Behind the Jersey

BtJ has a new home

2006-07-29T14:43:00.000-04:00

I will no longer uploading posts to Blogger (http://behindthejersey.blogspot.com), but this will remain up for those who find BtJ via search or from links to this blog that haven't been updated.

Please check out our new home at BehindtheJersey.com. We are still working on some things (like the Gallery), but all the old posts have been transferred and the new design and layout is up!

If your blog/website has a link to BtJ, please update it so it points towards BehindtheJersey.com - thank you for all your support!

Wings re-sign Williams for 2 more years

2006-07-27T16:57:00.000-04:00

I went to check the Detroit Red Wings website to see what it had about the Danny Markov signing. I was surprised when the first thing I saw was the announcement that the Wings had re-signed Williams for two more years before heading to arbitration and not Markov's signing.

"We are pleased to reach a deal with Jason before going to arbitration," said [GM Ken] Holland. "He took a big step forward as a NHL player last year and we look forward to even more progress in the future."

Even though I interviewed Willy for 30 minutes or so back in 2004 and he's a really nice guy, I'm not a huge fan of him especially Willy on the power play. That being said, this was his first year playing a ton of games so hopefully he'll just get better. And he is good on the shootout, which will help us in the regular season. Although I only really care about the playoffs and earning a playoff spot.

I would've been a lot happier with a one year contract, but I bet the Wings didn't pay as much as they would've via arbitration. It'll be interesting to see just how much Williams will be making.

Ansar Khan at MLive.com is reporting that Williams will be paid $1.6 million/year, which isn't bad considering how arbitration has gone this offseason.

"(Coach) Mike Babcock gave him the opportunity (last season) and Jason took advantage of it,'' Holland said. "He really established himself as an NHL player. Hopefully, he can continue to build on that confidence.
"I don't want to say what statistics we're expecting from him, but there is an opportunity for someone to take a step forward offensively."
"In the end, we felt if we could avoid (arbitration), we'd both be better served," Holland said. "In the past couple of days, as (arbitration) awards came out, a marketplace began to surface."

Holland has around $6 million to get a goaltender, winger, and to sign Johan Franzen. Ideally, Holland would like to sign Franzen for three or four more years, but it's looking like Franzen will sign a one or two year deal. Franzen will be UFA eligible in 2008.

Wing sign defenseman Danny Markov

2006-07-27T13:24:00.000-04:00

The Canadian Press has heard from a source that the Detroit Red Wings have agreed to a deal with defenseman Danny Markov. He played 58 games with Nashville last season where he had 11 assists, +9 rating, and 62 PIM. He missed some games last year due to a strained knee in mid-January and then an ankle injury on March 3rd (but returned on March 28th). Expect an official announcement later this afternoon.

If Markov can stay healthy this season, I'll be very happy with this signing.

Update: Markov agreed to a one year deal worth $2.5 million making me like this signing even more. Based on what people have said and Holland's expectations of Markov, we'll have a nice physical defensemen duo of Kronwall and Markov. I like it.

Sorry that I didn't update earlier, but Blogger was down last night when I tried to update (and this morning). I am working on transferring all my posts and stuff over to my new site so I'll let you all know when you can check it out.

Random Rambling
I went down to Cinci on Tuesday to see my surgeon. Since I can't keep perfect extension (how straight your leg can get - I'm like negative 5 degrees most of the time and you want 0 degrees), they decided to put a cast on me. I only have to wear it at night, but the actual casting process was prolly one of the most painful things I have ever experienced next to shingles pain and 24 hour post-op surgery pain. Why was it so painful? Well, my therapist had to press down on my cast as it was hardening while my ankle was propped up on a sink and my knee was suspended in mid-air. Imagine 50 pounds being pushed on your knee while it has no support and that is what I had to deal with. Yuck. I did get a free t-shirt though for my "hard work."

Wings close to signing top 4 defenseman

2006-07-26T10:46:00.000-04:00

In the middle of the Eddie to Florida article in the Detroit Free Press, this little tidbit was thrown in.

The Wings, meanwhile, are close to signing a top-four defenseman. Holland wouldn't reveal a name, but it is someone who can play 20 minutes a night, indicating a shake-up to the rotation that finished last season's playoffs. Since the newcomer wouldn't bump Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall or Mathieu Schneider, presumably Brett Lebda, Andreas Lilja and Chris Chelios would rotate as the odd man out.
The Wings are also in the market for a forward to help amend the loss of Brendan Shanahan. In the past few days Holland has made offers to restricted free agent forwards Johan Franzen and Jason Williams, the latter of whom has an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday if no deal is reached before then.

Possibilities for this top four defenseman would include Brian Leetch, Sean Hill, and Danny Markov. For Holland to acknowledge that he's almost close to signing this guy, it means that this deal is going to happen.

The Wings are also hoping to reach a deal with Williams before he goes to arbitration because that certainly is an unpleasant experience for both sides and with the way things are going, he could garner a high salary depending on the arbitrator.

Panthers sign Belfour

2006-07-26T10:42:00.000-04:00

Psycho Eddie is no longer an option for the Detroit Red Wings, which is excellent news in my opinion. Belfour signed a one year deal with the Florida Panthers for $1.25 million, which was a lot higher than the Wings had even considered with Eddie recovering from back surgery.

"We had some interest in Belfour," Holland said. "Money was always a concern. His lower back was a risk. If we really had wanted to sign him bad enough, we would have moved. If I'd had brought him in, he'd have been intriguing -- but he's intriguing until the back goes."

So as we had previously thought, Holland will be looking for a number one goaltender via trade whether it's before the start of the season or before the trade deadline (similar to the Oilers acquiring Roloson).

Contest winner

2006-07-24T21:50:00.000-04:00

I have emailed all of the contest participants informing them of the result and now that I've heard back from the winner, I'm happy to announce that Chad will be receiving a brand new SI Commemorative Edition: Steve Yzerman issue in the mail in the next few days. Thank you to all the entries. A couple of the entrants actually wrote mini-essays so I thought I'd post them here.

