Steve Yzerman retires

[Reenk Roink]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...EWS99/60703010

http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/07/276516.html

Wow.

What a bittersweet day...

Yzerman, the best player not named Gretzky or Lemeuix during his career. Yzerman, the best mortal at hockey they said...

He will now probably be considered in the Top 10-20 NHL players ever.

Immediate retiring of his '19' is expected, but the Red Wings should retire the 'C' as well.

A quick induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame should occur...

[Ice]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...EWS99/60703010

http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/07/276516.html

Wow.

What a bittersweet day...

Yzerman, the best player not named Gretzky or Lemeuix during his career. Yzerman, the best mortal at hockey they said...

He will now probably be considered in the Top 10-20 NHL players ever.

Immediate retiring of his '19' is expected, but the Red Wings should retire the 'C' as well.

A quick induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame should occur...

Well, it's his time. Good player. He will be remembered.

Seems like we don't have many hockey fans on the org.

BTW, on anothe note, when is your oreintation? I go next Sunday.

[Reenk Roink]

Seems like we don't have many hockey fans on the org.

Yeah...

BTW, on anothe note, when is your oreintation? I go next Sunday.

Mine's on July 30th.

[Ice]

Mine's on July 30th.

Bah. Alright.

[Mount Suribachi]

*me cries*

A true legend of the game. The last 20 years, Detroit hasn't been the city of Barry Sanders or Ben Wallace, its been the city of Stevie Y

Especially sad cos the last few months of the season he looked like he was still able to play at a high level. From the immediate perspective, Lang should be traded cos the only time he put up decent points was when Yzerman was on his line.

So c'mon guys, favourite Yzerman moments?

For me 2 stand out

The '96 playoffs when we really struggled, 7th game against St Louis, double (or was it triple?) OT, Yzerman skates down the right wing and unleashes a slapshot into the top corner over the goalies shoulder Who could forget that jumping celebration of the series winner.

And of course, the '02 playoffs when he could barely walk. When every time he was knocked to the ice, he needed to use his stick to get back on his skates. And yet he still led the team in scoring as we won the cup

BTW Kongomato is also a redwings fan

[DukeofSerbia]

Yzerman, the best player not named Gretzky or Lemeuix during his career. Yzerman, the best mortal at hockey they said...

In North America - yes. In Europe - NO. There were and there are better players from Europe than Yzerman. And Sakic from Canada is better.

[Reenk Roink]

There are so many good memories. Of course, I'm relatively young, so I only have seen Yzerman in the latter half of his career, but there are still many gems...

Of course, the Game 7 overtime goal against St. Louis is up there; Stevie considers that his greatest goal as well.

And the incredible 2002 playoffs, of course, who can forget? Understandably, Lidstrom played well as always, but Yzerman led the team in scoring that playoff year, and that was second to his leading the team in leadership, especially in the tough comebacks in the Vancouver and Colorado series. I think he should have had his second Conn Smythe there...

I also like the fact that he scored both his 500th and 600th career goals on none other than Patrick Roy...

Back to back cups were brilliant as well...

Here's a good list from ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2508178

BTW Kongomato is also a redwings fan

Yeah, and so is Alexanderofmacedon...

It seems that while we have only a handful of hockey fans here at the Org, many of them are Red Wings fans...

In North America - yes. In Europe - NO. There were and there are better players from Europe than Yzerman. And Sakic from Canada is better.

I don't want to sound rude, but I highly doubt you can give me the name of any player (of course besides Gretzky and Lemeuix whom I already mentioned) who was more dominant than Yzerman in the mid to late 80's...

I also don't think that there are many players in NHL history who could match Yzerman's career, be it North American or European...

The numbers alone are in the highest class:



Note that in the mid-90's, Yzerman's new role as a defensive player first cut into his previous offensive numbers, and that by 2000, the knee injuries that bothered him since his third season in the NHL began to take their final toll...

But those numbers cannot show his leadership skill or his defensive prowess...

I concede, Sakic is a tremendous player, perhaps in the Top 100 ever, but there is a reason why he is compared to Yzerman, and not Yzerman to him; why he emulates Yzerman, and Yzerman does not emulate him...

[Mount Suribachi]

In North America - yes. In Europe - NO. There were and there are better players from Europe than Yzerman. And Sakic from Canada is better.

I'm not one of those Don Cherry wannabees who think that all Europeans are a bunch of soft, gutless wusses. BUT, right now I'm struggling to think of a European player who had Yzermans combination of skill, courage, determination, defensive ability, leadership and all-around class.

[DukeofSerbia]

I'm not one of those Don Cherry wannabees who think that all Europeans are a bunch of soft, gutless wusses. BUT, right now I'm struggling to think of a European player who had Yzermans combination of skill, courage, determination, defensive ability, leadership and all-around class.

