman's . "They were the 'Dead Wings.' Max Bultman. Still, from the people who lived those years alongside Yzerman, the popular lore has truth to it as well not in that he necessarily needed to learn to become a so-called defensive player, but in realizing just how significant total defensive commitment was to winning a championship. ", Video: Steve Yzerman address Red Wings free agency moves. "He is an offensive-minded, playmaking centerman, which was a real need for our team. Some of the music had to be edited out due to copyright claims. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. It's challenging, but it's a lot of fun.". After Filip Hronek and Tyler Bertuzzi were traded ahead of Friday's deadline, just three players remain from the roster Yzerman inherited from Ken Holland in 2019: Larkin, Michael Rasmussen and. But if the Red Wings play as well as GM Yzerman hopes they will in 2022-23 . Infamously, ownership was giving away cars at games just to try to generate fan interest. There was only one thing that team could do in 02, and that was (win) the Stanley Cup, Draper said. "He had a pretty good year in Sweden, missed a little time at the end. Steven H Hassan - Steven H Hassan CPA. By all accounts, he was a quiet leader. Yzerman, less than a month shy of his 50th birthday, would probably still play if he could. You look at the three to four years of major disappointments that we had, and Scotty saying, like, Sacrifice the offense to take care of the defense, its going to make all your teammates better and more accountable, and youre still going to produce,' Draper said. And Yzerman, like any other starstruck fan, froze at the chance to say hello. But in playing against Steve all those early years, Steve was always competitive defensively. It's important for his confidence in his development to be able to succeed out there, and we're really pleased with his attitude, his work ethic and determination to continue to get better. 99 we have to figure out. Those who lived the run have visceral memories of seeing Yzerman battle through his pain that summer including having to brace on his stick to get back up after being knocked down. Resides in Culver City, CA. That, as Shanahan alluded, can likely be traced to Yzermans competitive personality. He just explained that hockey was his job and the time had come for him to get serious about it and work harder to make himself better, Goddard remembered. Yzerman said Veleno doesn't have a guaranteed roster spot this season, but he likes the development he's seen from the 21-year-old forward. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. "My game preparation would start the night before at dinnertime - I'd be on a strict schedule of sleeping and eating." Stephens has earned seven points (3-4-7) in 45 games for the back-to-back Stanley Cup-champion Lightning over the last two seasons. Youre down 2-0, playing on the road, almost a must-win, the Game 3, Lidstrom recalled. "He leads," Bowman says, "by the way he plays. Steve was quoted as saying My first game in Detroit was in October 1983 against the New Jersey Devils and it was a thrill for me just to step on the ice. Not necessarily aiming to be an All Star or being voted into the Hall of Fame, Yzerman was just happy to be playing the sport he loved at the highest level possible. And a good captain, too. DetroitRedWings.com is the official Web site of the Detroit Red Wings. Yzerman said he thinks both players could have a huge impact for Detroit this season. Guys like him are kind of like gods. "He's a young prospect competing for a job. I think he played hard, Holland said. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Claim this business. Much in the same vein as Bobby Orr before him, he could almost give off an air of looking more ashamed of humbling the opposing defenceman than being joyous for himself. He's a doting father, owning a "Michigan Dad" hat. Steve Yzerman is 5-11 (180 cm) tall. Welcome to NHL 99, The Athletic 's countdown of the best 100 players in modern NHL history . I can't think of a more Yzerman was one of the game's most prolific scorers, though he often resided in the shadows of Gretzky and Lemieux, who were more flashy. The distinction is well made, but it does not detract from what he has achieved. Keeping with the theme of versatility, Yzerman said he appreciates the skillset that Gagner provides. "What I'm not necessarily doing is going to leave spots open just to hand it to one of the younger players.". If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. So was competing. "Unfortunately, I don't see him leaving.". Yzerman's best and worst move as Lightning GM might have been the same moment. Shanahans words have significant backing: In Yzermans most productive season as a pro, his 155-point campaign in 1988-89 (when he was 23), he also finished 11th in Selke Trophy voting. "I used to live and breathe hockey all the time," Yzerman says. Manage Settings It was everything it took for him to get on the ice and play, he said. And the ultimate test came in Game 3 of the Final, a game that went to triple overtime. Go beyond the basics. I think he complements our left side well and can fill in anywhere there.". Yzerman called a team meeting and, essentially, reminded the team how good they were and to relax and stay the course. He goes through a lot of a process, to eventually make a decision.. Build Systems. Yzerman's stare doesn't drift too far into the future. Steve was more on having him (on the team) than off. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? By the end of his NHL career, he had played 1514 regular season games with the Red Wings and had amassed a total of 1755 points, scoring 692 goals and 1063 assists. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Yzerman figures he will stay involved even after he leaves the ice. Yzerman, who grew up in the Ottawa suburb of Nepean, was an unknown to fans. Competitiveness, as an athlete, that's the way we all were. "Steve Yzerman (Profile). Im just sitting beside him, were coming in every intermission, hes like, Here we go again, going back out there and stuff, Draper said. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. If you want to watch him squirm, offer him a compliment. "Stevie is the role model for young players," says Calgary coach Brian Sutter. 1 draft pick, has been compared to a young Steve Yzerman. "I like competition, I like winning," Yzerman said. Kurtis Pykes. "I was let in and he stood behind his desk, said, 'Hi Jon, I'm Steve Yzerman.' But the moniker became perhaps most fitting in the second half of Yzermans career, and especially during the 2002 Cup run. "He is a skilled guy. And beyond the physical conflict inherent to hockey, the defensive side of the puck tends to be a natural outlet for that quality. It kind of settled the whole team down with that speech., Even though Yzerman had returned to the lineup for the playoffs, Draper said The whole playoff run, he didnt have one practice.. Yzerman was also clear about Seider's chances to make the 2021-22 roster. - Advertisement -. Josh Berenter, acquiring 24-year-old center Mitchell Stephens. He really worked on his strength, Polano said. He made the greatest commitment, in my mind, when Scotty Bowman showed up, to sacrifice. Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (2003) "He plays hard every night, at both ends of the rink." His determination was second to none.". For all of these reasons, Yzerman ranks No. Steve Yzerman was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Player in 2009. Kris Draper saw him coming, but pretended he didnt. "I wasn't looking for an island," Allison says, "but when I saw this place, I felt obligated to buy it. "The crowd showed there was no way they wanted him traded," Gallant said. Which skate does he put on first, or which shin pad? Like a young kid would do.. Steve Yzerman, who has served as the general manager (GM) for both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings, has made these transactions possible - affecting the futures of both teams . How much did Steve Yzerman weigh when playing? After more than a week of anticipation, Detroit Red Wings executive vice president & general manager Steve Yzerman announced Tuesday that coach Jeff Blashill's contract has been extended through . Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman watches from high above the ice during a game against the Florida Panthers in March in Tampa. Can he take the team to the next level?' In a rage, Yzerman spun and chopped down on Valk's stick - breaking his own in the process. Played in NHL All-Star Game (1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2000). Starting Tuesday, you'll be able to book his waterfront property on Lake Rosseau, which is 200 kilometres from Toronto and boasts a handful of other recognizable part-time residents, such as. "Wayne is the greatest player that ever played the game," said defenseman Paul Coffey, who played with Gretzky, Lemieux and Yzerman. Yzerman jets back and forth as often as he can, squeezing in trips to Michigan to reconnect with his family. He has some versatility to him as well. Now, they were teammates. As a veteran, setting a good example for the young guys. He goes to games. As team captain, Yzerman was the first Red Wing to hoist the trophy since 1955.