Jim:

I first discovered Steve Yzerman when I was watching the Canadiens/Kings Stanley Cup finals in 93. It was my first exposure to hockey (Dallas didn't have a team yet). During one of the intermissions, they had about a 1 minute clip on Yzerman, highlighting his past couple of great statistical seasons. After they finished showing highlights and describing the kind of player and leader he was, I was enthralled.. I thought "now there's a player I can identify with". From that moment on, I've been a hockey fanatic and Red Wings faithful.
Fast forward to 2 years ago, when I was playing an exhibition game at the American Airlines Center and blew out my ACL on a meaningless play and check. Like my idol, I couldn't hang it up if I could still skate.. my team was in the midst of our best season yet, the playoffs were a little over a month away, and I was a key center, Alternate Captain and leader on our team. So I let the swelling go down, strapped on a neoprene sleeve and a full brace every game, wrapped it all in tape, and took to the ice. Once or twice a game, the knee would slip or get hit out of alignment and I'd pick myself up off the ice and hobble to the bench, laying behind it and the other players until the pain subsided. It was painful, real painful. I know how Stevie must have felt, although his injury was a bit different. Battling to get back up on a blown out knee each game, I always visualized Yzerman and what he had done, and it got me through. My memories of his on-ice perseverance literally carried me during those 2 1/2 months of pain. But upon scoring the game-winning, series and Cup-clinching goal in our playoff run, I knew I had done one thing right. I'd appropriately honored the #19 I wore on my back. Stevie's been a big part of my life since that fateful day back in 93. I'm gonna miss him.

Olah:

I think the one that most opitimizes the type of warrior leader Yzerman is came in the 2002 playoffs, in Game 3, in over-time. Set the scene:
It's after midnight. Carolina Vs Detroit. Stanley Cup Finals. The series is tied at 1 game a piece. The score is tied, 2-2. It's over-time, baby!! There are shots ringing off the posts; a quarter of an inch and the Wings are victorious. Hasek is making saves like his life depends on it. Urbe is making saves like he's 2 feet taller than he really is. Then, there's Yzerman. Skating on one leg and still working like a lion to win it for the team, to be the hero that he always is. Personafying the very definitions of leadership, guts, heroism, and sacrifice. He's simply just being himself. Doing what he knows what to do. Just playing and being himself. There it is. Yzerman gets a pass and has an open net. Before his knee buckles underneath him, Urbe makes a supernatural slide and blocks Yzerman's sure thing empty net goal.
Yzerman falls down. Does a back-wards summersault. Looks up at the sky. Swears. And, smiles as he hobbles up on one leg. That smile is my favorite moment. It's like, who else could smile at a moment like that?!? You have basically only one leg. You've played more than one game in a row with the amount of periods on the clock. You just got a sure-thing goal robbed from you. And, you just... SMILE!!! Then, you just get back up on your one leg, hobble-skate away and just go back to work. That's my favorite moment. That smile. Yzerman in a gesture. That will stick out in my head forever, anytime I think about him and his career. The SMILE.

As most Wings fans have realized, the offseason has been pretty slow for us. Posts will start to pick up when the news does. Until that happens, I will be working on transferring this blog to my domain, behindthejersey.com. I am currently waiting for my (hopefully) future host to approve the order and I will be working very hard to get it up and running in the next couple of weeks.

Over the past couple of years, I've used my dad's company's server but it was one of his non-important ones so it went down a lot and would take forever to get back up. Now, I'm hoping no problems with the new hosts and I'll be using Wordpress (no more Blogger) and hopefully add some more interactive features. If you have a suggestion, please leave a comment or drop me an email!

7/20 Notes

2006-07-20T16:30:00.000-04:00

Continue to send in entries for the SI Commemorative Edition contest by emailing me or leaving a comment (see the previous 2 posts for rules).

IwoCPO at Abel to Yzerman has an interview with MLive.com / Booth Newspaper writer Ansar Khan and his thoughts on the Wings.

Alanah at Vancouver Canucks Op Ed is participating in a Blogathon where she blogs every 30 minutes for 24 hours for charity. She's doing in on Saturday, July 29th, for the Canucks Place Children's Hospice so be sure to check out her blog and maybe even sponsor her (even a $1 pledge is great)!

It seems that Psycho Eddie may be heading to Florida and that would certainly not disappoint me. I say send him to warm Miami - at least he'll have plenty of bars/clubs to go to in his long offseason. :)

That would leave us with either our current tandem, Ozzie and Jimmy, or for us to acquire a goaltender via trade (ex. Biron).

As I've mentioned before, I've been watching/following the Tour de France although I have to admit I haven't been as diligent as I have been when Lance Armstrong and the Discovery Team were doing well. Anyways between the retirement and doping scandal, Floyd Landis (team = Phonak) was one of the top candidates to win this year's race. He remained in contention and even had the yellow jersey a couple times until yesterday when he tanked and lost 8 minutes and 8 seconds to the #1 guy. That is a huge time difference to make up with the race ending on July 23.

Anyways in today's stage (#17), Landis brokeaway early to win the stage get in the top 3 (after falling to 11th place yesterday). He's now only 30 seconds behind the guy in the yellow jersey. I'm rooting for Landis now that the Discovery team is sucking it up because he will be having a hip replacement right after the Tour. I can't imagine the pain he is fighting right now while racing.

I'm trying to come up with a hockey analogy to help you guys understand how amazing this is. It would be like winning all of the first three rounds of the playoffs either 4-0 or 3-1 and being the expected winner of the Stanley Cup finals. Then, that team loses the first 3 games only to come back and win it all. Granted, Landis hasn't won it yet, but yesterday they were all writing him off and today he could very well win it all. Quite impressive if you ask me...

I would like to apologize for the lack of real updates lately. My parents have been working really long hours lately so I get stuck with driving my brothers everywhere and doing the household responsibilities. Plus, my knee is giving me some trouble so I've been working on therapy stuff a lot and have to go to Cincinnati again next Tuesday. Plus, I'm heading up north again either tonight or tomorrow morning. I promise you that regular updates will return soon and hopefully my domain will get up in the near future as well. I'm also brainstorming new features for the blog. So thanks for your patience and understanding...Go Wings!

718 Notes

2006-07-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

Some random notes...

Apparently, interest in my SI Commemorative Edition: Steve Yzerman contest is non-existent. It's probably because none of you have time or want to write a 500 word or less "essay" on No. 19. So to make it easier for you all, email me or leave a comment with your favorite Yzerman moment whether it be the day he was drafted, a specific game, an autograph signing, etc. (plus your name and email address). I will then randomly pick one person's moment and they will win the free copy. If this still doesn't garner interest, I'll put it up on eBay. You can send in an entry through Friday night. Good luck!

I removed some ads and links while adding others including a Wings forum section on the right. I am waiting on my Dad to get my hosting for my server up, which is difficult because his working hours are only increasing. Once the host is up (we're transferring it to our house), I will be hard at work on the behindthejersey.com including some extra sections I hope to have.

Paul at Kukla's Korner has added forums to his website. Definitely check it out for good hockey talk!

IwoCPO at Abel to Yzerman is back from vacation - yay! I missed his humor, which is needed in this incredibly slow offseason for Wings fans.

