After the Detroit Red Wings drafted eight promising prospects and signed several players in free agency, it turns out Detroit's executive vice president and general manager was spot on. And Yzerman, as their leader and the 1998 playoff MVP, was at the center of it. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Devellano sought out the captain's opinions on moves by the club. Now, they were teammates. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. It was the eighth playoff appearance in 10 seasons for Yzerman, but he still hadn't reached the Stanley Cup final. Yzerman explained that due to a recent decision by Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch to terminate long-time Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Sobotka, he just could not move forward in . Though the Red Wings had not won a Stanley Cup in over 30 years, new, aggressive management and upcoming young stars sparked fan interest in the team. The Official Site of the Detroit Red Wings. 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. He goes to games. "Sam came into the NHL as a high draft pick who was a really offensive-minded player and we re-signed him," Yzerman said about the 2007 No. 1. If you shoot for the moon you might hit a few stars along the way. Yzerman became a rising star, selected to be executive director of Team Canada in 2010, leading the country to the gold medal. 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. 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. Yzerman is so central to the story of hockey in Detroit that his career has become part of the citys sports lore. You experience it, you can teach it. Born: May 9,1965 inCranbrook,British Columbia ca, Draft: Detroit, 1st round (4thoverall), 1983NHLEntry, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player2009 (FullList). 6 overall draft pick. They have three children. But it may also obscure parts of Yzermans early days. In the off-season he plays golf, and since a 1998 cycling trip to France, he and Lisa have begun a wine collection - one of the few outward indications of his $12-million-per-season salary. "I have always wanted to be a general manager," he says. 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. Do I think that Steve played defense before that? 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. Hockey Hall of Fame (2009) Steve Yzerman | Biography, Stanley Cups, & Facts | Britannica But let's play hockey.". 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. in. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. "It was probably a little bit more active, a little bit more movement than I anticipated initially. Hes a grinder. This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on February 7, 2000, There are stories for every scar on Steve Yzerman's otherwise handsome mug, and they are not for the faint of heart. Competitiveness, as an athlete, that's the way we all were. Useful player, his skating is good. Im just sitting beside him, were coming in every intermission, hes like, Here we go again, going back out there and stuff, Draper said. Played in NHL All-Star Game (1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2000). Steve was a conscientious hockey player, always, from Day 1.. Steve was more on having him (on the team) than off. "I think it was masterful," former Lightning GM Jay Feaster said of the deal. Check the bottom of the page for additional links. When Steve Yzerman froze in front of Bruce Springsteen "I said, 'Where could you do better?' 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. While Yzerman's work ethic has always been strong, it is his commitment to defence that gets his teammates' attention. But Vinik wooed Yzerman through a visit and a series of 100-minute phone calls, offering passion, vision and resources that reminded Yzerman of Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch. He is not one to celebrate goals with showy fist-pumps or war dances, or to attract endorsements by calling attention to himself. When the Red Wings drafted Yzerman fourth overall in 1983 coincidentally three spots after his predecessor as Lightning GM (Brian Lawton) they hadn't made the postseason in four years. He made the greatest commitment, in my mind, when Scotty Bowman showed up, to sacrifice. Stanley Cup Championships (1997, 1998, 2002) He claims he has mellowed with age, a family of his own and, particularly, the car accident that crippled teammate Vladimir Konstantinov only days after the 1997 Cup victory. Steve Yzerman is a 57 year old centre who was born on May 9, 1965. "Unfortunately, I don't see him leaving.". Can he take the team to the next level?' He really worked on his strength, Polano said. 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. Video: Welcome to Detroit, new forward Pius Suter! "Boy, sometimes it's better to be lucky than smart. Tell him his career achievements put him among the greatest players ever to lace up skates. But he took it to another level, to the point where I believe, personally, he started to sacrifice offense.. Which skate does he put on first, or which shin pad? Like a young kid would do.. "It wasn't a proud moment on my part - I came totally unglued. Order of Hockey in Canada, Hockey Canada (2014). Weather you loved the Detroit Red Wings . 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 both 2007 and 2008 he managed Team Canada at the IHHF World Hockey Championships, where the Canadians won gold and silver, respectively. His supporters are legion. Joe going over to Sweden last year, I think was great," Yzerman said about Veleno. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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." Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. Then watch: he'll turtle. There are many ways friends see the "regular guy" in Yzerman, from his sneaky and often stinging sense of humor, to his interest in the House of Cards Netflix show and Liverpool soccer. 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. Do you have a blog? Steven H Hassan - Steven H Hassan CPA. Red Wings: Grading Steve Yzerman's Progress as GM - The Hockey Writers 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. But Yzerman had seen a successful rebuild before he was part of one. After all, the shifty sniper from Cranbrook, B.C., by way of Nepean, Ont., is having a better season than other candidates, including Philadelphia's Eric Lindros. "There are guys that seek attention and can't wait to get in front of the microphone," Yzerman said. "If you wanted to program the ideal child, hockey player, citizen, he's the guy you'd copy," says Lindsay. "He is an offensive-minded, playmaking centerman, which was a real need for our team. ". I like the whole process. Yzerman was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009. 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. #LGRW Daily: Steve Yzerman happy to extend Jeff Blashill's contract An Original Six power, the Red Wings made the playoffs just twice from 1967-83. He has been married to Lisa Brennan since June 10, 1989. Yzerman sat in on all the meetings, from those at the trade deadline to others with amateur scouts involving the draft. Lived In Valley Village CA, Marietta GA, Atlanta GA, Duluth GA. Related To Phillip Jones, Terry Jones, Jennifer Jones, Stacey Jones, Summarah Jones. Welcome to NHL 99, The Athletic 's countdown of the best 100 players in modern NHL history . After all, Yzerman is as synonymous to the Red Wings as the winged wheel. And I enjoy that.". He has also written for the Sporting News, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Steve finished his career after 23 years in the winged-wheel of the Red Wings (the last 20 as captain), retiring as the longest-serving captain of any team in North American major league sports history. "The next day, (owner Mike) Ilitch said, 'Stevie Y isn't going anywhere.' Fans hoping the Detroit Red Wings find another Steve Yzerman to finish off their rebuilding plan should know one will be available next June. Steve Yzerman is 5-11 (180 cm) tall. Steve Yzerman Born: May 9, 1965 Birthplace: Cranbrook, BC, CAN Shoots: Right Draft: 1983 DET, 1st rd, 4th pk (4th overall) View Player Bio + Follow NHL News Steve Yzerman News Yzerman. Steve Yzerman (Profile) | The Canadian Encyclopedia DetroitRedWings.com is the official Web site of the Detroit Red Wings. Yzerman even saw him, though not on stage, some 15 years ago at a horse-jumping competition in Washington D.C. in which their daughters happened to be competing. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Inside the game, Yzerman is regarded as a great leader. The modest man from Motown | Maclean's | February 7, 2000 Hes intense when it comes to making decisions. The two were opponents for most of their careers, but when they were chosen to represent Canada internationally, their late-alphabet names meant they often found themselves rooming together at hotels. 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 . In some ways, it was rather practical: In 1986, he was named the youngest captain in franchise history at age 21. I was shocked when I found out what Chris did to Al (Sobotka), Yzerman said early Friday morning. In my opinion hes the best general manager in the National Hockey League, Holland said. Yzerman said his time with the Red Wings "greatly influenced" how he performs his job, serving as model for Tampa Bay. Should he hire an experienced GM, or a first timer? Javascript is required for the selection of a player. 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