"(Fans) didn't pronounce his name properly," Devellano said. But building his own team has long been his dream. Stephen "Steve" Gregory Yzerman, hockey player, general manager (born 9 May 1965 in Cranbrook, BC). The force of the blast broke his nose and some other small bones, but as he was being wheeled to an ambulance headed for hospital, he called over to the Red Wings' equipment manager and said: "I think I'll need a visor on my helmet if I'm going to play in Tampa.". Yzerman jets back and forth as often as he can, squeezing in trips to Michigan to reconnect with his family. When the playoffs began, though, Detroit lost the first two games of its opening series against Vancouver at home. He gathers information. Him and I were getting into it, and he about choked me out, Verbeek recalled, laughing. 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. By. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. But it may also obscure parts of Yzermans early days. He had 692 goals, 1,063 assists, and a plus-minus of +184 in 1514 games played. Although he later was added to the team, St. Louis, who had also been left off the 2010 team, demanded a trade to the Rangers, but Yzerman managed to net Ryan Callahan and two first-round picks. Yzerman knew he had to tell "Mr. But those who had a front-row seat for Yzerman's journey said he was a shy superstar who experienced his share of scars. DetroitRedWings.com is the official Web site of the Detroit Red Wings. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Yzerman, with his showy puck-handling abilities, quickly became a fan favourite. After all, Yzerman is as synonymous to the Red Wings as the winged wheel. "He had a pretty good year in Sweden, missed a little time at the end. 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. Steven H Hassan - Steven H Hassan CPA. 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. "I don't want him just to be on the roster. Yzerman got comparatively little attention outside Detroit until the Wings won their two recent Cups. Steve Yzerman was born on May 9, 1965 in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada. "There are guys that seek attention and can't wait to get in front of the microphone," Yzerman said. Joe Louis Arena was half empty. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. On November 4, 2008, he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. It was everything it took for him to get on the ice and play, he said. - Advertisement -. ", That happens less often than it once did. Center -- shoots R Born May 9 1965 -- Cranbrook, BC [57 yrs. I think he complements our left side well and can fill in anywhere there.". Indeed, intensity was a defining trait of Yzermans. Everybody knows that Chris Ilitch is the worst owner in sports and, to be honest, he is a complete tool. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. I'm in a position now where you're trying to win. Competitiveness, as an athlete, that's the way we all were. "I was there for a long time and am proud of what we accomplished. "We're going to have some younger players playing bigger roles. This moment required one. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. How tall is Steve Yzerman? He did not go to Florida - doctors made sure of that. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. As team captain, Yzerman was the first Red Wing to hoist the trophy since 1955. While Yzerman's work ethic has always been strong, it is his commitment to defence that gets his teammates' attention. 2020-21: We're going to look at . During the 200304 season, Yzerman helped the Red Wings secure the Presidents' Trophy as the top regular season team, and surpassed the 1700-point barrier. After the 2004-05 lockout Yzerman began to entertain thoughts of retirement, making it official in July 2006. Manage Settings 19 jersey. I remember everything stopped for me. Their 600 goals are different from the 600 goals I have. Steve Yzerman was born on May 9, 1965. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. Returning home in the summer months, Yzerman stopped participating in summer shinny outings with many of his childhood friends, insisting they were too enjoyable. Transaction information may be incomplete. Don't Just Set Goals. Some of the music had to be edited out due to copyright claims. "Steve Yzerman (Profile). However, Yzerman famously gave a smooch to Martin Lapointe on the Kiss Cam when Brendan Shanahan would show the power winger no love. He was also executive director of the mens hockey teams that won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014. Without a doubt, he will be a real interesting one to watch in in preseason. Find out more. They have three children. And he willed us.. How much did Steve Yzerman weigh when playing? He won the Stanley Cup three times and the 1998 Conn Smythe Trophy. I like the whole process. Im just sitting beside him, were coming in every intermission, hes like, Here we go again, going back out there and stuff, Draper said. That, as Shanahan alluded, can likely be traced to Yzermans competitive personality. The second-best player was Mario Lemieux in his prime. 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. "He's a young prospect competing for a job. NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark NHL Winter Classic are registered trademarks and Original Six is a trademark of the National Hockey League. Vinik bought the Lightning in 2010, vowing to make it a "world class" organization. Thats one of the things I remember: He would stick up for his teammates.. Yzerman was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009. "He got to play a lot and he's gotten much stronger over the last 18 months. 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. Akshad Singi. 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. (2013). The distinction is well made, but it does not detract from what he has achieved. "He is a skilled guy. 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. In 1984, he was part of the gold medalwinning team at the Canada Cup. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. You can ZOOM and also change the views by clicking on N, E, S or W. Photos of Steve Yzerman's . "I follow what teams do, the trades they make, and I try to work out the good ones from the bad ones. 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. This is his chance. He lives alone, too. And theres a lot of truth to that arc. 4 pick, they found it in Yzerman. Instead of making the playoffs, the Lightning was a punch line. Steve Yzerman, you helped build Hockeytown. In some ways, it was rather practical: In 1986, he was named the youngest captain in franchise history at age 21. Watching these players develop, you start watching them at 16-17, they start coming into the organization at 18-20. Check the bottom of the page for additional links. 