On the Wings

[More memories added]

I’ll start with the most recent memories that stick out and try to work my way back through the years I’ve been a Wings fan. Like Brian’s post, I’ll probably be adding to this as I remember more specifics.

2005-2006 Season

May 1, 2006 - Detroit Red Wings @ Edmonton Oilers - 4-3 L

The Wings blew a three-goal lead in the third period and lost Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals to the Oilers on the road. Many of us suspected it was the last time we would see Steve Yzerman play and, of course, we were right. His final game didn’t end with him on the ice, however, despite the Wings needing a good face-off man in the final seconds. As soon as the final horn sounded, Yzerman made a bee-line to Edmonton head coach Craig MacTavish to congratulate him, showing the classy player he was, despite the ignoble end to his season and career.

March 21, 2006 - Nashville Predators @ Detroit Red Wings - 3-2 (SO) L

It was just the Wings’ fourth shootout game but it became their second such loss as Brendan Shanahan couldn’t match the Predator skater before him, Martin Erat. However, many fans nonetheless felt relief after that game because Steve Yzerman had been given the nod by Mike Babcock to participate in the shootout, in the sudden-death round. At the time, as Yzerman stood at center ice facing down Tomas Vokoun, “The only thing going through the mind of every Wing fan anywhere was this, ‘I do NOT want to see Steve Yzerman fail,’ ” as IwoCPO put it at the time. He didn’t fail. The Captain skated in and beat Vokoun low, keeping the shootout going. Even though the loss hurt, it would have hurt a lot more had Yzerman not scored there.

January 11, 2006 - Detroit Red Wings @ Carolina Hurricanes - 3-2 L

In their lone game against the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Wings ran into Martin Gerber and a quick-striking Carolina team that put up three first-period goals. With the score 3-0 ‘Canes and the period winding down, Steve Yzerman got the puck at center and took matters into his own hands. I wrote at the time,

“He took the puck into the Hurricanes’ zone, maneuvered across the Carolina defense from left to right and then down the right boards before crossing back toward the net. Martin Gerber tried to poke check the puck away but he failed and The Captain backhanded it in as he fell, scoring just his 5th goal of the season.”

It was a great goal and a great individual effort. Unfortunately, it was another loss nonetheless.

December 6, 2005 - New Jersey Devils @ Detroit Red Wings - 5-2 W

It was a veteran’s game, with Brendan Shanahan scoring twice and Steve Yzerman scoring once. His goal evoked memories of the earlier stages of his career as he deked NJ goalie Scott Clemmensen with a fake to the forehand on a breakaway after receiving a good pass from Dan Cleary. The goal got the Joe rocking and we named it the top Wings goal of 2005. It came only a little over a week after The Captain had nearly retired, as Michael Rosenberg reported in May, and was a clear sign of his resurgence around mid-season.

November 28, 2005 - Detroit Red Wings @ LA Kings - 5-2 W

Only two days earlier, Yzerman had asked to be taken out of the lineup against San Jose after a head injury and problems with his knee flared up, according to Rosenberg. The Kings game was meant to be his last away game but that plan was disrupted by Robert Lang’s second period groin injury. Yzerman was given more ice time and The Captain had, “one of his best outings of the season.” He didn’t look back after that.

2003-2004 Season

May 1, 2004 - Calgary Flames @ Detroit Red Wings - 1-0 L

The Wings lost Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals, falling down 3-2 in the series. They also lost Steve Yzerman, who was injured in a freakish accident involving a deflected Mathieu Schneider shot. The puck hit The Captain in the face around the left eye, scratched his cornea and broke his occipital bone. He reacted immediately and the image of him falling down, getting up and falling down again is etched in the memory of anyone who saw the game. Many feared the worst and when it later came out that he was okay and that he still wanted to play another season, it was an enormous relief. Without their leader, however, the Wings faltered and lost Game 6 by a score of 1-0 and were eliminated.

2002-2003 Season

June 12, 2003 - NHL Awards

Yzerman won the Masterton Trophy for his perseverance in returning from the major knee surgery he underwent in the summer of 2002. He missed the first 66 games of the ‘02-’03 season and only had 6 points but was very much deserving of that award.

2001-2002 Season

April 17 - April 27, 2002 - Western Conference Quarterfinal Series versus Vancouver Canucks

As is well-known, the Canucks stunned the Wings by winning the first two games of the series and throwing Hockeytown into doubt. Just before Game 3, however, Steve Yzerman gave a talk to his teammates and reminded them what they needed to do to win. They came out in Game 3 and, with the help of Nick Lidstrom’s long-bomb goal on Dan Cloutier with seconds left in the second period, won 3-1. In Game 4, the teams were tied 2-2 going into the third period. Yzerman scored at :56, however, and broke the tie. The Wings won 4-2, tying the series at two games. They would go on to eliminate Vancouver in six.

