Steve Yzerman Jersey Night

[RadioGaGa 162]

Now that is Pomp & Pageantry at it's best!

The Wings players dressed in #19 Wings jerseys as well as Campbell Conf. All Star jerseys, Team Canada Jerseys and Peterborough Petes jerseys was an awesome idea.

During a lot of the speeches and gifts, Steve looked almost uncomfortable or embarrassed that all the fuss is being made over him.

Then...Steve gets up and one of the first things he does is thank the Anaheim Ducks for being part of the evening and for their patience and understanding during the ceremony. Very Classy.

Doesn't look like he has any notes either...so you know it's all coming from his heart. What a great speaker.

Stevie Y...Class Act. As if anyone had any doubts.

[KingPest19 0]

Thats one thing that stood out to me was that he had no notes and was going off the top of his head. Nice to hear some of the things he said about the older players and players that werent there during the Cup runs. Never realized how humble of a guy Yzerman actually is. Seemed uncomfortable at times.

[Rustpot 1]

He really doesn't think he deserves it. Everything he said, he was trying to thank other people for their efforts, trying to make his role seem less and less.

One of the very best, and the things he has done off the ice are the things that no one knows about, and they are the things he really loves doing.

I saw him in the press box the Friday before Christmas, I was sitting several rows below him. The intensity and longing you could see in his eyes was unreal.

[hawks19 0]

What a night for Steve, I loved it as he was, and is one of my favorite players, not just for his skill but for the class and determination he showed, every night.

Although the presentation was very long, and some parts seemed unneeded, it was definately worth it for such a player. I also thought the current red wings wearing his jersey's were a nice touch.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I liked that they let him come out in a suit with his family instead of putting on the gear and skating the victory lap...I hate that.

Scotty's speech seemed a bit mechanical...but I like how he got all choked up at the end when Steve was speakign about him. I've read how Scotty was hated by the Habs when he coached there... Steve Shutt once said:

"You hated Scotty Bowman for 364 days of the year...on that other day, you picked up your Stanley Cup check"

I wonder if Scotty mellowed when he was Wings coach or if he was just different with Yzerman?

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I liked that they let him come out in a suit with his family instead of putting on the gear and skating the victory lap...I hate that.

Scotty's speech seemed a bit mechanical...but I like how he got all choked up at the end when Steve was speakign about him. I've read how Scotty was hated by the Habs when he coached there... Steve Shutt once said:

"You hated Scotty Bowman for 364 days of the year...on that other day, you picked up your Stanley Cup check"

I wonder if Scotty mellowed when he was Wings coach or if he was just different with Yzerman?

There's a book that we sell in our stores that chronicles the '02 season. Based on it, I wouldn't say Bowman mellowed at all.

It was funny to hear the crowd's reaction when he said that he felt like the "great leader" tag was a bit overblown. There's a great article on ESPN about his relationship with a boy in Denver.

I think the Oilers are the only team that makes their guys skate victory laps. I like it actually.

[Chadd 916]

I didn't think the ceremony was very smooth or well produced, but it did seem more genuine than most.

[fatwabbit 93]

Stevie Y has always been one of my fav players... and he showed his leadership qualities when he played through his knee injuries.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Another thing that I noticed is that it was a new style of banner. The retired numbers prior to Yzerman's were simple - white with a red border, but it looks like they all were redone to match Yzerman's.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Another thing that I noticed is that it was a new style of banner. The retired numbers prior to Yzerman's were simple - white with a red border, but it looks like they all were redone to match Yzerman's.

I thought I saw all the regular ones hanging...are they all coming down and being replaced for sure or are you speculating?

[Rustpot 1]

Another thing that I noticed is that it was a new style of banner. The retired numbers prior to Yzerman's were simple - white with a red border, but it looks like they all were redone to match Yzerman's.

I thought I saw all the regular ones hanging...are they all coming down and being replaced for sure or are you speculating?

They are new. The previous versions didn't have a Wings logo, just red with a white stripe at the bottom with the years.

They were redone, but I think it's tasteful. They've changed format each time another was added. They don't match Yzerman's, they were redone so that they're all the same, so that there wouldn't be an issue with color matching or anything.

