Steve Yzerman Quotations

Balanced is probably what I am, although that's just a polite way to say that you don't do anything very well.

And for the team, I always tried to do the right thing.

Very few cities in the NHL have the history or the following of the Detroit Red Wings.

I also feel I adapted. I was willing to try to fit into any role. The way I figured, it was always up to me to prove my worth, that I deserved to be here.

Whether somebody is really competent - whether he has a good hockey mind, whether he's a good person to lead a hockey club - is something determined over a long period of time, not one tournament.

Playoff hockey is the best way to market your team. It's the best way to grow your fan base and give hope to your players and for them to develop.

The 70's hair with the long on the sides, just doesn't look good coming down the sides of the helmet.

There used to be an old thing where every team had a heavy bag in their locker room for people to punch, but again, it was more about conditioning because if you hit a heavy bag for a minute, it feels like your arms are about to fall off.

I hope people like me and appreciate me the way I am.

Since the season ended, I've let things settle down, and I have to talk to the coaching staff and management. I really don't want to turn this into a big drama. So I plan on making a definite decision relatively quickly.

I wore No. 19 because of Bryan Trottier. I liked the overall aspect of his game. I liked the way he conducted himself on the ice. He was a quiet guy. He played really hard; just a good all-around, prototypical center man who could do everything.

I've been hit hard a few times, been hit really hard a few times, but I don't think I've ever left a memorable, lasting impression on anyone I've ever hit.

When you're on the ice, you have very little time, you see very little, and everything happens really quick.

When it gets to this point, it's just hard to pull the trigger.

We have to get better at that. All of the Stanley Cup winning teams throughout the past few seasons, when they needed to play defense, they did it. If you can play defense, that's when you know it's game over.

It's been a great honor for me to be a player for the Detroit Red Wings, to play for an Original Six franchise. I know I'm far from perfect, but I learned a lot.

We used to play a lot outdoors, not in leagues, but just in our spare time.

I knew if I wanted to be a general manager, I was going to have to leave to work for another organization.

It's true that in Canada, we pride ourselves on the game, and we like to think we're the dominant hockey nation in the world.

I don't know if I've ever had a memorable body check. It's not really part of my game.

I'm very confident my health isn't going to allow me to be a good player, especially in the spring.

We have two tables on our airplane that are set up with the games.

I don't know that I'd agree I was our best player.

I look forward to a lot more free time, at least initially, with my wife, Lisa, and our three children.

As a kid in British Columbia, going back a long way, I learned to skate.

I'm never gonna play again, and I know I'm really, really going to miss it.

It's almost like you see too much, because when it happens for real, everything flies at you so fast, you never get a sense of the ice and where everyone is at that one moment.

Darren McCarty is a big video game guy, and he brings his systems with him on the road.

We penalize and suspend players for making contact with the head while checking, in an effort to reduce head injuries, yet we still allow fighting. We're stuck in the middle and need to decide what kind of sport do we want to be. Either anything goes and we accept the consequences, or take the next step and eliminate fighting.

I would have loved the opportunity to play against Ottawa this year. We missed the entire division. Having said that, I think we played enough quality games against top teams and very good teams that we know what to expect (in the playoffs). We played well on the road. We played well at home. We went into good teams? buildings and won.

Now the puck goes from the goal line to the far blue line just like that.

Obviously there was concern. You fear for the guy's life.

If anything, it shows how good he was because he played probably four or five years less than I did. So, that's quite an achievement by him than anything I've done.

I don't know much about the techniques of fighting, but I know throwing a punch on skates is a lot different than throwing a punch from the ground.

I don't know. Not ready to play today. Skate Saturday and determine whether Sunday's a go.

I felt better than expected, but watching Henrik skate around out there, I'm pretty envious; I'd like to be able to move like that, ... He clearly was the best player on the ice.

Having the best players in the world playing in the Olympics is good for hockey. Regardless of who wins, you're talking about growing the sport. It's the biggest worldwide event as far as hockey goes. It's important we continue it.

He's a bright guy. Known him for a long time, so I'm not surprised at all. I think it's great for former players to be as involved as they can in the PA, especially a guy with a legal background.

He's a great young player and he played a big role for us. ... But we'll do what we can. We still should have a pretty strong lineup.

