With the possibility of the lockout extending into January 2006, Steve Yzerman, 39, might have played his final game.Yzerman loses all optimism
Despite the recent discussions, Wings captain doesn't think season can be saved.
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DETROIT -- Steve Yzerman was among the last of the optimists, clinging to hope an agreement could be reached and the NHL season saved. No longer.
With no talks scheduled, Yzerman acknowledged Saturday what has become painfully apparent - the season is lost.
"I don't see it happening," the Red Wings' captain said. "The philosophies haven't changed and there's no compromise in sight. I'd hoped at the last moment the owners would move off the salary cap, but they're not going to. I don't see a deal being done in the next week, and that's pretty much all the time that's left."
Meetings Wednesday and Thursday spurred brief optimism but it was quickly extinguished. Now, with some European leagues needing commitments this week, players will start moving on.
"A lot of guys have waited around, but there will never be an official cancellation, so at some point, guys just have to decide to go," Yzerman said. "I won't say it's an absolute we won't see hockey until next January, but it certainly is a possibility."
If that happens, we probably won't see Yzerman, 39, play again. He said he'll continue to work out with the hope of playing, a hope that just got dimmer.
"I've pretty much got my mind made up about what I'm going to do, but there's no need to say for sure yet," he said. "If next season started on time and the Red Wings called about playing, it's something I'd definitely consider. But starting in January might be different."
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