Thanks to The Captain
The Captain — Steve Yzerman — has announced his retirement, closing a 22-season career.
Click here to view a slideshow of Yzerman photos
Some brief career stats:
- 22 seasons — all in Detroit
- 19 seasons as captain — the longest tenure in NHL history
- 1,755 points — 6th all-time
- 1,063 assists — 7th all-time
- 692 goals — 8th all-time
- 1,514 games played
- 3 Stanley Cups — 1997, 1998, 2002
- 1 Olympic Gold Medal — 2002
I remember the day that the Wings drafted Stevie Y back in 1983. He was the first draft pick under the new Ilitch/Devellano regime. Pat LaFontaine was the pick that most folks wanted, as he was a local boy from Waterford, MI. It didn’t take too long, however, for us to all see just how lucky we were that Stevie fell to us at the #4 pick.
I was at the game vs. Buffalo in 1988 when, just after netting his 50th goal of the season, Stevie lost his edge & went knee-first into the goal post & hurt his knee. I’ll never forget just how quickly the mood of that arena changed from joy to devastation. Back in the late 80’s Stevie was an offensive machine, surpassed only by #99 & #66 - but I wouldn’t have traded #19 for either of them!
Over the course of the 90’s, it was amazing to see the transformation that he underwent, morphing from Stevie Y into The Captain. He was always an offensive threat, but he became the consummate leader & a stellar defensive player as well. While many would hail Mark Messier as the best captain of the 90’s (if not of all-time), once again I would maintain that the title rightly belongs to #19.
I’ll never forget those wondrous nights in 1997, 1998, & 2002 when The Captain hoisted The Cup. Particularly in 2002 when he played the post-season on a right knee that would’ve kept most normal folks from even walking, he showed otherworldly dedication, leadership, & willpower.
And now, he leaves the game with that same level of dedication, leadership, willpower, and class fully intact. Outside of Detroit, he won’t get the same level of accolades as Gretzky or Lemieux did, but he certainly deserves them. I look forward to his taking some well-deserved time off with his family, and I have no doubt that he will soon get involved in the Wings’ front office such that he eventually will lead the organization to at least as much success as Joe Dumars has had with the Pistons.
My dad had Gordie Howe as the Wings icon during the same relative years of his life that I’ve had Steve Yzerman. I grew up as a legacy Wings fan, knowing how great Mr. Hockey was (meeting the man in 1993 was a surreal treat!). But when it comes to Mr. Hockey vs. The Captain… well, I wouldn’t make that trade. Nope.
So, as an age-group peer, and a life-long Detroit Red Wings fan, I thank you Steve Yzerman for making the past 23 years so very, very enjoyable & memorable. Men like you are why sports will always be relevant & meaningful!
-ghp
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July 5th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
I may be a Blues fan, but my hat’s off to Stevie Y, a great player and a solid citizen.
July 5th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
That’s awful big coming from a St. Louis fan, considering all the pain that Stevie & the Wings caused the Blues during the mid-to-late 90’s (not the least of which was that game 7 2nd-OT dagger in 1996!). All that was almost enough to make me feel sorry for MacInnis & Pronger… well, maybe MacInnis, but not really Pronger!
Thanks for the comment, Pr. — give my regards to the ‘vark the next time you see him, won’t cha?
July 6th, 2006 at 8:41 am
Thanks for posting this! I think that being a captain for so many years speaks to his character and to what others thought of him.