SI Yzerman Edition Contest

2006-07-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

What: No. 19 Contest Where: Behind the Jersey Who: All the BtJ readers Prize: One copy of the Sports Illustrated Commemorative Edition: Steve Yzerman (and free shipping!) How do I enter? Drop me an email or leave a comment with your favorite Yzerman moment. It doesn't have to be longer than a sentence, but if you want to write feel free to go ahead because I'll post them on BtJ. I do need your name and email so I can contact you if you win. Deadline: Midnight on Friday, July 21st. Each person who submits a name will be written up on a slip of paper and then randomly selected. I will contact the person upon winning as well as make a special post on BtJ and list everyone's favorite moments to honor No. 19. Good luck!

SI Commemorative Edition: Steve Yzerman (Update)

2006-07-14T17:35:00.000-04:00

I went out and bought 15 more copies of the commemorative edition to help you guys out because my last batch of 13 went really quick. I have 6 copies up on eBay right now: Copy #1 Copy #2 Copy #3 Copy #4 Copy #5 Copy #6 If you don't have an eBay account, but have PayPal and want a copy or two, send me an email (cjhammon@umich.edu) and I'll send you a copy. I have 7 other copies that I have yet to upload to eBay. Please note that I will be out of town this weekend. I can get emails, but I will be unable to ship a copy until Monday. I would kindly like to ask that those of you who can get a copy yourself to not buy one of "mine" on eBay and save it for those who don't live in one of those four areas. Thanks!

SI Commemorative Edition: Steve Yzerman

2006-07-13T23:32:00.000-04:00

Sports Illustrated has made 300,000 copies of a special commemorative edition honoring Steve Yzerman and released them today (Thursday). These copies will be made available in Michigan, Ontario, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This $6.99 feature is 84 pages long and includes:

Stevie's Wonder Years: In his 22 seasons in Detroit, Yzerman was the consummate franchise player.
Captain Kid: Five years into his career, Yzerman was firmly established as the leader of a surprising Detroit team.
A Career In Pictures: Snapshots from No. 19's exceptional 22-season run.
Wild Ride: Between 1997 and 2002, the Red Wings won three Stanley Cups and Yzerman led Canada to an Olympic gold medal.
The Captain By The Numbers: How valuable was Stevie Y. to the Wings? Let's count the ways.
Out Of The Darkness: Yzerman arrived in Detroit as a shy, 18-year-old center and left as the hero of Hockeytown.
The Last Word: From kid to captain, former teammate Dave Lewis describes how Yzerman learned to become the unquestioned leader of the Red Wings.

Assuming that this edition is similar to the one for Lance Armstrong last summer, I'm sure I'll enjoy it. You can get it at Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Target, Walgreen's, 7-Eleven, Meijer, Wal-Mart, and Kroger.

Can't seem to get a hold of a copy? You can always order the cover from Sports Illustrated online for $19.95 and even get it framed (for $69.95)!

Wings sign Belfour?

2006-07-12T11:46:00.000-04:00

According to a LGW forum member, he/she saw this statement on the TSN ticker: "Red Wings sign G Ed Belfour to 2 year deal worth 1.5m a season." However, the TSN website does not have anything up yet regarding this supposed signing. Plus this person is pretty new to the board and no one else has been able to confirm this so take it as you will...10 minutes after the post was made, the thread has been deleted. So hopefully this is just one big crazy rumor...

My reaction if this is true... Wow. I wasn't so crazy about a one year deal worth about $500,000 plus incentives. But 2 years for $1.5!? What happens if he gets injured (high probability) or decides to retire and we're stuck with paying that second year. Boy for wanting to keep short term contracts, Holland is doing wonderfully.

Well, I have to head out so I'll have more news/reactions when I return. Hopefully the TSN ticker is just a rumor. Gulp.

Cleary and Lebda re-sign with Detroit

2006-07-12T11:40:00.000-04:00

GM Ken Holland has re-signed two Wings in the past couple of days.

On Monday, forward Dan Cleary agreed to another two years worth $1.325 million with the Wings.

"Dan's a gritty player and we value what he brings to the team," general manager Ken Holland said.

Yesterday, defenseman Brett Lebda signed a contract for four years at $2.6 million. He's being paid $550,000 in the first two years, $650,000 in the third year, and $850,000 in the final year of the contract. The salary average, $650,000, will go against the cap each of the four years.

With these signings, Holland has decided to go with the same six defenseman as in the 2006 playoffs. I like the Lebda signing, but I just hate that Lilja is returning. Holland is supposedly looking for a physical defenseman to replace the presence of Jiri Fischer, who suffered a scary heart moment back in November. Kenny has been talking to the agent of former Predator Danny Markov.

"Brett was impressive in the time he spent with us last season," general manager Ken Holland said in a statement.
Coach Mike Babcock raved about Lebda's ability to skate with the puck, pass and play smart at both ends. Babcock showed his confidence in Lebda during the playoffs, playing him in all six games against the Oilers.
"Brett possesses the skills I think will help contribute to the success of this organization," Holland said.

Ken Holland on AM 1270

2006-07-10T17:23:00.000-04:00

Rough quotes of what GM Ken Holland had to say on AM 1270 at 5pm (Monday).

- You're not going to be able to find a Brendan Shanahan on the open market...Looking for someone to score half those goals.

- Lots of players going into arbitration...look at teams with budget problems.

- Made some offers...but weren't prepared to do what some of the contracts required.

- Want to make sure they have cap room next year when they have to re-sign Kronwall and Datsyuk.

- To go out and sign anyone for a deal more than one year, unless we really liked them, would be unwise. Want to be patient.

- We can be patient on defense with Schneider, Lidstrom, Cheli, and Kronwall. Be patient to find the right players and have financial flexibility.

- If you put Jimmy Howard in the playoffs and he let's in some bad goals and lose, it'll be tough on the young goaltender (with pressures and expectations). At the 60 game mark, we could bring him up if he's ready.

- We've struggled back and forth to both situations (Belfour and Hasek). Talked to Dom this morning and he says his groin is good. Both are very good goaltenders. It's a very close call. I don't know if you can be right or wrong in either situation until it all plays out.

- If we bring back Dom, he wants to know he's the No. 1 guy. They don't want to be in a competition. If they don't play good, they understand someone will take their job.

- We haven't agreed to terms to anybody right now.

- I don't think we're going to bring in a high profile big name guy. Long term deals...we're not comfortable with.

- Happy with Samuelsson and Lilja's play, which is why we could offer a longer term contract.

- I think Jiri Hudler is very close to being ready to play. If all of a sudden, he's good at training camp we'll find a place on our roster. We want to sign him...we're intrigued. Great hands, great hockey sense, great vision. We want to give Hudler and Kopecky a chance at training camp since they'd have to clear waivers.

- Most of the action was took by non-playoff teams who were looking to overhaul their team. We have a good nucleus...it doesn't make any sense to me to go spend a lot on a seventh forward. We didn't want to tie up that kind of money in those kind of players.

