If there's no NHL season this year or next because of labor strife, at least the longtime Detroit Red Wings captain made one last local appearance on ice.

Yzerman, who hadn't skated since the May 1st injury to his eye until this week, was the last player introduced for the "Pro-Am Skate for Mott" at Yost Ice Arena, receiving a loud standing ovation from the capacity crowd.

"I enjoyed being out there," Yzerman said during a first intermission media briefing. "I think you get into shape a lot quicker and you're more comfortable playing in any type of game."

Wearing no eye protection when a re-directed puck hit him flush in the eye during Game 5 of the Calgary-Detroit playoff series, Yzerman is now playing with a specially made tinted half-shield.

He said bright light is still an inconvenience but not significantly.

"After getting hit with that puck, I thought to myself that there's not a good enough reason not to wear it," Yzerman said.

Yzerman played on a line with former Red Wing teammate Sergei Fedorov and Sergei Samsonov of the Boston Bruins.

"It was a fun type game to play in," said Yzerman, who assisted on a Fedorov goal. "We don't do this too often."

Hundreds of No. 19 jerseys dotted the stands, and Yzerman stayed after the final buzzer to sign many of them. He also held court at center ice with many members of the National Under-18 Team, who were captivated talking hockey with him.

"The kids out there were pretty quick," Yzerman said. "Their skating ability is probably equal to any of us for the most part."

Yzerman, who will play in Igor Larionov's farewell game in Moscow on Dec. 13, said the owners and players probably have about five weeks to get a deal done or the season would be lost.

He's not sitting at home fretting about the lockout, saying he expected this to happen and he's comfortable waiting to see what happens next.

On Thursday, the National Hockey League's Players Association invited the league back to the bargaining table with the promise of a new proposal. The NHL accepted. The sides haven't spoken since Sept. 9. The new proposal wasn't revealed but it reportedly expands on the last union offer of a luxury tax and immediate salary rollbacks and does not include a salary cap, which has been the sticking point throughout this whole stalemate.

A continued work stoppage could mean that Yzerman, 39, made the last local appearance of his storied career Thursday night at Yost Ice Arena.

"I'd say in all probability that I don't know that I'm willing to play beyond this year," Yzerman said.