January 2, 2007

BY HELENE ST. JAMES

FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Despite the New Year's holiday, dozens of workers were at the Joe, vacuuming red carpets and checking spotlights. Yzerman's No. 19 will be retired before the Ducks game tonight in a ceremony scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Last month in St. Louis, the Wings experienced Brett Hull's retirement ceremony, which began at the scheduled game time and meant players cooled down again after warm-ups. Players are much happier with the way Yzerman's night is set up.

"It helps doing everything before warm-ups, and then once it's over with, you can start concentrating on the game," said captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who will be among the speakers.

The Wings learned something from the Blues game, which they won, 5-1.

"St. Louis was prepared, and then you try to do too much, or you put too much pressure on yourself to do the right thing," coach Mike Babcock said. "We have to have a real simple game."

Hull, former Wings coach Scotty Bowman and Igor Larionov are among the hockey elite who will laud Yzerman.

Yzerman, 41, retired July 3 after 22 seasons, and has since joined the Wings' front office as a vice president. Volumes have been written extolling his talent and leadership, and those close to him have revealed a man of wit.

"He does have a sense of humor -- it's not often that the public gets to see it, but he is kind of a funny guy," Chris Chelios said.

Darren McCarty, who played with Yzerman from 1993-94 to 2003-2004 before joining the Flames, echoed Chelios' insight.

"I don't think very many people know how sarcastic (Yzerman) is," McCarty told the Calgary Herald. "He's the best one-liner guy I've ever met. And quick, quick, quick. ... I don't think people see the whole, because he doesn't allow it. It takes years before he lets that guard down, even with the guys he played with."

Kelly Kisio, a teammate of Yzerman during his rookie season, had a good vignette from the early days.

"Steve was obviously very skilled, a very good hockey player, but in practice, when he used to take a shot, it looked like he could hardly get it to the net, it was amazing," Kisio told the Herald. "But once the game started and he got a chance to shoot, it was a whole different Stevie. He just found the strength and shot it and he would surprise the hell out of you sometimes. He was just a different guy."

The Wings drafted Yzerman fourth overall in 1983, and made him captain in 1986. Tonight marks a natural step in a career that has guaranteed Yzerman a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame.