Yzerman returns, says Wings will be among league's best
August 3, 2005

BY HELENE ST. JAMES
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland locked up captain Steve Yzerman for another year, tendered an offer to defenseman Chris Chelios, is working on re-upping with the team's restricted free agents and trying to figure out what goaltender he can live with.

The big news Tuesday, though, was the long-awaited announcement that Yzerman would be back for a 22nd season with the franchise. He was offered a deal worth between $1.5 million and $2 million last Wednesday and, after two days of telephone tag, he and Holland finally connected.

Though his team at the moment is in shambles -- only 12 players are under contract -- Yzerman expressed confidence that he'll be playing with a Stanley Cup contender.

"With all teams, I think between now and next month, teams will be dramatically different," Yzerman said. "But I expect ours to be extremely competitive, one of the best teams in the league."

Yzerman is known as one of hockey's great competitors, and it's little surprise that he's back. He hasn't played since May 1, 2004, when he left the ice bloodied after being struck in the face in Game 5 of the second-round playoff series against Calgary.

Yzerman said his health is fine, though he admitted he will always be bothered by old injuries to his right knee and neck. On the other hand, the year off has allowed many of Yzerman's bruises to heal, and he is five pounds lighter -- a result that stems from being home all last year.

"During the season, you're always eating pre-game and post-game meals," he said. "My diet is much better."

Yzerman would not say whether this would be his last season. The Wings are content to have him back for at least one more.

"I'm very happy he's back," Holland said. "I feel two years ago he played a big part in us winning the President's Trophy, a guy who played 17 minutes a night, in all key situations."

So far, Yzerman is the Wings' sole acquisition since free agency began Monday. But if it seems like the Wings have tiptoed around while other teams have tromped, it's for a good reason. The Wings are happy with their core and are looking at the free agents available as a resource to fill lesser roles, with two exceptions.

"We have to sign another goalie," Holland said. "No doubt I'd like to sign a top-four defenseman, if possible. Not a guy that commands a lot of money, but one that can come in and play 20 minutes. With Nick Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, and Jiri Fischer, we feel we've got three guys who can play in the top four.

"I made an offer to Chris Chelios, but if Chris comes back, I see his role in the third pair. We don't want to wear him down."

Chelios, 43, did not return a phone call seeking comment, but he has been vocal about how much he'd like to stay with Detroit.

Holland also has spoken this week with the agent for Henrik Zetterberg, who is seeking a considerable raise from the $675,000 he made in 2003-2004. Zetterberg won the Swedish scoring title last season playing for Timra IK, but his agent, Marc Levine, said it was unlikely Zetterberg would stay in his native Sweden.

"At this point, his emphasis is to get back playing in the NHL," Levine said. "He is an up-and-coming star. We're continuing to talk with Detroit."

The Wings have about $12 million in cap room, but at least half of that will go toward signing Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Kronwall, and Jason Williams.

That is going to make it awfully hard to sign Nikolai Khabibulin, who is the sole elite goaltender available, and makes someone like former Wing Chris Osgood much more realistic.

"We have to pick and choose and be patient," Holland said. "In the first wave, teams are signing players and signing those players to be core players. We've got those parts -- I'm looking for the right complementary parts. I've got to get some good deals. We've got to wait for the market place to change, to become a cheaper market place, and then we'll get busy on the market. It may take another week."