October 13, 2001 - Detroit Red Wings @ New York Islanders - 5-4 (OT) W

In just the fifth game of the season, the Wings were already demonstrating the comeback magic that would serve them in such good stead throughout that year. They found themselves playing catch-up with the New York Islanders and their new goalie, Chris Osgood. Regulation ended with the teams tied at 4 after Yzerman made up for Max Kuznetzov’s brutal mistake that had given the Isles a 4-3 lead. An exciting overtime period was capped off by a play that began with a strong save by Manny Legace. The puck went the other way with Kris Draper and Brett Hull on a 2-on-1, Yzerman trailing. Draper passed it across to Hull, who dropped it back to Yzerman. The Captain ripped the puck past a helpless Osgood to score his second of the night and give the Wings their fourth win.

2000-2001 Season

April 11, 2001 - LA Kings @ Detroit Red Wings - 5-3 W

The Captain left this game in the second period with a sprained ankle and did not return that series. The Wings went on to blow a two-game lead and lost in six.

1999-2000 Season

November 26, 1999 - Edmonton Oilers @ Detroit Red Wings - 4-2 W

At 12:30 of the first period, Steve Yzerman picked up the puck in the left face-off circle and took it behind the goalline, looking for someone to pass to. He saw Slava Kozlov on the other side of the net and tried to get the puck to him. It hit Tommy Salo’s glove, however, and then his skate, before going into the net. It was a flukey way to score goal #600. I remember watching that game on our little black-and-white TV in the basement and I remember Yzerman’s reaction: there wasn’t much of one. He skated calmly to the bench as the Joe cheered him wildy and apparently planned to act as though it was nothing special. He had to give in, however, as he saw the reaction of his teammates and fans. He stood up on the bench and let the fans pay tribute to his becoming just the 11th player in NHL history to score 600 goals.

1998-1999 Season

April 21, 1999 - Mighty Ducks of Anaheim @ Detroit Red Wings - 5-3 W

Steve Yzerman scored a hat trick in the first game of the playoffs against the Ducks. The Wings would go on to sweep Anaheim but lost in six games to the Avs in the second round. Yzerman led the Wings with 9 goals and 13 points in 10 games that postseason.

1997-1998 Season

June 16, 1998 - Detroit Red Wings @ Washington Capitals - 4-1 W

I missed the ‘97 Stanley Cup because I was in Virginia visiting family. I remember seeing a news clipping about the parade a few days after it happened (which forever messed up the date I associate with the actual victory). I was home when the car accident took place, however, and I remember the shock of it. As is well known, the Wings dedicated the following season to Vladdie and Sergei and it culminated in their sweep of the Washington Capitals in the Finals. Having missed the first Cup made seeing the second awarded that much more special. The Captain did the right thing, raising it per tradition and then handing it off to Vladdie in tribute.

Before the press conference began, FSN’s Trevor Thompson talked with former Red Wings defenseman Larry Murphy about the impending announcement. Murphy, who had talked to Yzerman earlier in the day, confirmed what we already knew, that The Captain was going to retire. He said that Yzerman’s plan all along had been to retire after this past season but his strong play down the stretch put doubts in his mind about that plan.

At this point, Yzerman made his way to the front, looking comfortable as he shook hands with people on the way. After shaking hands with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, he sat down with Mike Illitch on his left and Jimmy Devellano and Ken Holland on his right.

He began by thanking everyone for coming down on a holiday weekend, saying it wasn’t necessarily a planned thing. He said he had mixed emotions and joked that refs around the league would be doing cartwheels after he made his announcement. After some comments about being drafted and having a set plan involving winning a certain number of Cups, he said he was very comfortable in his decision to retire. It was the first time he’d actually said the word and it was like he stepped over a threshold as he seemingly had to force it out.

He went on to confirm Murphy had said earlier, that his plan all along had been to play just one more season (this past one) and hopefully cap off his career with a successful run at the Cup. He said he enjoyed his final season but that this decision was the right one and that he had no doubts about it.

He then began to thank a number of people, beginning with the Detroit sports media. As he was talking, FSN’s audio feed cut in and out as they wrestled with technical difficulties so I missed some of what he said. When they got the sound back, he was thanking them for their fair treatment. He then moved on to thanking the fans for their support, though good times and bad. He called Detroit a special place to play and said he never felt a negative burden of expectation but only a positive one. Apparently, it was more like a “little boy trying to please his parents,” than anything else.

He went on to thank the players he had played with and against in his career. He named Kris Draper and Larry Murphy but seemingly only because they were present. He said he had been playing since he was five years old and that he had had so much fun over the years, because of these players.

The next people on his list were Jimmy Devellano, the Illitches and Ken Holland. He thanked Devellano for drafting him and the Illitches for being such a staying force in his life and in the organization. He credited the team’s success to them, saying it went beyond the money they were willing to spend. The time and effort they are willing to invest in the organization have made it truly first class.

His comments about Holland were particularly interesting. He said that he’d maybe be working with him in the future and joked about Kenny getting the better of him in past contract negotiations that were done face-to-face. He thanked Holland for his support and said that he nearly had him convinced to come back. So, whatever Mike Babcock’s attitude was, the front office wanted him back.

