Steve Yzerman Jerseys

Steve Yzerman Detroit Red Wings Unsigned Jersey Numbers Piece

"Red Wings center Steve Yzerman has been a mainstay in Detroit for nearly as long as General Motors! Now 40 years old, Yzerman is still lighting up the lamps in NHL arenas across North America with his wicked slap shots. Pay tribute to Yzerman's outstanding play with this keepsake that features an exciting action photo and 6'' replica of his Red Wings jersey number (No. 19). This limited edition (250) collectible measures 21'' wide x 16'' high, is professionally framed and features high quality black molding. "

Playing career

Yzerman grew up in Nepean, Ontario where he attended Bell High School and played for the Nepean Raiders Junior A hockey team. After two seasons with the Raiders, Yzerman was drafted by the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, and played center for the Petes from 1981 to 1983.

Jim Devellano, the Red Wings GM at the time, had originally wanted to draft Pat LaFontaine. However, when LaFontaine was taken 3rd overall by the New York Islanders, Devellano settled on Yzerman instead.

Standing at 5'11" and weighing just 160 pounds, the team was prepared to send him back to Peterborough for another year, but "after one (training camp) session, you knew he was a tremendous hockey player," said Ken Holland, the current Red Wings general manager who was a minor league goaltender for the Wings during Yzerman's rookie training camp. Yzerman ended up tallying 39 goals and 87 points in his rookie season, and finished 2nd in Calder Trophy voting.

In 1986, he was named captain, the youngest player to be named captain in the team's history. Jacques Demers said he "wanted a guy with the Red Wings crest tattooed on his chest." During the 1988-89 season Yzerman recorded 155 points, a total that only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux have surpassed. Yzerman finished third in regular season scoring behind Lemieux and Gretzky and won the Pearson Award, as well as being a finalist for the Hart Trophy.

When Scotty Bowman became the Red Wings' coach in 1993, he and Yzerman didn't get along at first. Bowman thought Yzerman needed to improve his defense, while Yzerman thought Bowman's coaching style was too oppressive. It was only after the Red Wings seriously considered trading him to the moribund Ottawa Senators that Yzerman became a more well-rounded player. He is now considered one of the best two-way forwards in NHL history.

In 1995, Yzerman led Detroit to its first Stanley Cup finals series since 1966, but were swept by the New Jersey Devils. In 1996, Detroit finished with an NHL record 62 regular season wins but lost in the Conference finals to the Colorado Avalanche.

In 1997, Detroit won its first Stanley Cup in 42 years by sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers. The following year Detroit repeated the feat, sweeping the Washington Capitals. Yzerman earned the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP. He handed the Cup to Vladimir Konstantinov, who had been injured severely in a car accident just six days after the Cup victory in 1997.

On November 26, 1999, Yzerman became the eleventh player in NHL history to score 600 goals. In 2000, he made the NHL All-Star First Team and won the Frank J. Selke trophy.

In 2001-02, Yzerman re-aggravated a knee injury, forcing him to miss 30 regular season games. Yet, he still finished sixth in team scoring and led Detroit to its 3rd Stanley Cup in six years--the 10th in franchise history.

That summer, Yzerman underwent a knee realignment surgery known as an osteotomy. He missed the first 66 games of the 2002-03 season, but got an assist in his first game back on February 27, 2003. On August 2, 2005, Yzerman signed a one-year deal. On March 31, 2006 he scored his 691st NHL career goal, passing Mario Lemieux for 8th place in all-time regular season goals.

On July 3, 2006, Yzerman announced his retirement. He currently holds the NHL record (19 seasons/20 years) as the longest serving captain of a single team. In addition to 8th all-time in regular-season goals and 6th all-time in overall scoring, Yzerman also finished his career at 7th place in all-time regular season assists, and 8th place in all-time playoff scoring. He also stands second in every significant offensive category in Red Wings history, behind only Gordie Howe. He was one of the most beloved hockey players in the history of the game, because of his dedication to the Red Wings and to the sport itself.

In August 2006, a month after his retirement, the Red Wings announced that Yzerman's number 19 will be retired. The official retirement ceremony will take place on January 2, 2007 against the Anaheim Ducks.

On September 25, 2006, Yzerman was named as a vice president. Owner Mike Ilitch was quoted as saying, "After retiring as the longest serving captain in NHL history and the on-ice leader of our franchise for 23 years, it is only fitting that he join our management team."

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It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Steve Yzerman".