Steve Yzerman 1983 to 1986

[The Panther]

Hey. So, I first became aware of Yzerman as a star player in 1986-87 (I was 10 years old), his fourth season, and his best season to date. Also, his first as Wings' captain, and under Jacques Demers. The Red Wings were resurgent that season, eventually winning the Norris in the playoffs.

But before that? His first three seasons are kind of a blank for me, so I was wondering if those who can remember can fill it in.

1983-84
The Wings didn't totally suck, making the playoffs (losing to St. Louis), but they weren't up to much either. It's funny how the youngest guy on the team was Yzerman, and the oldest was Brad Park. Danny Gare of Buffalo fame was team captain. Yzerman's stats look really impressive, esp. considering he was just 18 for the entire season (like Crosby's first year). 39 goals and 87 points were 2nd and 1st on the team, respectively, and he had three goals in the four playoff games against the Blues. He was pretty close to winning the Calder, too, but this was the year of Tom Barrasso hype, though Yzerman wasn't far behind Barrasso in voting. (Bizarrely, this Wings' club featured not only Brad Park, but Ivan Boldirev, Rick MacLeish, Colin Campbell, Barry Melrose, and -- wait for it -- Ken Holland!)

1984-85
Everything similar to the previous year, except the Wings got a little better offensively and worse defensively. Yzerman did it again with 89 points, but this only tied with him with Ron-'hairdo'-Duguay for 2nd on the team, while John Ogrodnick had his big year offensively to lead the club. This year's Wings' club now featured Gerard Gallant, Joe Kocur, and Shawn Burr, as a bit of a window into the Demers'-era team that was coming. This season featured a 12-game winless streak in mid-season and an 11-5 loss to... Vancouver. The Wings made the playoffs again, but were swept by the Blackhawks in round one, giving up 23 goals in three games (no, not a typo!).

1985-86
Famously, this is the season everything hit rock-bottom, for the Wings and for Yzerman. Brad Park was retired. Harry Neale came as head coach, and Yzerman got injured, missing almost thirty games. Bob Probert and Petr Klima joined, the latter scoring 32 goals. Neale was fired in mid-season, and Brad Park was brought in as coach, just months after being everyone's teammate. the Wings were last overall in offense, and last overall in defense, allowing a staggering 415 goals against. (Five times they allowed double-digit scoring to an opponent, including a memorable 12-3 loss to Edmonton.) Yzerman fell well below a point per game, with 42 in 51 games.


So, what were people's impressions of Yzerman in this period (mid-80s)? Obviously, he was a very talented offensive player who, for at least two seasons in his teens, had more than lived up to expectations of his skill level. But what about after 1985-86? I think I read once, in the late-80s or so, that Yzerman's entire future was a bit up-in-the-air after that horrid '86 season, and there was even some question as to whether he could recover from his injury and be the same player again.

 

[ozzie]

Yzerman is the reason I became a Wings fan, I mean they were known as the dead things right?. He had far exceeded his OHL projections and was an exciting player not named Gretzky. I mean the Norris division at the time wasn't exactly a great division. But there was clearly something special about Yzerman, especially watching him in person, which I got to see a lot of.

From what I recall, Yzerman might have lacked some defensive effort early on, but it wasn't like he was goal sucking like a lot of stars in the 80's. He didn't pass a lot either, at times held onto the puck for long stretches. He was likable and humble based on his TV appearances. Several early injuries derailed some spectacular seasons that would have further cemented his 150 point level totals, cost him some time on team Canada too.

His injuries also made him really easy to root for and hope he would succeed, it took sometime but he bounced back, and honestly his team was terrible. I can't imagine the franchise without him, even back then. He was the reason to watch the Wings. As fan of the team, I feel incredibly spoiled by Steve Yzerman and then Lidstrom.

Other than injuries, the doubts around Yzerman didn't really surface until the mid 90's, where he was linked to 1 or two big trades. The loss to the Leafs and the devils, I can't believe they held onto him. Thank god.

If people only knew then, that this guy would play under the pain he endured with his knee, be a loyal icon for two decades, become a defensive juggernaut and hoist multiple cups, they would have raised a statue in 87.

I could go one for ages about him, wait I just did.