- I would never say never... I like Manny... Unfortunately we lost out in the 1st round and I decided, after talking to everyone, we wanted to make a change in goal. And Osgood was prepared to come back at a backup position. I'm stunned, like you guys, that he hasn't gotten an offer.

- He'd like to talk to players about contract extensions to see who's going to stay and who's going to test the open market next summer. I'm going to slowly work the younger players.

Sounds like Willy will be coming back if they can agree to terms (whether before or during arbitration) as Kenny said he'd be one of the Top 6 forwards. Does that scare anyone else?

Steve did tell Holland the day before July 1st so that didn't affect Holland's timing.

Unfortuntately, that interview did not help lift my confidence in Kenny. The most important point I got out of that interview was that it seems Kenny is terrified of long term deals and isn't willing to lock up salary in certain players because he wants financial flexibility...

My world is going upside down...

2006-07-09T21:48:00.000-04:00

I don't know what to say anymore. The Detroit sports scene as I knew it is turning completely upside down.

- Both the Wings and Pistons are #1 heading into the playoffs. Both teams fail to make it to the finals. The Pistons do make it to the third round while the Wings can't even win one round.

- The front page of The Detroit Free Press this morning? "The Return of Tiger Town." Yep, the Detroit Tigers are one of the best teams in the MLB at this point.

- Captain Steve Yzerman retires on July 3, 2006. On the same day, the face of the Detroit Pistons decides he's going to go to Chicago for more money. Ironically, my only Wings jersey (that's not framed) is Yzerman's and my only Pistons jersey is Wallace's.

- Six days later Shanny signs with the New York Rangers. Mitch Albom has a really nice column piece on Shanny, you can read the Monday Edition article here.

"Friends of mine have been telling me the last few days, `You know, you will always be identified as a Red Wing,' " Shanahan said. "I know that. I'm proud of all we did there."
"Steve is like a born son of Detroit," Shanahan said, laughing. "I was like the kid they adopted when I was 12 years old. It was great. I have no complaints. Detroit made me feel so special. They were like, `We'll pretend you didn't play those nine seasons before you got here.' "

- Oh, and sure the Central Division was pretty weak last season. But is it me, or do all the teams in our division (aside from Columbus) seem to be improving? I mean, even the Blackhawks!

- On the same day as Shanny's signing, the local Detroit TV stations report that we will be signing Ed Belfour tomorrow. That's right, our first "big" move of the off-season (actually our first move, period) will be signing Psycho Eddie.

It's safe to say that this is not what I expected this off-season. Even with the salary cap. I will always love the Wings and I will always be a big fan of the team, but I really hate to put an end to this era.

Now I'm not losing it like some people on the forums who believe we'll be the worse team in the league, etc. I do think we won't do as well in the regular season (at this point), but as long as we make the playoffs I don't care. The President's Trophy obviously doesn't do well for us. I am, however, concerned about our lack of action this off-season whether it was by trades or signings. I'm just praying that Holland has something up his sleeves...

Oh, here are some fan reactions to the news about Belfour:

- My dad's reaction after I told him, "It's better than having a sharp stick in the eye. And you can quote me on that." - David: "I think I might paint the walls with puke now…" - Hockeytown Red Wings (LGW): "I can't wait for the first goalie fight of the year." - To which Happy Pancake responded, "Is this Holland's gritty signing?" - Reilly: "Low risk, high reward signing. If he plays great and is healthy, awesome. If he sucks and/or gets injured, they have cap room to add another goalie down the stretch. Look alive people." - Every time you hear a goal horn, an Eagle loses its Wings.

Sloganizer.net

2006-07-09T16:12:00.000-04:00

I have to distract myself from the lack of movement in the Wings off-season (aside from re-signing 3 players and the retirement/leaving of 2 great Wings). If you want to read about Shanny, I have a post about him signing with the Rangers and another one as a tribute to his time in Detroit.

Yesterday, I made a post about the Bud Ice Penguin - dooby dooby doo.

Today, I have found this fun, time wasting, and addicting website: Sloganizer.net

For hours of mindless entertainment, type in a keyword and the website will produce a variety of slogans for you. For instance, I had "Steve Yzerman" as my first keyword. Here are some slogans for your enjoyment:

Food or Steve Yzerman? I'll have Steve Yzerman. There's a bit of Steve Yzerman in all of us. One goal, one passion - Steve Yzerman. Be inspired by Steve Yzerman. Steve Yzerman for a professional image. Steve Yzerman - living innovation. All you need is Steve Yzerman. Steve Yzerman. Making people sucessful in a changing world. You can't beat Steve Yzerman. The Steve Yzerman effect. Everything is simple with Steve Yzerman. Make the world a better place with Steve Yzerman.

Hehe. It's all about the simple pleasures in life. Let's try some other names...

Ken Holland... Every Ken Holland has a story. Ken Holland - spice up your life. Ken Holland - go for it! Ken Holland. Impossible is nothing.

Brendan Shanahan Brendan Shanahan is a never ending story. Brendan Shanahan is your friend. Bigger. Better. Brendan Shanahan. Brendan Shanahan, since 1845. (This one really made me laugh.) Brendan Shanahan moments. Don't mess with Brendan Shanahan.

Brendan Shanahan Tribute

2006-07-09T15:35:00.000-04:00

Now, I'm not going to go all crazy like I did when Steve Yzerman retired. However, I appreciate what Shanny has done for the team and he was a key component to our 3 Cup wins (particularly the first two). The day Yzerman retired, I bought an 11x14 photograph of Shanny and Yzie with their gold medals from 2002 signed by both of them. Little did I know that Shanny would actually be leaving too...

This tribute post will include video and audio clips, quotes, and Wings fan reactions. To read more about Shanny signing with the Rangers, visit my other post here.

Video Clips

Shanny breaks Adam Foote's nose.

Shanny fight against Sean Avery...

A fun Shanny and Federov commercial...

March 26th, 1997

And don't forget Shanny's part in the Statue of Liberty Roy move and goal.

Audio Courtesy of Matt at On the Wings, the Irish Jig.

Quotes Words from the mouth of Brendan Shanahan...

"I don't understand why I can't hit that ball. I mean it's this big, slow, ball & I just can't hit the thing. Maybe if I could run the bases with the bat in my hand I would enjoy it more. I could hit players as I go by, you know just a little cuff in the chin & maybe catch the next guy behind the ear." - Shanny on softball

"Watching a shootout is like admitting you watch Survivor or search the internet for porn."

"Lunch is on me" - Brendan Shanahan after signing a $26 million contract

"Over the years, Steve has come to understand I need the clicker. He says it's my security blanket."

