Detroit – Steve Yzerman’s playing career is over, yet the longtime Detroit Red Wings captain isn’t leaving Hockeytown anytime soon.
Yzerman, who led the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup titles and spent his entire 23-year NHL career in Detroit, said he plans to stay in the organization while devoting more time to his family.
“I look forward to a future in the game of hockey with the Red Wings in some aspect,” Yzerman said Monday as he announced his retirement at Joe Louis Arena – his home away from home for years.
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told Yzerman there is a real front-office position ready for him. It’s up to Yzerman to decide how much he wishes to take on.
Yzerman, known for rebounding from serious injuries, said his knee and other nagging aches and pains kept him from suiting up for another season.
“I knew my role over time was decreasing, and I was comfortable with that,” he said. “But what I don’t want to be is out there and not doing things that I want to do. … I question my own ability to be effective out there.”
One of Detroit’s most popular pro athletes, the player known simply as “The Captain” is the Red Wings’ career leader in playoff scoring. He ranks first in assists and is second only to Gordie Howe in games played, goals and regular-season points.
Yzerman played in 1,514 regular-season games, scoring 692 goals and tallying 1,755 points, sixth-most in NHL history.
A 10-time all-star, Yzerman was picked for the NHL all-rookie team in 1984. He won the Lester B. Pearson Award, an MVP trophy chosen by the players, in 1989 and the Conn Smythe Trophy honoring the playoffs’ MVP in 1998.
Yzerman said his most cherished memories include hoisting the Stanley Cup three times above his head and having an Olympic gold medal put around his neck.
“I’ve enjoyed every aspect,” he said. “My whole career has really been a highlight in that I’ve really enjoyed playing. It’s all I ever wanted to do.”
Yzerman’s career statistics and more NHL news7D