 

[reckoning]

Jacques Demers has told the story about the first time he met Yzerman after being hired as Wings coach in 1986. He told him that he was looking forward to coaching him, but he'd box his ears if he played as poorly as he did in 85-86.

The talent and potential was never in doubt, but so sometimes it takes a few years and the right situation to put it together.

 

[cupcrazyman]

Dark Days in Detroit after Gordie left & before Yzerman hit his stride.

 

[Nerowoy nora tolad]

From what I recall, Yzerman might have lacked some defensive effort early on, but it wasn't like he was goal sucking like a lot of stars in the 80's. He didn't pass a lot either, at times held onto the puck for long stretches. He was likable and humble based on his TV appearances. Several early injuries derailed some spectacular seasons that would have further cemented his 150 point level totals, cost him some time on team Canada too.

What injuries did he have before the major knee injury in 88?

 

[Big Phil]

Hey. So, I first became aware of Yzerman as a star player in 1986-87 (I was 10 years old), his fourth season, and his best season to date. Also, his first as Wings' captain, and under Jacques Demers. The Red Wings were resurgent that season, eventually winning the Norris in the playoffs.

But before that? His first three seasons are kind of a blank for me, so I was wondering if those who can remember can fill it in.

1983-84
The Wings didn't totally suck, making the playoffs (losing to St. Louis), but they weren't up to much either. It's funny how the youngest guy on the team was Yzerman, and the oldest was Brad Park. Danny Gare of Buffalo fame was team captain. Yzerman's stats look really impressive, esp. considering he was just 18 for the entire season (like Crosby's first year). 39 goals and 87 points were 2nd and 1st on the team, respectively, and he had three goals in the four playoff games against the Blues. He was pretty close to winning the Calder, too, but this was the year of Tom Barrasso hype, though Yzerman wasn't far behind Barrasso in voting. (Bizarrely, this Wings' club featured not only Brad Park, but Ivan Boldirev, Rick MacLeish, Colin Campbell, Barry Melrose, and -- wait for it -- Ken Holland!)

I had no idea Ken Holland actually played in the NHL. I mean, he sort of did. 3 games for the Red Wings that season. One other NHL game prior to that. He was a career minor leaguer, but I didn't even know that either.

You know the funny thing, Yzerman was on the 1984 Canada Cup team. Crazy huh? He is cut in 1987, which was okay, but then cut in 1991 which was absurd and indefensible. Glen Sather was coaching the 1984 team, and I know he put an emphasis on speed and skill and while I know Yzerman had all of that, I still wonder why a rookie who had 87 points made the team while Hawerchuk and Savard, two much more established players who were elite centres, did not.

But it does tell you that he was highly revered to have made that team while being so young.

 

[ozzie]

What injuries did he have before the major knee injury in 88?

Believe he injured his Knee first in 85/86 season and missed the rest of the season.

 

[The Panther]

You know the funny thing, Yzerman was on the 1984 Canada Cup team. Crazy huh? He is cut in 1987, which was okay, but then cut in 1991 which was absurd and indefensible. Glen Sather was coaching the 1984 team, and I know he put an emphasis on speed and skill and while I know Yzerman had all of that, I still wonder why a rookie who had 87 points made the team while Hawerchuk and Savard, two much more established players who were elite centres, did not.

Yeah, the weirdest thing ever is how Yzerman was on the '84 team but not the '87 or '91 team.

Savard, we know Sather didn't like, probably mainly for their personality clash. But I have no idea why Hawerchuk wasn't there...

 

[NordiquesForeva]

I had no idea Ken Holland actually played in the NHL. I mean, he sort of did. 3 games for the Red Wings that season. One other NHL game prior to that. He was a career minor leaguer, but I didn't even know that either.

You know the funny thing, Yzerman was on the 1984 Canada Cup team. Crazy huh? He is cut in 1987, which was okay, but then cut in 1991 which was absurd and indefensible. Glen Sather was coaching the 1984 team, and I know he put an emphasis on speed and skill and while I know Yzerman had all of that, I still wonder why a rookie who had 87 points made the team while Hawerchuk and Savard, two much more established players who were elite centres, did not.

But it does tell you that he was highly revered to have made that team while being so young.