Forsberg from Sweden, Jagr from Czech R., many Russians players... And Sakić from Canada. And Patrick Roy.

[DukeofSerbia]

I don't want to sound rude, but I highly doubt you can give me the name of any player (of course besides Gretzky and Lemeuix whom I already mentioned) who was more dominant than Yzerman in the mid to late 80's...

I also don't think that there are many players in NHL history who could match Yzerman's career, be it North American or European...

The numbers alone are in the highest class:



Note that in the mid-90's, Yzerman's new role as a defensive player first cut into his previous offensive numbers, and that by 2000, the knee injuries that bothered him since his third season in the NHL began to take their final toll...

But those numbers cannot show his leadership skill or his defensive prowess...

I concede, Sakic is a tremendous player, perhaps in the Top 100 ever, but there is a reason why he is compared to Yzerman, and not Yzerman to him; why he emulates Yzerman, and Yzerman does not emulate him...

No, you are not rude.

You just forgot one thing - Europeans did't play in NHL until 90's. Especially not from former Communist's block. So, you can't compare what Yzerman did in 80's, because Europeans didn't play in NHL.

[Reenk Roink]

Forsberg from Sweden, Jagr from Czech R., many Russians players... And Sakić from Canada. And Patrick Roy.

May I ask; are you an Avs fan?

That would explain much...

Anyway, you have listed world class players there, true.

However, you would be hard-pressed to find many hockey analysts or hockey enthusiaists put them in the same league with Yzerman, nevermind above...

Forsberg, Sakic, and Jagr in the prime of their careers can not match Steve Yzerman in the prime of his career offensively...

Also, Jagr and Forsberg are not as strong defensively as Yzerman, and Sakic is molded after Steve Yzerman in his transition from flashy scorer to strong 2-way forward)...

None of these players has the leadership quality of Yzerman...

You just forgot one thing - Europeans did't play in NHL until 90's. Especially not from former Communist's block. So, you can't compare what Yzerman did in 80's, because Europeans didn't play in NHL.

Petr Stastny from Slovakia was one of the most prolific scorers in the 80's NHL. Compare him with Steve Yzerman...

Of course, it's going to be hard to make comparisons between those who did not play in the NHL, but if it's any indication, the best that Europe had to offer in the 90's could not match up to Yzerman...

[Krypta]

I can't think of a single Euro player that I would take over Stevie Y since hockey's inception.

[DukeofSerbia]

May I ask; are you an Avs fan?

That would explain much...

Anyway, you have listed world class players there, true.

However, you would be hard-pressed to find many hockey analysts or hockey enthusiaists put them in the same league with Yzerman, nevermind above...

Forsberg, Sakic, and Jagr in the prime of their careers can not match Steve Yzerman in the prime of his career offensively...

Also, Jagr and Forsberg are not as strong defensively as Yzerman, and Sakic is molded after Steve Yzerman in his transition from flashy scorer to strong 2-way forward)...

None of these players has the leadership quality of Yzerman...



Petr Stastny from Slovakia was one of the most prolific scorers in the 80's NHL. Compare him with Steve Yzerman...

Of course, it's going to be hard to make comparisons between those who did not play in the NHL, but if it's any indication, the best that Europe had to offer in the 90's could not match up to Yzerman...

Yes, I'm Colorado fan. But that has nothing with Yzerman... But it's true that I don't like Detroit and I was glad when Edmonton beat them in Western 1/4 this year.

You heard for those Russian players: Makarov, Larionov and Krutov? The best forward trio ever.

And Ovechkin is the new best young player who if continue like that would be the best player ever.

[Mount Suribachi]

Of course as Redwings fans we're well acquinted with the klm line - especially the L Sadly, their chance to play in the NHL didn't come until they were past their prime, so their is no way to truly compare. Larionov was a hugely popular and highly respected member of the wings and was a huge positive influence on the younger Russian wings like Fedorov & Kozlov. But he was no Yzerman.

Forsberg, unquestionably one of the best players of his generation. Offensively a monster, good defensively. But still never matched Yzermans numbers - would help if he shot the puck now and then - and nowhere near Yzermans leadership & presence

As for Jagr, you're having a laugh, right? Supremely talented player, but defense, leadership & grit aren't his strong-points...

[DukeofSerbia]

I'm from Europe. So, European ice-hockey players are better than from N. America.

Does anybody remember All star weekends in NHL when N. America played against World. And World was always won, so managment of NHL backed good old system where East play vs. West.

[Mount Suribachi]

I'm from Europe too

I wouldn't put any faith in AS games as a barometer - they are little more than exhibition games - no hitting, no penalties...

[Reenk Roink]

Just a little update for anyone who is interested...

Sports Illustrated did a commemorative issue on Steve Yzerman and it is loaded with great articles, stats, and especially the rare pics, to be a value to even fans like myself, who have followed Yzerman's career with interest...