He's a good open ice hitter. Not the kind of guy who will deliver the big hit on the glass. He will get a reputation for that.

He created a turnover. I think they were just heading up ice, so we caught them going the right way. Danny made a real nice pass over the stick right onto mine. The goalie went for the poke-check. Fortunately, I had my head up.

His work ethic is really a good example for the younger guys. Just the experience of being through three Olympic Games will really help settle things down.

He's asking a lot of questions, picking everybody's brain, trying to get a feel for everyone, ... He's very serious, very attentive to the details of each drill we did, stressing a high tempo and skating, and I assume that's something that's going to be stressed throughout training camp and the season.

He doesn't have to stand on his head, but everybody has certain expectations and responsibilities, and the starting goalie has to play well. If it's going to be Manny (starting the playoffs), he has to elevate his play over the next 20 games.

Some of the best young players in the game are Canadian, ... I don't care how many years you have played and how much success you have had. This is the only year that matters. ... To me, I have to earn the place.

Regardless of how the game is played, there will be low-scoring games, and good teams have to win 1-0 or 2-1 (in the playoffs).

Just knowing that I'm walking in there, not because of what I've done in the past but because they want me to be a part of it. Hearing that, I'm happy to be back.

Our team's goal is always to win the Stanley Cup.

Our team's goal is always to win the Stanley Cup. I don't want to get too carried away with this regular-season success because we've had playoff disappointments the last few years, and I don't forget those. I do think it's overlooked how good a job this organization does finding players, drafting players. That's been the illusion, that we just go out and buy a team.

I think I'll make a decision after the playoffs. Let's see how they go and go from there.

I think we just had a lot more energy.

I think it'll be a big loss for the NHL. Such a great player and conducted himself professionally. An exciting player to watch. Just so many highlights of things he could do on the ice.

I think it's a fair way to replay the game. I know they debated which was the best thing to do. They felt, you know, if we're going to make the fans come back, give them a whole game.

(The Predators) are obviously our primary competition for the division and it was a chance to really open up a bigger gap and make it more difficult for them to catch us. We're more comfortable.

You know, I'm comfortable with it and in some ways I look forward to it, ... As much as I'd like to compete, it's difficult. It gets old. You're battling; guys are big and strong and fast. You're fighting time. So in some ways, when it's over, I'll have a sense of relief. It's a lot of work and I enjoy doing it, but again I look forward to when it's over as well.

We have a little more depth than people realized that we have. When I'm ready to play, I'll know whether that's the next game or the following game.

That was kind of the goal and that comes pretty quickly. Things go pretty quick and you're there. Before you know it, you're 35 and you want to continue playing.

Whether it's been Ozzie or Manny in the net, we don't really have any concern. Doesn't change the way we play.

We obviously played much better. It was a disappointing third period (Saturday) to say the least. We rebounded pretty well.

We're worse off without Pavel, ... We still should have a pretty strong lineup, but there's no question we don't have the depth we had a year and a half ago.

We've always developed it with the close proximity and the Ohio-Michigan thing. There's a lot of enthusiasm at games, and that will just add to it, I'm sure.

Concentrate on more specific things -- on playing well defensively, on keeping our goals-against down, on our penalty kill and power play. Concentrate on those and make sure we're sharp. The wins will take care of themselves and we'll be ready for the playoffs.

Every country's players play a similar style, every country is a little bit unique in how they play. I think those guys are really comfortable together on the ice. Whether it's just communication or just knowing the player a little bit better, I'm not sure, but it worked well with the Russians.

Everybody keeps saying it's great. It's not great. It's not hockey.

We've played a lot of games against each other, and a playoff series, and lot of guys on their team, and on ours, have played in the other building. Home ice doesn't mean a thing. Everybody feels comfortable, and all the games have been good.

It was the right thing to do. I would've loved to play in the Olympics again, but I believe it's time for me to step aside. It's time to let other guys play.

We've had a good season and given ourselves a lot of hope for the playoffs.

A week like this is good, and I hope it propels us to be a stronger team and play better in the future.

You're so wrapped up in the game, and then they score with a minute to go, I don't really have a whole lot of thoughts other than, it just came to a quick end. As far as my personal situation, it's best to wait a few days, then I can pretty much make a quick decision.