Yzerman only played in 4 games in that Canada Cup, so maybe Sather wanted a youngster along for the ride that he could dress for a couple of games (and give him the odd shift on the fourth line or something), and otherwise keep him in the pressbox? Bellows made that Canada Cup team too (he played 5 games), which was kind of strange, so maybe the same line of thinking with him? Hawerchuk was a legit star by that point so maybe not as easy to bench/healthy scratch someone of that caliber if Sather already had his centers locked-in.

The Canada Cup was held on a somewhat consistent schedule back then, so maybe Sather thought he'd be coaching the next few iterations of the team and was looking to groom some young players for future tournaments.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah, the weirdest thing ever is how Yzerman was on the '84 team but not the '87 or '91 team.

Savard, we know Sather didn't like, probably mainly for their personality clash. But I have no idea why Hawerchuk wasn't there...

Hawerchuk not making that team is something I've never even considered. Very strange. He wasn't even invited to the training camp. Maybe it was speed related or a desire to keep centres mostly at centre, but it's still very odd.

 

[quietbruinfan]

The talent was obviously there. He was a gifted one-on-one player at that time and that was how he often played.

 

[tabness]

Yzerman's predraft rankings were generally higher than the fourth place he was eventually drafted (first by The Hockey News and third by NHL Central Scouting). Just like with LaFontaine (who despite his record breaking junior year was only ranked second on both lists), it was Yzerman's size and strength that was considered to be an issue to NHL readiness. Even by this time in the early/mid eighties, a premium was already being placed on size and strength, and many super skilled players simply weren't getting drafted or getting drafted late, and generally not getting a shot in the league. There's the famous story that during the Wings training camp in 1983, the trainer went to Polano and told him to send "Whyzerman" back cause he couldn't even bench his (at that time slight) weight. In the league today, he'd probably be considered much more NHL ready at 18.

Of course, the finesse skills that Yzerman had were clearly elite. The Islanders themselves had both LaFontaine and Yzerman as tops on their radar, deciding on LaFontaine as they thought he'd be more of a gamebreaker. In the first scrimmage after just a couple shifts, it was clear that Yzerman was the Wings best player. In his first game, he had started on the fourth line, and ended the game on the first. As early as November of Yzerman's rookie year, Devellano felt quite validated that he had indeed struck gold with Yzerman and that he would be the team's franchise player. Lawton and (Sylvain) Turgeon were just not at the same level, and LaFontaine was still playing with the US national team. Yzerman's junior stats were suppressed due to the roll four lines and play two way hockey style of Peterborough, but it was clear that his skills were easily translating to the NHL. He was (at the time) the youngest player to play in the all star game his rookie year, and during the intros the announcer remarked on what a future he would have.

Although 1983 at the time wasn't considered a particularly great draft, Devellano also specifically has mentioned in those early years that aside from Lemieux obviously, the players in the next few drafts weren't on the level of an Yzerman. I guess Pierre Turgeon would have be the next big thing prospect and that would be in 1987.

Going back to size and strength though, that was Yzerman's biggest issue in his early years. He was an 18 year old playing in a pretty rough and violent era and division. Teams began keying in on Yzerman and it probably wore him down a bit. He did slowdown at the end of both his rookie and sophomore seasons. This abuse was especially pronounced in the 1984 playoff series against the Blues, and in game four, he had his first major injury with a sprained knee in the second period on sort of a double hit. He took the hit to make the play though, and the Wings scored to tie the game, but Yzerman wouldn't return and the Wings would eventually lose the game (and series) in overtime.

What's interesting to note is although Yzerman was considered (including by himself) to be a playmaking center, he really started off his NHL career as a great scorer. Halfway into his rookie season he was at a 50 goal pace maintaining a shooting percentage well above 30%. He slowed down a bit, and I think that's part due to just being checked tighter and slowing down as a result of all of that as mentioned above, and also part due to him deferring to Ogrodnick as he became a more constant winger. Yzerman had played with Ogrodnick off and on during his rookie season, but it was a far more constant line with him and Duguay in his sophomore year. Ogrodnick of course was a great shooter and wanted to be the finisher. There are stories that Ogrodnick was one of the examples of those Wings players that were selfish, having those incentive laden contracts that Illitch was handing out to get veteran players with some name power to draw more fans to Wings games. I don't really put too much stock into that though, Ogrodnick actually found himself back on the Wings briefly in 1992-1993, and while he didn't play much, when he did, he certainly got a good portion of his time with his old linemate Yzerman. In any case, Yzerman's goals slipped a bit his sophomore year, probably mostly due to the line dynamic (bad puck luck was also called out in the papers at the time, Yzerman certainly shot more his second year).

