After announcing his retirement on Monday, Yzerman said he is looking forward to his new career -- an unspecified role in the team's front office. Yzerman will be working closely with general manager Ken Holland, assistant GM Jim Nill and senior vice president Jimmy Devellano.

No specifics have been discussed yet, and it hasn't been determined when Yzerman will begin his new role, but he will have some input on personnel decisions.


"I told him over the last couple of months if he decided to retire we would have a real front-office position for him and he could be as involved as he wants to be,'' Holland said. "I have the utmost respect for Steve's passion and his knowledge. I look at Jimmy D (Devellano), Jimmy Nill and myself, we all work closely in trying to make decisions, and I see Steve coming in and making a foursome.''

After Holland was promoted to Wings GM in 1997, he and Yzerman discussed a role in the organization after retirement. Yzerman over the last few years has expressed a growing interest in management, as opposed to coaching.

"We just had a general understanding that when I'm done playing we'll sit down and figure something out,'' Yzerman said. "Maybe over the course of the summer we'll sit down as a group and I'll express my short-term thoughts and my long-term plans.''

Devellano said the front office has been grooming Yzerman for this type of position for several years.

"We would really love him to do it because he could be a good help to our organization in many ways,'' Devellano said. "He's smart, he knows what it takes to win, he wants everybody here to do well. I think he'll be a terrific addition.''

Yzerman said he looks forward to working with Holland.

"Over the last few years we've been able to negotiate face-to-face on some of my contracts,'' Yzerman said. "I must say he's gotten the better of me, but I've learned a lot and we really have worked closely and spoken about our entire organization and the direction we're headed.''

Holland doesn't yet know how deeply involved Yzerman wants to get and whether he wants to take a year off. He is taking at least the rest of the summer off.

"I look forward to a lot more free time, at least initially, with my wife, Lisa, and our three children,'' Yzerman said. "They have taken a backseat a long time to my career, to the things I wanted to accomplish, and waited for me when I was available.''

Few athletes are able to spend their entire career with one franchise, as Yzerman has since Devellano selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 1983 entry draft. He's looking forward to remaining in the organization for some time.

"Very few cities in the NHL have the history or the following of the Detroit Red Wings,'' Yzerman said. "I'm thrilled I was able to be part of the Ilitch family and this organization and help bring it back to where it was in the days of Gordie (Howe) and Ted (Lindsay). Every player should have the opportunity to play for a city that supports the team the way (Detroit) does.''