A little bit surprised I guess, I don't really expect that. But I think when it all comes out - I don't know the whole story yet - but when it all comes out it won't be as exciting I think as a lot of people are hoping it's going to be.

They've got a lot of good players, a good defense, and I think Mason has played very well for them when he's been in the net. It's tough to lose a goalie that's been so good for you, but they still have a strong team.

Personally, I'd prefer to continue playing the overtime after tie games.

This injury is dictating the end of my career, whether that's this year, next year or whatever, ... I was able to rehab it and I want to find out if I can still play. Then when I retire I won't have to look back and think I could have had another year or two. I like playing the game, so if it means working hard and getting back in shape to play one more year, I think it's worth it. I know it's worth it.

I'm not a big fan of the shootout, but it's in the rules now and you have to make the best of it,

I follow what's going on in the game, who's going where and what former players are doing, ... Whether you're in scouting or management or coaching, you have an impact and it matters how your team does. You make sure you do your job well because you have a potential to make a difference. Just being a part of an organization -- whether it be the Olympic program, or just your own club -- maybe you're not on the ice, but it still matters to you.

I had 15 months there to debate it and back forth. At times, I was certain I was going to play and there were other times I was certain I wasn't going to play, ... Until the lockout ended and I had a chance to sit down with Kenny Holland to kind of discuss, 'Does it make sense for me to come back, economically, for the organization, personnel wise? What do you want to do with this team?'

I'm getting one more opportunity to play for the Stanley Cup so I'm pretty thrilled about that.

I'm going to skate again Saturday. I'm not ready to play today. We'll skate Saturday and determine whether Sunday is a go.

The best thing for everybody is that we go home and analyze as an organization what happened, where we went wrong and what needs to be done for the future. I'd like to leave my personal situation for a few days, and next week I can probably make a decision on what I'm going to do.

I just have to make a decision, then live with it for a few days. And if I'm comfortable with it, stick with it. If not, I can change my mind.

I honestly don't think I've been in a fight in over ten years. And any of the fights that I did participate in, weren't of any note.

I really enjoyed it, ... I played a couple of preseason games, but the atmosphere tonight was totally different. The pace is much quicker and more intense, but it was easier to get into it.

I really enjoyed it. I played a couple of preseason games, but the atmosphere tonight was totally different. The pace is much quicker and more intense, but it was easier to get into it.

Before training camp, I had a couple of conversations on the phone and he threw some questions at me, ... In practices here, the way he wants things done is different. Like we were working the power play and penalty killing, and he has some different ideas on where he wants you to go and why he wants you to do it. So for me, I'm just trying to pay attention. ... I'm just trying not to make mistakes.

But I think the job he's done is overlooked, just because of the talent we have.

I played with them a fair bit two years ago; I enjoy playing with them,

I played with the guy his entire career, ... and it's sad to see him move on.

I don't really have a specific goal other than for whatever role I have, to be productive in it. I'm not looking for any days off, or games off, or to be rested. I want to be productive.

I didn't have quite as much jump as the game went on, but in general I felt pretty good. And when I show that I'm able to handle more and I'm effective, I'll play more. We really have some pretty good depth, so there isn't really a need to have somebody play a ton. And my situation allows me to play more if need be.

He's a really good guy. He's a popular guy. I think it's a matter of teams wanting him.

They want me to come back and play and do what I can do, just come and play and try,

It's worked out well. We've been together for a while and played effectively.

After Game 5 was over, everybody was upset and kind of thinking about the game and what went wrong, trying to figure it all out. Then gradually you start realizing, oh, we've got to get ready for the next game. So your attitude changes, your mood changes. We got in here Saturday night, and by the time everybody went to bed, I think everybody had gotten their frustration out.

the hardest really I've skated since the first of the week.

For me at this stage, now, I've got to play really well to keep up and make sure I'm playing well enough to deserve to be on that line.

It's obvious that finishing first doesn't guarantee anything. I don't think where you finished in the standings is tremendously important in the playoffs.

It's too bad that decision had to be made ... I always thought he would retire a Red Wing. I think we will be seeing more of this kind of movement now with the salary-cap system.

I tried to get through the first part of camp, that was my concern, and got through it and I was feeling pretty good,

You can't much stock in one or two games. But if we're able to win these games, it will open the gap a little bit more.

We were playing collectively, I don't want to say our best, but very well in all areas of the game.