Before the 1985-1986 season, Yzerman would decide to get lighter to be quicker, in order to avoid tight checking better. A good idea today probably, but turned out to absolutely be the wrong idea at the time. Denis Savard was the superstar that served as an exemplar of this playstyle, but Savard had a very different linemate situation than Yzerman and had an all world defenseman in Doug Wilson to carry the puck. Yzerman was not only clutched and grabbed to oblivion, he also lost some of his stamina that he was known for.

It also didn't help that almost everyone had a poor year on the team, notably Ogrodnick who was criticized for his effort after his 100 point season. This is likely due to the coaching change, Polano was moved up in the organization, and he was a bit of a tough coach, whereas Harry Neale and Brad Park didn't push the team as hard, and the team certainly took it easier than before. Line combinations were also juggled at that time. You briefly saw the interesting line of Klima • Yzerman • Kocur that year, which when it worked (not too often) was awesome to see, but Klima and Yzerman himself were prone to overhandling the puck on the same line, very unlike Yzerman the year before on the well designed if poor defensively Ogrodnick • Yzerman • Duguay line. The awful season for Yzerman was cut short almost mercifully by a broken collarbone.

That summer saw immense player churn, the Wings got rid of many of the old veterans and got younger (Ogrodnick would hang on for another half a season before being shipped out). I don't think Yzerman was in any danger of being shipped off himself though, as Devellano would say, there weren't any upcoming prospects around that were at his level, certainly not in the Detroit system.

Jacques Demers was also hired, and he bought a defensive style to the Wings. The story goes that Yzerman first met Demers in Montreal at the draft, Demers was expecting the 21 year old to be enjoying his summer, but Yzerman was miserable and sick of losing, which impressed Demers to the point that he named Yzerman captain. In many senses, the Wings had less talent in 1986-1987 than in the first three years of Yzerman's career, but there was far more of a team concept in place, and they did much better.

Individually though, the biggest change was that Yzerman made a commitment to getting much stronger that summer, and that would continue doing this throughout the year. Even though his stats in 1986-1987 were pretty much like his first two years (misleading in a sense because he was playing with less talent and on a very defensive team), it was clear that Yzerman had taken another step in his career due to his strength and confidence to not just fight more effectively through contact, but straight up initiate it to get space. By 1987-1988, Yzerman had inserted himself in the conversation with Gretzky and Lemieux.

 

[The Panther]

Yzerman's predraft rankings were generally higher than the fourth place he was eventually drafted (first by The Hockey News and third by NHL Central Scouting). Just like with LaFontaine (who despite his record breaking junior year was only ranked second on both lists), it was Yzerman's size and strength that was considered to be an issue to NHL readiness. Even by this time in the early/mid eighties, a premium was already being placed on size and strength, and many super skilled players simply weren't getting drafted or getting drafted late, and generally not getting a shot in the league. There's the famous story that during the Wings training camp in 1983, the trainer went to Polano and told him to send "Whyzerman" back cause he couldn't even bench his (at that time slight) weight. In the league today, he'd probably be considered much more NHL ready at 18.

Of course, the finesse skills that Yzerman had were clearly elite. The Islanders themselves had both LaFontaine and Yzerman as tops on their radar, deciding on LaFontaine as they thought he'd be more of a gamebreaker. In the first scrimmage after just a couple shifts, it was clear that Yzerman was the Wings best player. In his first game, he had started on the fourth line, and ended the game on the first. As early as November of Yzerman's rookie year, Devellano felt quite validated that he had indeed struck gold with Yzerman and that he would be the team's franchise player. Lawton and (Sylvain) Turgeon were just not at the same level, and LaFontaine was still playing with the US national team. Yzerman's junior stats were suppressed due to the roll four lines and play two way hockey style of Peterborough, but it was clear that his skills were easily translating to the NHL. He was (at the time) the youngest player to play in the all star game his rookie year, and during the intros the announcer remarked on what a future he would have.

Although 1983 at the time wasn't considered a particularly great draft, Devellano also specifically has mentioned in those early years that aside from Lemieux obviously, the players in the next few drafts weren't on the level of an Yzerman. I guess Pierre Turgeon would have be the next big thing prospect and that would be in 1987.