His final thanks were directed at his coaches, from Nick Polano to Mike Babcock, and to his predecessors, players like Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, who were present. His closing remarks were that he was looking forward to having more time with his family after giving hockey the priority in his life for so long. He said his family was the best thing that happened to him in his career because they helped him keep things in perspective. He finished up by saying he is looking forward to his future with the team.

They opened the floor to questions and Trevor Thompson was the first to say anything. He asked Yzerman what the biggest reason for his decision retire was. The Captain responded that his intention all along had been to retire but his play at the end of the season and into the playoffs had caused him to hesitate. However, when it came time to make the call to Holland to tell him he’d return, he found he couldn’t do it. He said that the condition of his knee was a major consideration since, because of it, he was becoming a “part-time player,” one who couldn’t participate in a full practice. He couldn’t see himself playing a big role because of his knee.

I couldn’t quite catch the second question but it seemed to be something about what it was like to be captain for 20 years. Yzerman’s answer was short and basically was that he was proud to have been captain of such a first-class organization as the Wings for any length of time.

The third question was about his ability to adjust to a lesser role. Yzerman said it was difficult but he could handle it and went on to say that he had still had an expectation of himself that he’d be the best player on the ice every night. That feeling had begun to fade over time, however, and he had become to have doubts about his ability to be effective on the ice, particularly when it counts, “in the spring.” He had given up hope of improving.

The fourth questioner asked for his greatest moment. He said he didn’t have one in particular but cited the three Cups and one gold medal as obvious pinnacles. He said the ‘97 Cup was a relief because the organization had felt an obsessive need to win it that year and that the ‘98 Cup was much the same way. He said the highlight of his career was playing with the players he did.

He was then asked how much he had wavered back and forth on the decision and how much conversation there had been about his role. Yzerman immediately pointed out Mike Babcock, who was smiling in the corner (indicating a viewpoint opposing Ken Holland’s above, perhaps?) and then said he didn’t want to regret his decision. He said he just had a feeling and with his health, he knew retirement was the right way to go. He said there had been no specific talks about what role he would play in the organization in the future but said they would “figure it out.”

He was asked what it was like to only play in one city and what his place is among the other great athletes of Detroit. He responded that he, like most draftees, felt he would always be in Detroit. He said he was lucky to actually stay here and attributed it to the team’s success and to fortunate timing. He said he was grateful for the team’s loyalty to him and said Detroit is a great city for athletes. He apparently never had a time where he wanted to play somewhere else, though there were a couple times where he thought he would. He said playing at JLA, and on the road with the sizeable contingents of road Wings fans, made it special.

The last question was about his legacy, which he said he was not particularly concerned about. After that, they got a picture of Holland, Devellano, Yzerman and Illitch together and that part of the broadcast was over as FSN began a number of interviews.

Shireen Saski began with Ted Lindsay, who called Yzerman a great example of an athlete and praised his positional game.

Trevor Thompson followed that up with Ken Holland, who said Yzerman would become part of the Wings’ management team, working with him and Devellano. He praised Yzerman’s mind, which he said was sharp and said he looked forward to it. Thompson asked how they will replace him and Holland responded that they can’t.

Saski talked next with Kris Draper, who said the players had never bugged him about it, knowing he had enough people on his back trying to influence his decision already.

Thompson then talked with Dave Lewis, who compared Yzerman’s career with a Hollywood script. He reminded us just how bad Yzerman’s knee was by talking about the trouble he had just going up the stairs of the team plane. He called Yzerman the #1 tough player in the league.

Thompson’s next interview was with Gordie Howe, who aside from a little nostalgia on his part, said that Yzerman had exceed the standard set by Howe and the other legends of Red Wings hockey. He said that Yzerman may be fine with retirement now but once training camp starts in September, he’ll be in for a rough time.

The last interview was with Larry Murphy, who said the Wings may have handed Yzerman the captaincy very early but that it was part of a long-term plan of theirs were he would grow into the kind of leader they wanted. Thompson asked Murphy who he thought the next captain will be and Murphy said Lidstrom was the obvious choice. He did say he thought Henrik Zetterberg was the dark horse candidate. Nothing was said of Kris Draper, who was the only one of Yzerman’s teammates to attend. I wondered if there was any significance to that but no one else seems to think so.

Yzerman looked content the whole time and was very calm as he talked. There were only a couple spots where emotion came through and that made it much easier to watch. It’s still a little hard to believe but it’s happened. We’ll have a tribute post up either later today or tomorrow. For now, check out the Freep’s 42-picture photo album spanning Yzerman’s career (thanks for Brian for the link) and Kukla’s Korner for all the links to reactions, videos, audio, etc.

FSN will re-broadcast the press conference tonight at 8:00 PM and then at 1:00 AM on July 4th. After the Tigers game tonight, Shireen Saski will have a one-on-one interview with The Captain.