Edit: Gary Bettman is at the game... sitting in $44 upper bowl seats. Wasn't part of the ceremony, wasn't asked to the owners box, no special treatment. Beautiful.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Yeah, sorry, got them confused with the other banners.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Gary Bettman is at the game... sitting in $44 upper bowl seats. Wasn't part of the ceremony, wasn't asked to the owners box, no special treatment. Beautiful.

Maybe Bettman being there, but not really "being there" is part of the Leagues idea that it really is about the players first...the new ads are all about the players...they finally seem to be getting it...MARKET THE PLAYERS!!!!

maybe it was planned that way...

cynics, chime in...

in...

3...2...1...!

[hip check 0]

A good night for a great player. Nicely done, if not polished and slick, it was sincere. It's not going to be confused with an NYR event.

Nice to hear him thank so many teammates, coaches and the fans. (Typical of him to do that - and mean it.) There were lots of memories in some of the goals they showed throughout the night.

Time to find a new, favourite player...

[Eazy_b97 1]

Scotty's speech seemed a bit mechanical...but I like how he got all choked up at the end when Steve was speakign about him. I've read how Scotty was hated by the Habs when he coached there... Steve Shutt once said:

"You hated Scotty Bowman for 364 days of the year...on that other day, you picked up your Stanley Cup check"

I wonder if Scotty mellowed when he was Wings coach or if he was just different with Yzerman?

It's weird hearing that about Bowman, and then hearing Yzerman's early career reputation as a guy who didn't work hard and looked terrible in practices. Then in mostly public circles it's extremely difficult to hear a bad word spoken about them at all. Both guys who were great at what they did, but both appear to have shed fairly negative tags.

[Cobra2717 0]

Glad the Ceremony went, Steve is a class act.

Unfortunately i missed it tho, does anyone have a link to a vid of it? I couldnt find anything on youtube or google video.

[Smitty34 0]

Steve Yzerman is one of the great guys in hockey. All the great things he did on and off the ice go without saying.....the lists just go on. You never hear anything bad about him.

I'll keep my eyes open for a video of the hour and a half ceremony. For now, here's an article about it:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2716662

[kosydar 0]

I didn't think the ceremony was very smooth or well produced, but it did seem more genuine than most.

I liked how players like Kocur, Probie, Larionov, Duchesne and Murphy were on the ice for the ceremony, not necessecarily only the big names.

[KYHockey3 0]

they showed some of it on sportscenter last night. they talked about yzermans stats and stuff and showed a couple clips from the night. it looked pretty cool

[djinferno 2]

his speech was choppy and very repetitive, none the less he seemed very nervous but did not cry...

Great ceremony for a great player, to bad sergei was not there...

very humble stevie

[hip check 0]

Theo,

Nothing against the Messier night at MSG. I thought it was great, too. Just the actual production of the night was very seamless in NY, versus the gaps and such in Detroit. Smoother production does not make it any less memorable, don't take it as a shot at the Rangers.

[Dante2004 0]

Looking for an online vid of the ceremony also. I wasn't able to be home during the game so I had to record (DVR) it. Got the ceremony recorded, but for some reason the game didn't record (although I watched it live). Problem is...the ceremony lasted longer than it was supposed to (according to the program guide), so I only have the first 60 minutes recorded. Damn...

[wickedwrister 0]

his speech was choppy and very repetitive, none the less he seemed very nervous but did not cry...

He said right after in an interview that speaking before 20,000 people makes him a bit nervous.

[Chadd 916]

his speech was choppy and very repetitive, none the less he seemed very nervous but did not cry...

He said right after in an interview that speaking before 20,000 people makes him a bit nervous.

You could see that and it's an endearing quality to me. Having been on stage in front of 7-8000, it can be somewhat unusual at first.

[chippa13 1844]

his speech was choppy and very repetitive, none the less he seemed very nervous but did not cry...

He said right after in an interview that speaking before 20,000 people makes him a bit nervous.

You could see that and it's an endearing quality to me. Having been on stage in front of 7-8000, it can be somewhat unusual at first.

He was shaking like a leaf when he took the drink during the ovation. Good speech, he gave props to all the right folks. Seemed he followed bullet points more than any prepared statement.