Going back to size and strength though, that was Yzerman's biggest issue in his early years. He was an 18 year old playing in a pretty rough and violent era and division. Teams began keying in on Yzerman and it probably wore him down a bit. He did slowdown at the end of both his rookie and sophomore seasons. This abuse was especially pronounced in the 1984 playoff series against the Blues, and in game four, he had his first major injury with a sprained knee in the second period on sort of a double hit. He took the hit to make the play though, and the Wings scored to tie the game, but Yzerman wouldn't return and the Wings would eventually lose the game (and series) in overtime.

What's interesting to note is although Yzerman was considered (including by himself) to be a playmaking center, he really started off his NHL career as a great scorer. Halfway into his rookie season he was at a 50 goal pace maintaining a shooting percentage well above 30%. He slowed down a bit, and I think that's part due to just being checked tighter and slowing down as a result of all of that as mentioned above, and also part due to him deferring to Ogrodnick as he became a more constant winger. Yzerman had played with Ogrodnick off and on during his rookie season, but it was a far more constant line with him and Duguay in his sophomore year. Ogrodnick of course was a great shooter and wanted to be the finisher. There are stories that Ogrodnick was one of the examples of those Wings players that were selfish, having those incentive laden contracts that Illitch was handing out to get veteran players with some name power to draw more fans to Wings games. I don't really put too much stock into that though, Ogrodnick actually found himself back on the Wings briefly in 1992-1993, and while he didn't play much, when he did, he certainly got a good portion of his time with his old linemate Yzerman. In any case, Yzerman's goals slipped a bit his sophomore year, probably mostly due to the line dynamic (bad puck luck was also called out in the papers at the time, Yzerman certainly shot more his second year).

Before the 1985-1986 season, Yzerman would decide to get lighter to be quicker, in order to avoid tight checking better. A good idea today probably, but turned out to absolutely be the wrong idea at the time. Denis Savard was the superstar that served as an exemplar of this playstyle, but Savard had a very different linemate situation than Yzerman and had an all world defenseman in Doug Wilson to carry the puck. Yzerman was not only clutched and grabbed to oblivion, he also lost some of his stamina that he was known for.

It also didn't help that almost everyone had a poor year on the team, notably Ogrodnick who was criticized for his effort after his 100 point season. This is likely due to the coaching change, Polano was moved up in the organization, and he was a bit of a tough coach, whereas Harry Neale and Brad Park didn't push the team as hard, and the team certainly took it easier than before. Line combinations were also juggled at that time. You briefly saw the interesting line of Klima • Yzerman • Kocur that year, which when it worked (not too often) was awesome to see, but Klima and Yzerman himself were prone to overhandling the puck on the same line, very unlike Yzerman the year before on the well designed if poor defensively Ogrodnick • Yzerman • Duguay line. The awful season for Yzerman was cut short almost mercifully by a broken collarbone.

That summer saw immense player churn, the Wings got rid of many of the old veterans and got younger (Ogrodnick would hang on for another half a season before being shipped out). I don't think Yzerman was in any danger of being shipped off himself though, as Devellano would say, there weren't any upcoming prospects around that were at his level, certainly not in the Detroit system.

Jacques Demers was also hired, and he bought a defensive style to the Wings. The story goes that Yzerman first met Demers in Montreal at the draft, Demers was expecting the 21 year old to be enjoying his summer, but Yzerman was miserable and sick of losing, which impressed Demers to the point that he named Yzerman captain. In many senses, the Wings had less talent in 1986-1987 than in the first three years of Yzerman's career, but there was far more of a team concept in place, and they did much better.

Individually though, the biggest change was that Yzerman made a commitment to getting much stronger that summer, and that would continue doing this throughout the year. Even though his stats in 1986-1987 were pretty much like his first two years (misleading in a sense because he was playing with less talent and on a very defensive team), it was clear that Yzerman had taken another step in his career due to his strength and confidence to not just fight more effectively through contact, but straight up initiate it to get space. By 1987-1988, Yzerman had inserted himself in the conversation with Gretzky and Lemieux.

Very informative! Great post.

