October 12, 2005
BY GEORGE SIPPLE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Steve Yzerman is expected to play Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. Although Yzerman's presence likely will be a boost to the team, general manager Ken Holland is tempering his expectations for the first month.

"My hope is that he can play similar to where he was a couple of years ago," Holland said Tuesday. "I don't know that that's a realistic expectation starting this week."

Yzerman, 40, hasn't played since May 2004, when he was struck near the left eye by a puck during the Stanley Cup playoffs. He hasn't played this season because of a groin injury.

Holland said he hoped Yzerman could contribute as he did in 2003-04, when he played on a line with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby and had 18 goals and 33 assists in 75 games. Yzerman had three goals and two assists in 11 playoff games.

"Getting him back is going to be big just because of his leadership on the ice," Holland said. "I think it's important that Steve gets playing to get his game where he wants it to be."

The Wings hope that Yzerman can regularly play "17 minutes a night and in all key situations," Holland said.

Defenseman Mathieu Schneider thinks Yzerman will make a difference to the Wings, who are 3-1 heading into Thursday's game at Los Angeles.

"It's going to be a big emotional boost, I think, for the team," Schneider said. "It's going to be exciting to see him play again."

Yzerman has been practicing with the team for a week, but first-year coach Mike Babcock has said he did not want to rush the return of Yzerman or goaltender Chris Osgood, who also has a groin injury.

This will be Yzerman's 22nd season in the NHL. He is sixth in all-time goals with 678 and leads active players with 1,721 points. He needs 50 points to tie Marcel Dionne for fifth place all-time and 129 to tie Gordie Howe (1,850) for third.