"You know, there's nothing better than making yourself dinner and watching Thursday night TV. Also, I just got a computer. And I'm fanatical about doing the laundry. There's nothing better than a stack of fresh, clean clothes. Except maybe a good movie. You know that creepy-looking guy you stare at two seats behind you, thinking who would come to a movie by himself? That's me."

Brendan Shanahan said to the Detroit fans after winning the Stanley Cup: "When I asked for a trade at the beginning of the year, I said I was looking for a home. And I found one. I'm just grateful to everyone here. Thank you for accepting me."

"I usually call the new guy and let him know where I like to sit on the bus, tell him ways he can stay out of my way, make sure he knows not to touch any of my stuff."

The day after getting 40 stitches over his right eye because of a body-check from behind by Peter Forsberg, journalists ask the Red Wings winger if he plans on wearing a visor to protect his eyes: "No I won’t. Don Cherry will be happy but my wife will be ticked off." - May 8, 1999

"I think that pressure is part of pro sports. It's better to face pressure than to not face it at all. You have to have that kind of mentality to be a professional athlete. That is what we are trained to do. I think to a man we all know that everybody is responsible for the success."

The Blues spent the week on a working vacation in Florida. Much more vacation than work, except for Brendan Shanahan, who was arrested on a minor charge after a bar scuffle. Shanahan may get the line of the year for his quote "They told me to come down here and get myself all rested. I misunderstood and thought they said get myself arrested." - March 1995

And don't forget Shanny's impact in the 2002 playoff series versus Vancouver.

There is a story about the 2002 playoffs that has become a staple of all tributes to Yzerman. In the first round against Vancouver, the Wings lost the first two games at home. Then Yzerman gave a speech, the team won four straight and went on to win the Stanley Cup.
It is the stuff of Disney movies. But Yzerman was never a Disney-movie kind of leader, and he barely remembers the speech. When Brendan Shanahan asked Yzerman if he would address the team before Game 3, Yzerman replied, "I don't think so."
"And he said, `Maybe you should say something,' " Yzerman recalled. " `OK, I guess so.' What effect it has on players, I really don't know."

Photos

His first appearance at JLA after the lockout...

Shanahan signs with the New York Rangers

2006-07-09T13:56:00.000-04:00

Update (1:56PM): The New York Rangers are having a press conference at 2pm today to announce Shanny's signing with the Blueshirts. The Rangers website already has an article up titled, "Rangers sign 7-Time All-Star Brendan Shanahan."

"He continues to perform at an elite level and also brings outstanding leadership qualities to our organization," Rangers president and GM Glen Sather said in a release. "Brendan will be a tremendous player and person for our young players to learn from."
A source said that Shanahan made up his mind to sign with the Rangers on Saturday night even though the Red Wings had offered the same amount of money and the Montreal Canadiens had tabled more.

So we now have that $4 million to spend elsewhere. Please Mr. Holland, please, sign us some UFAs particularly a goalie, gritty forward or two, and that physical defenseman you promised.

Paul @ Kukla's Korner has some nice memories of when Shanny first game to Detroit in 1996.

The building was electric, filled with anticipation. The Wings finally had their power forward. It was rumored for weeks in Detroit, the Wings were attempting to acquire Shanahan from the Whalers. The wishes of many Wings fans came true on October 9, 1996. The final piece was in place.
Shanahan made it to the Joe with minutes to spare for the first game that season. The Wings actually held up going onto the ice so Brendan could join them. With Shanahan scoring 46 goals that year, the Wings went on to win the Cup and repeated the feat the next year.
Now he is gone, and with it the “piece” leaves a big hole in the Wings lineup. Now where do they go? Gomez in New Jersey may be an option, the Devils are cap strapped and need to move some salary. Can Anson Carter replace one of the greatest goal scores in the last 15 years?

Hockeybird likes the signing (from the Rangers perspective) for the following reasons:

I'm thrilled with the signing in that it's a one year deal and Brendan fills a void up front. Of course I would have liked to have Brendan eight years ago.

Blueshirt Bulletin tends to disagree.

Here at Blueshirt Bulletin, we believe it would be a huge mistake to take on a near-retiree even for one season when there is a glut of young forwards hoping to take the next step forward. It would send the wrong message. If, as Brooks also reports, Martin Rucinsky is close to signing another one-year deal with the Rangers, the Rangers are not in need of top-line winger, so Shanahan would only knock Petr Prucha down the depth chart, in turn knocking another young player even farther down the depth chart. If anything, the Rangers need a second line center -- signing Shanahan and moving Martin Straka to center will not work, and will be eventually abandoned. By the way, Brooks says the Rangers have no interest in Petr Sykora.

11 AM: The New York Post reports that forward Brendan Shanahan will sign a one year contract with the New York Rangers. The contract is worth around $4 million, lower than the offers made by Detroit and Montreal.

The signing, expected to be announced today, comes one day after Shanahan informed Montreal GM Bob Gainey he was rejecting his team's bid to sign him.
The Post has learned that after Shanahan had visited Manhattan on Wednesday to meet with Ranger front-office and coaching personnel - a "Welcome Brendan Shanahan" message with a visual of Shanny wearing the Blueshirt went up on the Garden Seventh Avenue marquee to coincide with his visit - the Rangers increased their original $3.5M offer in order to signal their commitment to completing the deal.

If this report is true, I am pleased that we aren't spending $4-5 million on Shanny. However, Holland has put himself in a pickle by waiting so long as many of the UFAs have been picked up.

So who do the Wings look to replace Shanny? What about that gritty forward or physical defenseman we have supposedly been searching for? And goaltending?

"Dooby dooby doo..."

2006-07-08T23:00:00.000-04:00

I came across this commercial on YouTube: Those commercials started in 1996 and lasted a couple of years, I believe. They were always played during the Stanley Cup playoffs and I saw them over and over with my family because the Wings were doing really well at that point. I may have only been 9 years old at that point, but I still remember them like it was yesterday. They are definitely my favorite commercials of all time. "Dooby dooby doo..." This website has a short description of all of the Bud Ice penguin commercials that he could remember. If you're gonna drink Bud Ice, beware of the penguins. If anyone has any of the other Bud Ice penguin commercials, please upload them to YouTube! A website on how to protect your home from the Bud Ice stealing penguins. Actually, the whole website is pretty entertaining. It's for the BIFF - Bud Ice Freedom Fighters. This next photo is from the commercial where the Bud Ice penguin is in a train. Sneaky little guy if you ask me... You can download the Bud Ice Penguin screensaver here. And yes, this is what I have to resort to when my hockey team is doing absolutely nothing in the off-season. Plus, it gets my mind off of Psycho Eddie and the fact that my favorite player retired.

