Yzerman to travel for first time this season

Associated Press

DETROIT -- Steve Yzerman will join the Detroit Red Wings during their upcoming road trip for the first time this season to begin a regular practice routine.

Yzerman, who had surgery on his right knee in August, has not played since helping Detroit win the Stanley Cup in June.

"The main reason I'm going on the road is to practice more regularly,'' Yzerman said Monday night while watching Detroit play the Chicago Blackhawks. "If I didn't travel, I wouldn't basically practice with the guys over the next two weeks because of all the road games.''

Detroit plays at Chicago on Wednesday, and at Colorado on Thursday. The Red Wings will return for a home game against Vancouver Saturday before playing four straight road games.

Yzerman was expected to play later this month, or in February, after having a rare, realignment surgery during the offseason. When asked if that timetable was still accurate, he said: "We'll see.''

Yzerman has 658 goals, 1,662 points and three Stanley Cups over his 19-season career.

When the 37-year-old began skating last month, he would merely circle laps around the Joe Louis Arena ice. Each week, Yzerman said he has been able to do more.

He was able to participate in a complete practice with his teammates on Sunday for the first time this season, after not practicing at all for over a week because the Red Wings were on the road.

"I'm doing all right,'' he said. "It felt good to practice (Sunday) and I had no problems (Monday). I feel pretty mobile right now.''

Last year, Yzerman's injured right knee limited him to 52 regular-season games, but he was still sixth on the team in scoring with 48 points and was able to help Canada win gold in the Olympics. Detroit won its third championship in six seasons in large part because of the captain's team-high 23 points in 23 playoff games.