 

[tabness]

On Canada Cup 1984, Yzerman was sort of a last minute candidate to fill in for Barry Pedersen who pulled himself out due to injury and earlier Bryan Trottier who decided to play with Team USA. He had a good camp, and got the spot, along with Brent Sutter at the expense of Savard (to be fair, Stastny was said to have a bad camp and still got his spot, but there was clearly something between Sather and Savard). Hawerchuk I don't think was even invited, which did get mild criticism.

This article I found explains best Yzerman's entire Canada Cup 1984 saga. Sather wasn't right that Yzerman would be leading Team Canada next time though lol... at least not until 1996/1998/2002.

 

[JackSlater]

Yzerman's predraft rankings were generally higher than the fourth place he was eventually drafted (first by The Hockey News and third by NHL Central Scouting). Just like with LaFontaine (who despite his record breaking junior year was only ranked second on both lists), it was Yzerman's size and strength that was considered to be an issue to NHL readiness. Even by this time in the early/mid eighties, a premium was already being placed on size and strength, and many super skilled players simply weren't getting drafted or getting drafted late, and generally not getting a shot in the league. There's the famous story that during the Wings training camp in 1983, the trainer went to Polano and told him to send "Whyzerman" back cause he couldn't even bench his (at that time slight) weight. In the league today, he'd probably be considered much more NHL ready at 18.

Of course, the finesse skills that Yzerman had were clearly elite. The Islanders themselves had both LaFontaine and Yzerman as tops on their radar, deciding on LaFontaine as they thought he'd be more of a gamebreaker. In the first scrimmage after just a couple shifts, it was clear that Yzerman was the Wings best player. In his first game, he had started on the fourth line, and ended the game on the first. As early as November of Yzerman's rookie year, Devellano felt quite validated that he had indeed struck gold with Yzerman and that he would be the team's franchise player. Lawton and (Sylvain) Turgeon were just not at the same level, and LaFontaine was still playing with the US national team. Yzerman's junior stats were suppressed due to the roll four lines and play two way hockey style of Peterborough, but it was clear that his skills were easily translating to the NHL. He was (at the time) the youngest player to play in the all star game his rookie year, and during the intros the announcer remarked on what a future he would have.

Although 1983 at the time wasn't considered a particularly great draft, Devellano also specifically has mentioned in those early years that aside from Lemieux obviously, the players in the next few drafts weren't on the level of an Yzerman. I guess Pierre Turgeon would have be the next big thing prospect and that would be in 1987.

Going back to size and strength though, that was Yzerman's biggest issue in his early years. He was an 18 year old playing in a pretty rough and violent era and division. Teams began keying in on Yzerman and it probably wore him down a bit. He did slowdown at the end of both his rookie and sophomore seasons. This abuse was especially pronounced in the 1984 playoff series against the Blues, and in game four, he had his first major injury with a sprained knee in the second period on sort of a double hit. He took the hit to make the play though, and the Wings scored to tie the game, but Yzerman wouldn't return and the Wings would eventually lose the game (and series) in overtime.

What's interesting to note is although Yzerman was considered (including by himself) to be a playmaking center, he really started off his NHL career as a great scorer. Halfway into his rookie season he was at a 50 goal pace maintaining a shooting percentage well above 30%. He slowed down a bit, and I think that's part due to just being checked tighter and slowing down as a result of all of that as mentioned above, and also part due to him deferring to Ogrodnick as he became a more constant winger. Yzerman had played with Ogrodnick off and on during his rookie season, but it was a far more constant line with him and Duguay in his sophomore year. Ogrodnick of course was a great shooter and wanted to be the finisher. There are stories that Ogrodnick was one of the examples of those Wings players that were selfish, having those incentive laden contracts that Illitch was handing out to get veteran players with some name power to draw more fans to Wings games. I don't really put too much stock into that though, Ogrodnick actually found himself back on the Wings briefly in 1992-1993, and while he didn't play much, when he did, he certainly got a good portion of his time with his old linemate Yzerman. In any case, Yzerman's goals slipped a bit his sophomore year, probably mostly due to the line dynamic (bad puck luck was also called out in the papers at the time, Yzerman certainly shot more his second year).

Before the 1985-1986 season, Yzerman would decide to get lighter to be quicker, in order to avoid tight checking better. A good idea today probably, but turned out to absolutely be the wrong idea at the time. Denis Savard was the superstar that served as an exemplar of this playstyle, but Savard had a very different linemate situation than Yzerman and had an all world defenseman in Doug Wilson to carry the puck. Yzerman was not only clutched and grabbed to oblivion, he also lost some of his stamina that he was known for.