Steve Yzerman Tribute (Part 2)

2006-07-06T10:55:00.000-04:00

This part of the Steve Yzerman Tribute is all about the photos and video clips. I have uploaded all of my saved Yzerman photos to a webshots account, which you can view here. If you have any photos you would like to submit, please drop me an email.

Both the photos and videos will be added as they come in. I am adding video clips to YouTube right now, but it takes awhile to upload everything.

Video Clips

The quality is a bit off (specifically the transitions), but it's still a nice tribute video.

Photo slide show with music by Aqualung, "Brighter Than Sunshine."

Yzerman's 2OT Goal vs. St. Louis Blues

Yzerman fights

No. 19 and Ozzie joking around

The Wings joking around and playing paintball, golf, and basketball.

Yzerman on ESPN's Rome is Burning

Interview with Yzerman during Game #4 vs. Oilers in 2006 playoffs

Red Wings Weekly after the lockout / segment on No. 19

Yzerman in a Ford 1989 commercial

CBC tribute to the 1998 Stanley Cup champs

More on Belfour, Shanny, and Arbitration

2006-07-05T23:10:00.000-04:00

Belfour coming to Detroit? The Wings are supposedly 2-3 days away from informing Ed Belfour of their decision. He was at Joe Louis Arena today before heading on to the doctors for his physical to see how his back is recovering from surgery in April.

"He didn't have a very good year, statistically, then got hurt at the end of the year," Holland said. "I wanted to get his back checked out. There's obviously concerns. Did he have an off-year, or can he can play another year or two? He obviously feels he has some hockey left in him."

An article that just came out by Helene St. James says that if he passes his physical (which was 3 hours long at DMC) then the Wings will make an offer. Belfour has since left Detroit.

A dark shadow has been cast over the Detroit fans...

When I first saw the photo of Eddie below, two things came to mind: (1) His nickname, "Psycho Eddie," and (2) the movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It took no stretch of the imagination for me to picture this image below:

This is stuff that can give you nightmares. Here is a sampling of Wings fans reactions over the possibility of Belfour or Hasek in net.

Hoser: And somewhere, small groups of small market fans are grinning fiendishly - their perverse joy nearly toxic: Red Wings fans agonizing over an inability to do ... anything. All Hail the Triumph of the 'new' NHL.

58Miles2Joe: If Belfour plays for the Wings, this may be the year I lockout the NHL.

Clouddead: Kenny said we needed something different, and this sure is different...I'm scared every time I look on tsn...

Crymson: Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice...you're not gonna fool me again.

Muse: I'm hoping that the Belfour exam is more out of curiosity and to be used as a negotiating tool (so we don't look too desperate - though you have to be mighty desperate to be seriously considering Crazy Eddie). I certainly hope part of his exam will include a psychological review. In fact, while they're at it, let the Psychiatrist take a look at Kenny for even considering Crazy Eddie.

Now Doomsberry is usually forecasting dark depressing days in Hockeytown and it's usually a pretty fun read. Sadly, his latest comments seem pretty easy to imagine.

Storm clouds continue to build around Hockeytown. Prepare for the worst.
The worst is yet to come. It is time for some serious preparation.

Shanahan talk Holland actually won't be hearing from Shanahan's agent until this weekend at the earliest. We have apparently offered him a one year contract for $4 million or, if he prefers, a two year contract for less money. I don't know which one I'd prefer.

One LGW user said, "Then why are they chasing Shanahan like an obsessed ex-boyfriend? I think everyone has called Shanahan but the Mayor." So true.

Update: That Helene St. James article says that both of our offers (1 year and 2 years) were for about $4 million each year. Please let this not be true. 2 years, $4 million apiece for Shanny? Come on...I'm trying to be patient Holland, I really am. But I'm struggling, I really am.

"There's not much I can say with regard to Brendan's situation," agent Rick Curran said. "Everyone realizes he has to make a decision - perhaps sooner rather than later. I have no problem saying the Wings are still very much in the picture. He has options."

Salary Arbitration Both Daniel Cleary and Jason Williams have filed for salary arbitration. Today was the deadline. The Wings and the two players have until July 20th to reach a deal. Arbitration goes from July 20th through August 4th.

Yzerman Gallery I promise a large gallery of Yzerman photos to be posted sometime tomorrow.

Shanny, Hasek, and Belfour updates

2006-07-05T08:40:00.000-04:00

As I posted yesterday evening, Ed Belfour is in town today for a physical with Wings doctors to see how his back is healing up after surgery this past spring. Ansar Khan at MLive.com is reporting that the Wings could get him for slightly higher than the league minimum:

It's prompted them to explore the possibility of signing a veteran like Belfour, if he's healthy and would agree to a deal for about $500,000, slightly more than the NHL's minimum salary, according to a league source.

The same article says that the Wings have contacted Hasek's agent for some preliminary talk.

I don't know which one is the worse of the two evils. The only positive is that we would get a goalie for pretty cheap, but that's about it...

Apparently, the Wings have offered Brendan Shanahan a one year contract worth $4 million. That's a pretty nice raise over the $2.28 million salary of last season. And why do we have to offer him this amount? This expensive salary that he has not earned because his playoff performances have been subpar! Because our UFA options are dwindling at a rapid rate and Holland believes that if we lose Shanny, we don't have a lot of choices. Now that was just speculation on my part - I don't know what Holland thinks. He's currently in LA meeting with the Kings. Montreal and St. Louis are also interested in him.

Every day that passes, I try to remember the joys of the 2001 summer offseason when we landed some nice players. Silly salary cap...

Belfour is coming in for a physical

2006-07-04T16:50:00.000-04:00

Some folks at Lets Go Wings forum heard from Kevin Allen on WDFN that Ed Belfour is coming in for a physical tomorrow. I'm kindly asking Holland to look towards a trade instead of going the Belfour/Hasek route. Please? I don't think I could better express myself than redwings1914:

Stevie has retired. Ben Wallace signed with Chicago. We are interested in bringing back Hasek Ed Belfour is coming for a physical tomorrow. Paris Hilton has a #1 hit song.
Yup, this must be the apocalypse.

On the other hand, Paul Kukla says that Mike Babcock went on Fan 590 earlier today and heard rumors that Belfour is heading to Florida. I hope Babcock is right.

The Wings are expecting a decision from Shanny within 2-3 days. Hadley on Sports reports that Brendan Shanahan is asking $5.5 million.

To date, I've learned that three teams have offered Shanahan a deal around $4 million for the upcoming campaign. Hence, it is doubtful that Shanahan will garner his asking price... even at $4 million this season there is reason to be cautious.
Shanahan is a Hall of Fame Player and one of the dozen best power forwards to ever lace the skates however considering the current state of this organization... considering a penny over $4 million would be a huge mistake.
Ottawa has offered a three-year deal... the longest term, while Boston was the first team to hit around the $4 million mark. Seeing Shanahan wear the 'Note again would be sweet however irresponsible at $5.5 million.

