Why Wings are hot begins with Yzerman

Author: Mike Heika

Article Text:

Stars fans who love to hate the Red Wings might have more than ever to fear this season.

And not just because Detroit signed Pat Verbeek; or because Brendan Shanahan is playing for a free-agent contract; or because the Red Wings are winning when goaltender Chris Osgood is hurt; or even because Detroit has found a special chemistry between aging defensemen Chris Chelios, Steve Duchesne and Larry Murphy.

The Red Wings might be the scariest team in hockey right now because of one thing - Steve Yzerman wants more.

The Red Wings captain spoke on a conference call to the NHL media last week and said the one thing many opponents didn't want to hear. At age 34, Yzerman said he has maybe three or four seasons left in him. And he doesn't want to waste even one of them.

"I'd like to accomplish as much as I can in the remaining years," he said. "After winning the Stanley Cup, I'd like the opportunity to do it again. I don't want to squander any opportunities."

And squander is exactly what Yzerman believes his team did last season. Fat and happy after back-to-back Cup victories, Yzerman witnessed the Red Wings dilly-dally all season waiting for the playoffs. They played well, stayed close to the leaders and were among the favorites heading into the final tournament, but they never had the hunger. And in many ways, he blames himself. Sure, he had nine goals in 10 playoff games, but he lost something in letting the regular season get away.

This year, that's not happening. This season, the Red Wings are the best team in hockey, and Yzerman is their leader. Sure, Shanahan is on fire. Yes, Chelios has regained the defensive form that seemed to elude him last season. And, OK, 39-year-old Igor Larionov defies science even more than the Stars' Guy Carbonneau. But Yzerman sets the tone. Yzerman says when it's time to play. Yzerman is the conduit through which coach Scotty Bowman's master plan flows.

"In Scotty's system, we have to play well at both ends of the ice," forward Doug Brown said. "Stevie, being our leader, has certainly exemplified the work ethic and determination and smarts that help our team win."

Associate coach Barry Smith said Yzerman is invaluable and should be considered as one of the most dangerous offensive forwards in the NHL, as well as a serious candidate for the Selke Trophy, given to the best defensive forward in the league.

"He's our best penalty killer, he plays three-on-five, five-on-three, he takes face-offs in the defensive zone against the other team's top line," Smith said. "He does it all."

Yzerman 's numbers are impressive. He has 14 goals and 16 assists and his 30 points are second on the team. He also is a plus-16. He has surpassed 600 goals and 1,500 points. He is assured a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame. But what's great about the guy they call "Stevie Y" is that he really had to work hard to get his game in shape - and he hasn't forgotten that work.

He's in his 17th season with the Red Wings and many of those previous years were frustrating beyond measure. The early teams collapsed from lack of depth. The middle teams struggled with lack of experience and went out of the playoffs in the first round on two separate occasions. It was only recently the Red Wings jelled.

"In some ways, I feel like I've played on four different teams with four different groups of guys," Yzerman said.

These last few teams have what it takes. And as captain, he knows it.

"We have a lot of strong people with good character," Yzerman said. "So my role [as captain] isn't that great."

Yzerman underestimates himself. The Red Wings are hot right now in great part because Yzerman has helped them find the hunger again. They'll probably be tough to beat in the playoffs because it seems he's not about to let his team lose focus.

"I have looked ahead a little bit, realizing I only have three of four more years to go," he said.

You can bet he'll do everything in his power to make them good years.