It also didn't help that almost everyone had a poor year on the team, notably Ogrodnick who was criticized for his effort after his 100 point season. This is likely due to the coaching change, Polano was moved up in the organization, and he was a bit of a tough coach, whereas Harry Neale and Brad Park didn't push the team as hard, and the team certainly took it easier than before. Line combinations were also juggled at that time. You briefly saw the interesting line of Klima • Yzerman • Kocur that year, which when it worked (not too often) was awesome to see, but Klima and Yzerman himself were prone to overhandling the puck on the same line, very unlike Yzerman the year before on the well designed if poor defensively Ogrodnick • Yzerman • Duguay line. The awful season for Yzerman was cut short almost mercifully by a broken collarbone.

That summer saw immense player churn, the Wings got rid of many of the old veterans and got younger (Ogrodnick would hang on for another half a season before being shipped out). I don't think Yzerman was in any danger of being shipped off himself though, as Devellano would say, there weren't any upcoming prospects around that were at his level, certainly not in the Detroit system.

Jacques Demers was also hired, and he bought a defensive style to the Wings. The story goes that Yzerman first met Demers in Montreal at the draft, Demers was expecting the 21 year old to be enjoying his summer, but Yzerman was miserable and sick of losing, which impressed Demers to the point that he named Yzerman captain. In many senses, the Wings had less talent in 1986-1987 than in the first three years of Yzerman's career, but there was far more of a team concept in place, and they did much better.

Individually though, the biggest change was that Yzerman made a commitment to getting much stronger that summer, and that would continue doing this throughout the year. Even though his stats in 1986-1987 were pretty much like his first two years (misleading in a sense because he was playing with less talent and on a very defensive team), it was clear that Yzerman had taken another step in his career due to his strength and confidence to not just fight more effectively through contact, but straight up initiate it to get space. By 1987-1988, Yzerman had inserted himself in the conversation with Gretzky and Lemieux.

Awesome Yzerman posts. People seem to forget, or moreso aren't even aware of, what Yzerman was like in the first half of his career a lot of the time.

 

[The Panther]

Wasn't Yzerman also... how do I put this nicely... a bit of a dick on the ice, as regards the officials?

I think I read that he was the most hated player by NHL officials at some point earlier in his career. I'm not sure if this was in the very early days under discussion here, or maybe a bit later...

(Of course, lots of players are dicks to the officials, esp. when they're young.)

 

[reckoning]

Wasn't Yzerman also... how do I put this nicely... a bit of a dick on the ice, as regards the officials?

I think I read that he was the most hated player by NHL officials at some point earlier in his career. I'm not sure if this was in the very early days under discussion here, or maybe a bit later...

(Of course, lots of players are dicks to the officials, esp. when they're young.)

On the referee roundtable discussion on the Hockey Time Machine YouTube channel, one of them ( I think Kerry Fraser) named Yzerman as the worst player for complaining and giving officials a hard time.

 

[tabness]

Wasn't Yzerman also... how do I put this nicely... a bit of a dick on the ice, as regards the officials?

I think I read that he was the most hated player by NHL officials at some point earlier in his career. I'm not sure if this was in the very early days under discussion here, or maybe a bit later...

(Of course, lots of players are dicks to the officials, esp. when they're young.)

Yzerman certainly gave it to the officials on occasion, though I don't think this was a young player thing at all, more of a captain/superstar player thing when he became more established in the league (his last misconducts for unsportsmanlike conduct towards the officials was like in his mid thirties I think). From what I've seen from those early years, even as Yzerman got the "A" in his sophomore season, he wasn't the guy talking to the officials much at that time (also he would not line up for faceoffs more than you'd expect in that second year, especially defensive zone draws so he had less opportunities to talk to the linesman).

By the time he was made captain and made a name for himself, yes, there were definitely times Yzerman chewed the refs out. I put one of my favorite examples from a game against Toronto early in the 1988-1989 season on YouTube, Ron Hoggarth missed a goal (not the first or last time Hoagie missed something lol though in his defense the goal judge didn't turn the light on either) and the mic catches Yzerman going off on him at the end of the game, as well as Hoagie hilariously threatening to throw Yzerman out of the already finished game.