Each day, I see our list of potential UFA signings grow smaller and smaller. I know I should trust Holland, but we have done absolutely nothing except for re-sign 3 players. And watch one of the best of all time retire. Are there any other teams that haven't signed any new/fresh players?

Tribute to Steve Yzerman

2006-07-04T13:19:00.000-04:00

This post will be updated over the next few days with comments from various members of the media, fans, and bloggers. Once I return home tomorrow afternoon, I plan on uploading a post full of my favorite Yzerman photos, videos, and audio. Happy 4th of July to all my fellow Americans!

This is going to be a pretty long post so if you just want to see my other posts on No. 19, please check out one of the posts linked below.

Steve Yzerman: Heart of a Champion Steve Yzerman Quote Sheet Steve Yzerman retires Behind the Jersey: No. 19

You know you're a special hockey player when all of these players/coaches take their time out of the holiday weekend to stop in Detroit for your retirement announcement.

Scotty Bowman, the Wings' former head coach, came in from Chicago, where he was visiting relatives.
"Sorry, I was about 10 minutes late getting here," he told Yzerman afterward, as the two posed for photos. "But I was listening on the radio on my way in."
Mike Babcock, the current coach, flew in from his offseason home in Saskatchewan. Teammate Kris Draper left his family in Toronto and hopped on a plane to be here. Ted Lindsay was there with his wife. Igor Larionov strolled in, just ahead of a group of more than a dozen of the Wings' prospects, most of whom weren't even born when Yzerman played his first NHL game.

Bloggers Paul Kukla @ Kukla's Korner: With Yzerman in the lineup, Wings fans knew we always had a chance to win a game. Now that security blanket has left us. July 3, 2006, the day Detroit Red Wings fans shed a tear or two. We knew the day was coming and tried to convince ourselves to be prepared. But it hit us like a ton of bricks, took away our breath and left us stunned and dazed. #19 will never be seen on the ice again. I joked with a fellow blogger a week or so ago the #19 is not worn by anyone in Detroit sports, both amateur and pro, but today I am not kidding. No more #19 for anyone in Detroit, we cannot look at someone else wearing it again. Besides, who could live up to it?

IwoCPO @ Abel to Yzerman: The Captain has been through the most pressure-filled situations, dealt with pain I could certainly never imagine, swallowed emotion when necessary and made incredibly tough decisions because it was his job to do so. And yet, you got the idea yesterday that what he was doing up there on that dais was much tougher than anything he’s experienced with 19 on his back.

For now, it’s simply this: farewell to The Captain. We’ll leave the future for tomorrow. His successor can be discussed elsewhere for now. Ken Holland’s summer nap can wait one more day.

For now...I’ll say this. Steve Yzerman would have made a damned good Chief.

Matt @ On the Wings: Click on the link to read about his favorite Yzerman memories.

Brian @ On the Wings: Click on the link to read about his favorite Yzerman moments.

Joe @ Legends of Hockey: Steve Yzerman is no longer the high scoring one-man show of the Detroit Red Wings. Instead he is one of the game's most complete players ever. He is one the greatest leaders the ice has ever known. And most importantly, he is the captain of the 3 Stanley Cup Championships. One of the NHL's true all time greats, Steve Yzerman is what hockey is all about.

David Singer @ The Ice Block: Even at a presser for him, about him, he still used the word “we” over and over, as he considered his retirement from the team’s perspective. Whether it be in the front office or somewhere behind the bench, Stevie Y isn’t going anywhere, and fans in Detroit should be grateful for that. Gordie Howe may be Mr. Hockey, but Yzerman has truly become Mr. Red Wing.

James Mirtle: Yzerman's one of the few players who's been an NHL star nearly my entire life, and certainly ever since I've been following the game closely. He's an icon in the game, and a great representative of what hockey is — or at least what it should be. Looking at the ridiculous player movement the past few seasons, you wonder if another Yzerman will ever grace this league.

Is it even possible for this league to have a player named captain at 21 and play his entire 1,514-game career with the team that drafted him? For that alone, it's the end of an era.

Kevin @ Buffalo's Original Sports Blog: He has always been one of my favorite players, and the NHL is a poorer place with him not in it. True to his usual classiness, he had this to say: “I don’t want this to turn into a soap opera or an ordeal.” See you again the first day you’re eligible for the Hall. And you stay classy, Stevie Y.

Acid Queen @ Sweet Tea, Barbecue, and Bodychecks: Out of a team that I’ve held a deep-seated loathing for since age 10, he was the only one that I could never ever say anything bad about–because there just wasn’t anything bad that could be said about him. Even through the pain and heartache and anger of 2002, I still couldn’t say anything bad about the guy–because when you play the way he did on only one good leg, that’s valour right there (and you have to respect that).

That’s about the right word for it–valour. I can’t think of this man without that word coming to mind, not after 2002. It’s right up there alongside other words used in connection with him: class, dignity, and respect.

Fans

UMFan: I’ve never seen a player in any sport, with the exception of maybe Jordan, display such a drive and a determination to win than Yzerman. He did everything the right way, on and off the ice. I’m just glad I got to watch him play. The sports world, not just hockey, is losing a great icon.

Barry Steiner, Chicago: "I'm a big Hawks' fan, but I had a lot of respect for him. You have to be impressed with what they've done during his career. He's a classy player and it's a big loss for the league. He's a tremendous competitor and you have to believe he just felt he couldn't compete at the level he was accustomed to playing. It's good he can go out on his own terms."

Connie: "I have been watching you play hockey since you were with the Peterborough Petes. I was 20, you were 16. I rarely missed a Red Wings game and watched you grow with the team as a player and as a man. I cried when you were hit in the eye with the puck, I cried when you had knee surgery, I cried when you won the Stanley cups, and I cried today. You are a class act, Steve Yzerman, and you are synonymous with Hockeytown. I have wanted to meet you since the day you first skated onto the ice but never got a chance. I knew back then you were going to be something special. Thank you for 23 glorious years in Detroit. Maybe there's a chance that somehow, someday, I will still be able to meet the greatest hockey player that ever played the game. I have deep admiration and respect for you and I hope you continue to play a part in the Red Wings' successes. Thank you for being my hero for many years, as you will continue to be. God Bless you on your post-career journey. Hockeytown Loves You!"

CrazyCoach: Stevie Y was a class act. It's always hard to see players retire, but Stevie Y saw the writing on the wall, and realized it was time to go. I still can't believe he was productive after that awful knee surgery he underwent a couple seasons ago. Good job Stevie! The NHL is a different world than it was yesterday and for the past 22 seasons.