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 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. 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. In 1984, he was part of the gold medalwinning team at the. He missed all of March on the NHL schedule, returning for only the final game of the regular season before the playoffs. Max is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he covered Michigan football and men's basketball. Pat Verbeek was one of Yzermans contemporaries in the NHL. Connor Bedard, the projected 2023 No. He's patient, he's been through it all.". Steve was a conscientious hockey player, always, from Day 1.. Donnie Wahlberg, who stars as Danny Reagan on the CBS police drama, posed the behind-the-scenes photo of the Blue Bloods cast beaming with their guest star. During that campaign, just two years removed from a 58-goal season, Yzerman went through a 24-game stretch in which he had just three goals. "My game preparation would start the night before at dinnertime - I'd be on a strict schedule of sleeping and eating." In my opinion hes the best general manager in the National Hockey League, Holland said. "In order to be here that long, we have to have success," Yzerman said. "I know that winning, one way or another, isn't going to change my life.". 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.. Tell him his career achievements put him among the greatest players ever to lace up skates. Former teammate Gerard Gallant will never forget the season opener that followed the trade rumors. "There was a time he was on, and a time he was off. Continue with Recommended Cookies. "The next two and a half hours are on the Red Wings. Jan 20, 2023. "It wasn't Hockeytown," said former Detroit general manager Jimmy Devellano. Deacon, J. 3, the Red Wings settled for Yzerman. Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. Bowman received a standing ovation while almost shaking his head in frustration at the altruism from the podium. Talk to those who know Yzerman, and youre going to hear the word determination over and over again. Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (2003) "I don't take the game as seriously as I used to," he says. Ask him about being here 27 years, as he was in Detroit, and Yzerman laughs. Career Stats "It was weighing on him and it bothered him," Coffey said. I think he's even played a little bit on the right-hand side. Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. On the franchise's Mount Rushmore, he trails only Gordie Howe, and even that's close. Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. It wasn't that way for him. There's his very average golf game, which became evident on his 40th birthday trip to Scotland, "We had a lot of fun," he said with a sly grin, "And played golf, too." Detroit Red Wings and DetroitRedWings.com are trademarks of the Detroit Red Wings. I think he filled the need for us," Yzerman said Thursday about the 25-year-old Suter. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Also known as Steve N Jones, Steven Ajones. His high school sweetheart and wife of 25 years, Lisa, and three daughters, Isabella, 21, Maria, 16, and Sophie, 15, are 1,000 miles away in Michigan, where locals say he can walk on water. Know when to be serious and when to show a sense of humour. On a recent day, Verbeek who has spent more than a decade working with Yzerman in the front offices of both Tampa Bay and Detroit was asked: What is the legacy of someone who has accomplished all Yzerman has, between the statistics, the winning and the captaincy? If we didnt win a Stanley Cup, that was ultimate failure for the 02 team.. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. A video showing why Steve Yzerman was the most respected player in the NHL.An inspiration to me and all hockey fans. ". All media ri. Full Ceremony of Steve Yzerman Retirement and banner raising on January 2, 2007. Steve always backchecked. "It was probably a little bit more active, a little bit more movement than I anticipated initially. ". Team Canada won gold both times. So he wasnt a yeller, he wasnt an emotional speaker he didnt have to be. All rights reserved. But his right knee throbs every time he jogs, a parting gift from a Hall of Fame career that included three Stanley Cups, 692 goals and one knee realignment surgery. "Stevie is the role model for young players," says Calgary coach Brian Sutter. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Officially announced his retirement, July 3, 2006. Transactions (1) CONTRACT HISTORY HISTORICAL SALARY Besides being astronomically incorrect, this is an overused saying and sets one up for disappointment. On the golf course, Kris Draper would show up for their tee time and find Yzerman already hitting a couple of buckets of balls on the range. Were ranking 100 players but calling it 99 because we all know whos No. 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). He did a great job killing penalties last year. "All of a sudden, people are walking by and you can hear whispers, and they run around and come back with their cameraphones," Cooper 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. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. He goes to games. In 1995, for the first time in several decades, Detroit made the Stanley Cup finals, but was defeated by the New Jersey Devils. Conn Smythe Trophy (1998) ". 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. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. 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. Its a well-known narrative in the hockey world that Yzerman was converted from a high scoring, human highlight reel into a two-way playoff warrior, either by Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman (see point 3) or by his own volition. "Wayne is the greatest player that ever played the game," said defenseman Paul Coffey, who played with Gretzky, Lemieux and Yzerman. That year, Yzermans chronic right knee injury had flared up while representing Team Canada at the Olympics (where he won gold) in February. But let's play hockey.". $149.99 $219.99. Thank you for your support! The Red Wings retired Yzermans jersey number (19) in 2007. