[bigboydan]

i hate to see a player like stevey Y retire.

Yzerman played the game old school style and was a great leader on the ice since early 80's.

no doubt he will be a first ballot HOF'er

Red Wings call news conference amid reports of Yzerman's retirement


Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman skates during the first period in the National Hockey League game against the Colorado Avalanche in Detroit, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006. The Red Wings hockey team called a news conference Monday, July 3, 2006, to discuss the status of Steve Yzerman, their 41-year-old captain who has played his entire NHL career with Detroit.

DETROIT (AP) -- The Red Wings called a news conference Monday amid reports that 41-year-old captain Steve Yzerman has decided to retire.

"I can tell you that it involves Steve," Detroit spokesman John Hahn said of the news conference. "I can't tell you what it's about."

Yzerman, who has played his entire 22-year career with the Red Wings, led Detroit to three Stanley Cups and playoff appearances in each of the last 15 years of his career. Only Gordie Howe holds as many franchise records.

A 10-time All-Star, Yzerman was named to the NHL's All-Rookie team in 1984, won the Lester B. Pearson Award honoring the league's outstanding player in 1989, the Conn Smythe Trophy honoring the playoff MVP in 1998 and helped Canada win gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Yzerman was 18 when he joined the Red Wings in 1983. He has been Detroit's captain since 1986, making him the longest-serving captain in league history.

Major knee surgery limited Yzerman to 16 games in 2002-03, but he came back the following season to score 18 goals and 33 assists in 75 games. He managed 14 goals and 20 assists in 61 games last season despite tearing muscles three times.

One of Detroit's most popular pro athletes, the soft-spoken player long known simply as "The Captain" is the Red Wings' all-time leader in playoff scoring. He ranks first in assists and second only to Howe in games played, goals and points in the regular season. Yzerman also finished last season with more regular-season and playoff points than any active NHL player.

After leading the Red Wings back from years of mediocrity to the top rank of the NHL, Yzerman's individual achievements were tempered with disappointing team results late in his career. After winning back-to-back Cups in 1997-98, Detroit lost in the first or second round in six of seven years -- interrupted only by the 2002 Cup.

[Mudcat]

If anyone doesn't vote for Yzerman for the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, they should be taken out back and shot.

[Illusion]

If anyone doesn't vote for Yzerman for the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, they should be taken out back and shot.

There's no doubt he will be voted in on the first ballot. He had one hell of a career.