Media

Phil Coffey @ NHL.com:

But Yzerman will not be remembered for his statistics. He was far more than a point producer, he became the soul and conscience of not only the Red Wings, but to a large degree, hockey in general. Yzerman was a prime-time player in international competition, a staple on Team Canada's various rosters for Olympic and Canada Cup competitions.
Through it all -- the incredible highs and the unspeakable lows -- Yzerman played the game with a grace and humility that captured the hearts of the region's passionate puckheads. He could always be counted on for the big goal, the perfect pass, the faceoff win, the defensive wizardry that saw Detroit through a tight time.

Scott Burnside @ ESPN:

In a blue-collar, union town, Yzerman really was the lunch pail superstar. "I've been a hockey player since the age of five," he said. "I played hockey all winter and thought about hockey all summer."
He didn't particularly like dealing with the media. It was his job. And as captain, he did it, but often grudgingly and sometimes not at all. But you know what? That's small potatoes to what he did, what he meant in the dressing room, playing through pain at crucial points of the season, delivering key goals or defensive plays when it mattered most.
GMs across the NHL use Yzerman as an example when they talk to their young players about the price that has to be paid, not to be a star, but to be a winner.
Now, with the Wings at a crossroads in terms of their future, Yzerman has once again made the selfless choice. Like taking less money to play last season, Yzerman reinforced Monday that it will always be more about the team than the individual. Because, just as it was when he arrived, this is a Wings team in a state of flux.

aNHL Players / Management

Wayne Gretzky: "Steve Yzerman was a tremendous hockey player who epitomized everything good about our game. He loved the game and played with passion every night."

Mario Lemieux: Steve was a great ambassador for the game of hockey and will be sorely missed by everyone associated with the National Hockey League. Steve was a great leader, a great teammate, and most importantly a great person."

Gary Bettman: "With his leadership and determination, with his devotion to the team concept, with his refusal to accept anything less than the best, Steve Yzerman became the symbol of the Detroit Red Wings’ standard of excellence in the modern era."

Kirk Maltby: ""When I first got here, I was in awe of him, and my buddies back in Toronto couldn't believe I was his teammate. But I quickly found out that he's just an easy-going, approachable guy, whether you're a young kid trying to make it or a veteran star."

Doug Weight: "It was Gordie Howe and then Wayne Gretzky, but at an age of about 12 or 13 Steve Yzerman came into the League, and me being from Detroit, I just took a huge liking to his game and we were both centermen. And I just followed his career real closely after that."

Mike Babcock: "When you don't see him every day, you don't notice him as much. But now that I've seen him up close on a daily basis, I think he's phenomenal, and he's in the conversation with anybody that has played this game."

David Collon (Wings team doctor): "I think he's doing the right thing. I think he's put a lot of thought into it. He had a great end of the season and way to finish his career. He's got more than just his knee, too. It's just unbelievable that he's got the heart that he's got. His heart sure didn't give up."

Ken Kal (play-by-play announcer): "I remember during the playoffs in Calgary. It was the game before he got hit in the eye with the puck. It was an off day, and Steve was having breakfast at a small restaurant. He kind of gestured over and said, 'Here, sit down and have breakfast with me.' We talked for a good 45 minutes to an hour, just about life, hockey, everything. It was such a great experience to get to know the man behind No. 19 in a way that I really never had a chance to talk to him. To me, that was special in my broadcasting career."

Al Sobotka (Wings Zamboni driver): He always considered me as being part of the team. Always invited me for photos and things like that. He made that clear years ago. Makes me feel good, because I don't know if that goes on all over the league."

Mike Ilitch: An excerpt from John Niyo's article.

Ilitch, for his part, said he'd spent the weekend fretting like a kid preparing for a final exam.
"I thought, 'Oh, my. What am I going to say about him?' " said Ilitch, who tried to put it down on paper, then scrapped that idea because, as he explained Monday, "It's hard to find all the words."
"It's very emotional, especially if you do a lot of thinking about what's taken place over the 23 years," said Ilitch, who bought the Red Wings franchise in 1982, then made Yzerman his first draft pick. "You've got so much to reminisce about. Stevie talked for, what, a half hour? We could talk for a week about 23 years. It's pretty much a lifetime -- a lifetime of hockey -- is the way I look at it."

So who will be the new captain?

2006-07-04T09:38:00.000-04:00

If you want to read any posts made specifically about Steve Yzerman, please check out one of the four below. I am still compiling reactions from the media, fans, and bloggers so expect that post later this evening.

Steve Yzerman: Heart of a Champion Steve Yzerman Quote Sheet Steve Yzerman retires Behind the Jersey: No. 19

So who will be the new captain?

Most people can agree that the following are the top candidates to wear the "C" on their jersey for the Wings.

Nicklas Lidstrom Brendan Shanahan Kris Draper Chris Chelios Henrik Zetterberg

Personally, I think it'll be either Lids or Drapes. Draper is the vocal leader of the team at least off the ice. He's always the media go-to guy in whatever the circumstances. When I went to a practice and then a mock press conference down at JLA, they had two younger players available (Williams and Mowers) and then Draper. Lidstrom is our best player. He's been with the Wings all 14 seasons that he has been in the NHL.

GM Ken Holland has spoken publicly that Lidstrom is the leading candidate for the captaincy.

Lidstrom, an assistant captain with Shanahan, said last season he'd be honored to be elevated to captain, but was quick to add the many other choices in the locker room. Still, Draper, who was at Yzerman's news conference Monday, said Lidstrom would be a good choice.
"Nick is a guy who leads by example," Draper said. "He just won his fourth Norris Trophy. He's one of the best players in the game. He's a leader."
"Zetterberg will be a captain on this team one day," Holland said. "Is it now? Is the time right? (But) if Brendan comes back, he's been around a long time and he's been a leader for us. Draper is a leading candidate. We have a lot of options.
"I want to see what Steve thinks, the staff thinks, talk to Mike and I have my own thoughts, and we'll come to a conclusion. We certainly have candidates."

MLive.com also has an article about the candidates for the open position.

"We're fortunate having Steve here so long, he's been a great role model as a leader and a lot of the foot soldiers who've followed him are ready to step up and take over,'' Holland said. "They watched one of the greatest leaders and captains in the history of our sport.''
"Whoever is (the next captain) sure is in tough,'' Draper said. "But we have some great leaders in there. Stevie helped by showing what it takes to be a leader, what it takes to be prepared and be a professional.''
"I think Nick Lidstrom has got to be the leading candidate, but you can go to Kris Draper, Brendan Shanahan, even Chris Chelios on a short-term basis,'' former Wings defenseman Larry Murphy said. "But the dark horse is Henrik Zetterberg. They had great success in naming a young captain in the past (with Yzerman), why not do it again? But the odds-on favorite would have to be Nick."