With all the crazy free agent signings that have been going on, a few faces on the list weren't that likely to finish out their careers with another team. Steve Yzerman, is one of those players.Twice robbed from a season to do a final skate (injured in 03-04 and lockedout 04-05), Yzerman has waited for the one last opportunity to go out of the NHL the way he wants to and feels he deserves to. I don't blame him for one moment. He's already outlived a career to see Mario Lemieux go out in style twice, Wayne Gretzky gets his banner raised, Ray Borque honored in Boston and the list of peers goes on and on.
Yzerman is a dying breed of athlete. The one that thinks the love of the game and the loyalty to the jersey actually means something. He's earned himself the NHL record for longest running tenure for captaincy on one team. Yzerman has been the face of Detroit Hockeytown for 20+ years. Consider even just how many all stars have suited up for them! Chelios, Shanahan, Hatcher, Any Russian ending in "OV", this is another exhaustive list.
The ultimate show of unified respect came this past World Championships when the Team Canada players learned of Yzerman's cut off the roster, no remaining player chose to wear #19 in his absence. It will only be a matter of time before we see the number 19 on a banner hanging from Joe Lewis Arena.
Steve Yzerman will get his day in the sun this year. To close the final chapter on a career that means everything to the team and fans is only fair. He's signed a one year deal with the terms yet to be disclosed.
[Via: Rogers Sportsnet]
4 comments:
I don't like the Red Wings, but I like Steve Yzerman. And I am happy to see him have one last season to play...it's always good to see the good guys go out in style.
Best of luck, Stevie Y...even if I don't wish the rest of your team that. ;D
I second the "No likey Red Wings, but like Stevie Y" comment.
Great player and a classy guy, I'll be sorry to see him go.
20 years ago, i would never have believed that any athlete could surpass the Twin Motown Sports Gods, Howe and Kaline, in popularity. Stevie Y has become THE Detoit Sports God by virtue of his incredible work ethic, his remarkable ability to play with pain that would cripple mere mortals, and his remarkable humility.
We working class Detroiters like our heroes to be hard working and humble. Kaline, Howe, and Yzerman epitomize what is special about southeast Michigan.
20 years ago, i would never have believed that any athlete could surpass the Twin Motown Sports Gods, Howe and Kaline, in popularity. Stevie Y has become THE Detoit Sports God by virtue of his incredible work ethic, his remarkable ability to play with pain that would cripple mere mortals, and his remarkable humility.
We working class Detroiters like our heroes to be hard working and humble. Kaline, Howe, and Yzerman epitomize what is special about southeast Michigan.
Beautifully said...and it makes me even more angry that there are supposedly plans in the Motor City to paint a biga** portrait of Ben Wallace on the side of a building, and they are doing that over the one of Steve Yzerman that's already there.
I know that the natives of Detroit are proud of the Pistons AND their homeboy in (Ben) Wallace. But still, Wallace is nowhere near being the athlete AND ESPECIALLY the gentleman and class act that Yzerman is.
Blasphemy, sheer hockey AND sports blasphemy... *shakes her head*
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