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Abel to Yzerman

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Hey 19…Big Night In Hockeytown

by IwoCPO on 01/02/07 at 10:05 AM ET
Comments (6)

With Steve Yzerman it was never a matter of if, but when.

Not if he’d win a Cup, but when would it finally happen...and how many.

Not if he’d come back from whatever injury was ailing him, but when.

Obviously not if he’d retire, but under what conditions and when.  After an eye injury in Calgary, after a lockout, after another devastating early-round loss, after introspection, or just after he’d decided the body couldn’t go another year.

And most certainly not if 19 would head to the JLA rafters, but when.  Has there ever been a more natural ceremony in Detroit than the one that will occur this evening?  When did the certainty first start to seep in, that Yzerman would be the legend he became? 

Was it the OT goal, the hyperbaric chamber, the grimaces in ‘02, the gap-toothed celebration in ‘97, the handoff to Vladdie in ‘98?

My favorite moment?  Yzerman huffing up the right wing last year in a road loss against Carolina

Five minutes left in the first and the Wings were getting blown out.  Listless, three goals down and essentially done. Yzerman picks up the puck on the right side in his own zone and rides his captaincy downhill.  The ice tilting, picking up speed, eluding various Canes then making a sharp left at the faceoff dot, willing himself across the crease, flicking the puck past Gerber, airborne, back on his skates, a fist pump then a glare at the bench. His bench.

It’s easy to point to playoff wins, celebrations to the tune of badly outdated music, dramatic moments, recounts of a speech that we’ll probably never know the true meaning of, wars with Denver, wars with St. Louis and even Phoenix, losses to San Jose, New Jersey, Calgary.  Broken feet and wrecked knees.

But, to me, the true Yzerman greatness is best reflected in a burst up the wing, in an 0-3 game, in the middle of January, followed by a glare to his teammates that said, “you don’t lie down for anyone with that jersey on.”

The greatest Captain ever.  Any sport.  Any era.

Back to regular posting tomorrow morning.

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Comments

As long as we are recounting Great Moments In Yzerman History (non-playoff edition), I will always remember the last second goal in the first game of the 03-04 season when Stevie wrists a long-shot past Checkmanek for the game winner.  It was a wonderful start to what appeared to be a special season.

Posted by Tuba Guy from Royal Oak, MI on 01/02/07 at 12:36 PM ET

Damn, Bill....ya brought a tear to my eye. I figured that wouldn’t happen until 6:30 tonight.

Well spoken!

Dougie

Posted by doug rogers on 01/02/07 at 12:41 PM ET

I think you crystalized it well.  The Captain became the embodiment of the symbol, and the symbol came to represent his tenacity and skill.  While I think we will continue to derive joy from our team, I do not think we will see another individual exhibit with such regularity a courage akin to that witnessed on battlefields, or perhaps contrived in comic books...now that I think of it, Steve Yzerman has a lot in common with those heros of our childhood...a flash of color, a gasp of amazment, and an exultation for the triumphant...routinely doing things the rest of us cannot. He truly belongs in our parochial pantheon of inspiration and hope. In fact, regardless of the team for which you cheer, you should find a place for Steve Yzerman in your personal constellation of hockey heros.

Posted by Jamie on 01/02/07 at 04:03 PM ET

Yzerman was classy and humble as always tonight - what can you say after that?  Makes me realize just how much he and Shannahan are missed this year.

Not to hijack this thread (hijack in progress), but John Keating of FSN has officially worn out his welcome with me.  Oh, I was never impressed, but in the Castro-addled world in which I live, he was not an impediment to enjoying a good hockey game.  However, his treatment of Mr. Hockey after tonight’s festivities really got under my skin.  I’m sure he had a producer yapping in his ear about needing to switch to Ken & Mickey before they squeeze in some revenue, but sumbitch, when Mr. Hockey is talking let ‘im talk for (Peterborough) Pete’s sake!!!  Keating was condescending and patronizing in his disrespectful treatment of Mr. Hockey.
John, you ignorant slut.

On the flip-side, I thought CBC’s coverage was real solid, particularly coach’s corner and the 2nd intermission Yzerman interview.

Bob Cole, while still calling a great game, needs spotters to help him identify players and their respective teams.  I feel bad for him, he is the gold standard, but…

Ok, hijack over.  Had to get that stuff off my chest.

How many times did Stevie use the term organ-I-zation?  I hope for a full count tomorrow…

Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula on 01/03/07 at 12:06 AM ET

Thanks IWO.... You hit the nail on the head

All I have to say is…

If Gordie is Mr. Hockey....

THANK YOU STEVIE Y, MR. HOCKEYTOWN....

Posted by WingsFan33 on 01/03/07 at 12:16 AM ET

Gretsky will always be the Great One…

Lemieux will always be the Mario the Magnificent…

Howe will always be Mr. Hockey…

and Yzerman will always be THE Captain.

And that’s the way it should be.

I think that overly effusive names like “Great” and “Magnificent” would be an embarrassment to Yzerman. But “The Captain” says it all.

Yzerman was always and always will be my favorite. His bearing, his ability, and his perserverance triumph over showiness any day in my opinion.

Posted by Jenn on 01/03/07 at 09:36 AM ET

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