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. by That came from stopping a Paul Coffey slapshot just before last year's All-Star Game in Tampa. Steve Yzerman was born in Cranbrook, Canada. Claim this business. Follow Max on Twitter @m_bultman, Steve Yzerman raises the Stanley Cup in 1997. He took time out to honor the five other Red Wings greats he joined, three of whom Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Alex Delvecchio were seated behind him. What about Yzerman? He goes, How you doing, Im Steve Yzerman, Draper recalls. I felt it was in his DNA.". What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'detroitsportsnation_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',894,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-detroitsportsnation_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'detroitsportsnation_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',894,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-detroitsportsnation_com-medrectangle-3-0_1'); .medrectangle-3-multi-894{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}We have some absolutely stunning news to break this morning and it is going to send shockwaves through Hockeytown, along with the entire NHL. I can't think of a more Do I think that Steve played defense before that? 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.. Yzerman, born in Cranbrook, B.C., and raised in Nepean, Ont., was drafted in 1983, a year after Mike and Marian Ilitch bought the Red Wings during one of the lowest stretches in franchise history. Order of Hockey in Canada, Hockey Canada (2014). "I have always wanted to be a general manager," he says. Minutes into his retirement speech in 2007 Stevie Y had already thanked the visiting team, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, twice for their cooperation and patience in his long ceremony that evening. 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. 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. I was like, (wow), I'm watching this guy stop traffic. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. He became a star in the league at an early age.. He goes through a lot of a process, to eventually make a decision.. May 2, 2022, 6:24 AM Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will be speaking Monday from Little Caesars Arena, just days after the team announced it was not bringing back Head Coach Jeff Blashill. "The crowd showed there was no way they wanted him traded," Gallant said. TAMPA He often sits alone in a press box booth, his intense glare pouring through his brown eyes. And beyond the physical conflict inherent to hockey, the defensive side of the puck tends to be a natural outlet for that quality. The Boston hedge fund billionaire reached out to Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman for advice, telling him he wasn't looking for a quick fix. He has been GM of the Red Wings since April 19, 2019. "It's been certainly a wild week in the NHL between trades and then yesterday, players moving teams," Yzerman said after Day 2 of free agency Thursday. Along with being among the top 10 scorers going into last weekend's games, Yzerman recently overtook Bobby Hull and Mario Lemieux in career goals and now sits seventh all-time. Coach Jon Cooper laughs when he recalls his interview with Yzerman, back in 2010, for the AHL coaching job. 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. ". But most of his life is spent here, grinding away in his Amalie Arena office, traveling with the Lightning on road trips or scouting his AHL team in Syracuse. We got a little bit of a view of him at the end of the season here in Detroit. But Yzerman had seen a successful rebuild before he was part of one. He grinds. Kurtis Pykes. The stoic exterior masks a competitive fire raging inside of him. "I get more attention for being a 20-goal scorer than when I scored 50," he says, chuckling at the irony. ), isn't afraid of the rough going. Keeping the goals against down has been the focus here and a key to doing that has been the ability of players such as Stevie Yzerman to change his style of play, defenceman Bob Rouse said. 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. It is a decision I cannot get behind, or accept, therefore, I am stepping down as general manager.. For all of these reasons, Yzerman ranks No. 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. When he felt that the team needed a little bit of a spark, he usually made it first about the fact that he felt he had more to give, and that he was going to demand more from himself, and we should all be doing the same, Shanahan said. In 1986, at age 21, he was named captain, the youngest in Red Wings history. " Devellano said. It took 14 seasons for Yzerman to finally win a Stanley Cup, in 1997, the first of back-to-back championships. Hockey Hall of Fame (2009) The following year, he again won the Stanley Cup as captain of the Red Wings, and received the Conn Smythe Trophy as his team's most valuable player in the playoffs; he also played with Team Canada at the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano that year. 9922 Jefferson Blvd Culver City CA 90232. "If you wanted to program the ideal child, hockey player, citizen, he's the guy you'd copy," says Lindsay. For all the things you can say about Yzermans storied NHL career the scoring, the winning, the leading and the longevity one of the most amusing is that even his professional-athlete teammates could be a bit star struck by him. "Is it fun? We expect him to be fully ready to go at training camp. ' Martin Lapointe recalled of his own first game as a Red Wing. "I'm in a really good situation here," he says, "with really good guys." (310) 836-6400. In 2006, Yzerman transitioned from player to administrator, becoming the Red Wings Vice President a position he held until 2010, when he became general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's seen in his ability to draft well, allow prospects to develop in the minors, and hire and trust great people, including director of amateur scouting Al Murray and assistant GM Julien BriseBois. Well send you news, analysis and commentary on the Bolts weekly during the season. Contact Joe Smith at joesmith@tampabay.com. He won the 2000 Selke Trophy as the leagues best defensive forward, the 2003 Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game, and while he never won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, he did win the 1989 Pearson Award as the NHLs Most Outstanding Player, as voted on by his peers. While Yzerman was a quiet leader, he would still pick his spots to deliver a message. But he never has been one for ceremonial titles. "He epitomizes the gritty blue-collar guy," Marcaccio says. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Finally, in 1997, the Red Wings ended their Stanley Cup losing streak when they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers. It'd be a real challenge to put a team together yourself."
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