Wednesday, August 3, 2005

Final skate for Wings' captain?

Yzerman says he has to be 'realistic' that it might be his last year, but he wanted to return.

By Bob Wojnowski / The Detroit News

Robin Buckson / The Detroit News Steve Yzerman, the first of the Wings' free agents to sign, says money was not a consideration. Yzerman re-signs with Wings What effect does Yzerman’s decision have on the team? Get results and comments Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

There were some questionable moments, like when the labor negotiations were stalling and the legs were aching and the next NHL season seemed a long, long time away.

But as Steve Yzerman mulled his future, he realized he wanted to keep playing for essentially the same reasons he always has wanted to play.

The challenge. The fun. The chance to win.

Yzerman will be back for his 22nd -- and likely final -- season with the Wings, a welcome return for a familiar face, at a time when the Wings and the NHL could use a few. We're not sure how Yzerman's last season will end, but we're positive it will be better than how it could have ended, crumpled on the ice 15 months ago after he was struck in the face by a puck during a playoff loss to Calgary.

That's not why he's returning, he swears. It's not for the money, either (pending various bonuses, he will earn about $1.75 million).

"I spent a lot of time thinking about it, going back and forth, and in the end, I just felt if I didn't come back, I'd be wondering if I could've played," Yzerman said Tuesday from his Canada vacation home. "I wanted to give it my best shot. I'm not afraid of the challenge, and this year, there's a lot to try and accomplish. I wanted to see if we could correct some areas and have better feelings than we had two years ago."

He has earned that right. And in the brave new NHL, the Wings can use all the savvy and leadership Yzerman, 40, brings. No, he doesn't play with speed and flair anymore, but he did score 18 goals during the last season after recovering from knee surgery.

He will begin his 19th season as captain -- the longest streak in NHL history -- and before he retires, he could serve as a significant link from the flashy, three-time champion Wings to the trimmed-down Wings in the salary-cap era.

There will be familiar faces, such as Brendan Shanahan, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby. But plenty has changed.

There's a new coach, Mike Babcock, who replaced Dave Lewis. Darren McCarty, Derian Hatcher and Ray Whitney were bought out.. McCarty was a fan favorite who couldn't avoid the new economic reality and reportedly is headed to Calgary.

Yzerman watched it unfold from afar and occasionally wondered if it was time for him to move on, too. But after meeting with general manager Ken Holland and senior vice president Jimmy Devellano, and realizing the Wings would remain competitive, he decided to give it one more shot.

He said he rented ice time Tuesday and skated for the first time since March. He'll be back on the ice Aug. 14, part of the Canadian Olympic team's training camp.

"I went through periods when I thought, this is tough, I'm too old to do this stuff, maybe it is time to retire," Yzerman said. "But then there were periods when I felt good and energetic. What it came down to was, Kenny and Jimmy D. expressed they really wanted me to be part of the team. If I felt they were jammed on the cap, I'd have moved on. Now I'm excited about playing again."

So this is it, the final run?

"I'm hesitant to say it's my last year," Yzerman said, chuckling, "but I have to be realistic."

Barring a miraculous rejuvenation, it is his last season, after which he'll sit down and discuss a management position with the Wings. But before that, thankfully, there's a chance for Yzerman and the Wings to wipe away ugly memories that stewed during the yearlong lockout.

The second-round exit against Calgary ultimately cost Lewis his job. Combined with the NHL's new rules and expected parity, the Wings will look different, and probably play differently, but expectations still will be high.

That's how it always is, and that's what Yzerman craves.

"Our team is going to be good," he said. "You add a couple of young guys like (Niklas) Kronwall and a few free agents and I expect us to be a strong team. I don't know about favorites, because I think Tampa Bay and Philadelphia are real strong. But I expect the Red Wings to be Stanley Cup contenders."

Yzerman said he has spoken with Babcock, and his role will be hammered out over time. He figures he'll play more on the wing, possibly again on a line with Draper and Maltby.

There are clauses in his contract that would reduce the cap impact if he misses games, but he isn't expecting to miss much.

"My approach is, I'm not just trying to survive, I want to be a good player, but I'm prepared to accept any role," Yzerman said. "I don't expect any handouts. Sure, the fans may want to see familiar faces, but then they're gonna want to see performance, and if the familiar faces aren't performing, they won't be happy."

The most familiar face is giving it one last, best shot. At a time when hockey needs to lean on its finest, it's an ending worth watching.

You can reach Bob Wojnowski at bob.wojnowski@detnews.com.