However, the only zebra who seems to really hate Yzerman still is Paul Stewart. Whereas Kerry Fraser has spoken glowingly about Yzerman on many occasions, and Yzerman even wrote the forward to Ray Scapinello's book, Stewart has went off about Yzerman for years on whatever platform he is given. On Dick Irvin's Tough Calls book from the nineties he was pretty mild, just relating an anecdote where Yzerman insulted him but then calling Yzerman a "great guy" but more recently he's really blasted Yzerman, especially in his own book and the media promotion around it (Yzerman to my knowledge has never bothered to address, comment, or respond to Stewart's comments which I think makes Stewart madder lol)

The history behind Stewart and the Wings in general, and Yzerman in specific, is pretty long, but let me just quote the nice summary of one of Gerard Gallant's suspensions from his Hockey Draft Central entry which brings out some of the history from the 1989-1990 season around the time this feud really started.

Two months later, Gallant ran into more trouble when he was suspended three games for hitting linesman Jerry Pateman during Detroit's Jan. 13, 1990, game vs. Minnesota, a 6-4 loss. The incident stemmed from the Red Wings' anger at referee Paul Stewart, who had been assigned to work the Minnesota game. The Wings felt Stewart was antagonizing all season by them by deliberately targeting them for penalties and then threatening them with more. One player even claimed Stewart had challenged Detroit's Joe Kocur to fights and Detroit players were livid at Stewart for goading Steve Yzerman into two 10-minute misconduct penalties during the 1989-90 season. Coach Jacques Demers also claimed that Stewart had verbally abused him and his players on several occasions. During the Minnesota game, Stewart waved off an apparent Detroit goal in the third period, ruling that a Red Wings player was in the crease. Stewart then put the Wings at a two-man disadvantage for the game's final minute. After Detroit lost the game, Gallant became enraged. Intending to get at Stewart, Gallant was pinned to the boards by Pateman, who was trying to avert a confrontation. Struggling to break free and pursue Stewart, Gallant punched Pateman with his left hand. Gallant immediately claimed he was actually trying to hit a Minnesota player standing behind Pateman. Gallant was given an automatic three-game suspension without the right of appeal. The league later reviewed the whole incident, but saw no need to increase the length of Gallant's suspension, because it agreed that he had hit Pateman by accident.

Another relevant anecdote is when Stewart was the ref in game four of the 1993 playoff series between Detroit and Toronto, and let's just say Leafs fans who complain about the missed Gretzky high stick on Gilmour later that playoffs were on the other end of a bunch of "missed" calls in the game. In a notable sequence, at the very end of the game, a puck went out of play and Stewart put the faceoff outside the zone. Yzerman went to Stewart (visibly less aggressively and more politely than he would probably be in a not as important game/moment) and Stewart just gave Yzerman a sneer and wasn't changing his mind. Harry Neale who coached young Yzerman mentioned at that point that Yzerman was not a whiner, and probably agreed with the Wings that the draw should have been in the zone.

Game is still up on YouTube!

 

[Bluesguru]

Hey. So, I first became aware of Yzerman as a star player in 1986-87 (I was 10 years old), his fourth season, and his best season to date. Also, his first as Wings' captain, and under Jacques Demers. The Red Wings were resurgent that season, eventually winning the Norris in the playoffs.

But before that? His first three seasons are kind of a blank for me, so I was wondering if those who can remember can fill it in.

1983-84
The Wings didn't totally suck, making the playoffs (losing to St. Louis), but they weren't up to much either. It's funny how the youngest guy on the team was Yzerman, and the oldest was Brad Park. Danny Gare of Buffalo fame was team captain. Yzerman's stats look really impressive, esp. considering he was just 18 for the entire season (like Crosby's first year). 39 goals and 87 points were 2nd and 1st on the team, respectively, and he had three goals in the four playoff games against the Blues. He was pretty close to winning the Calder, too, but this was the year of Tom Barrasso hype, though Yzerman wasn't far behind Barrasso in voting. (Bizarrely, this Wings' club featured not only Brad Park, but Ivan Boldirev, Rick MacLeish, Colin Campbell, Barry Melrose, and -- wait for it -- Ken Holland!)

1984-85
Everything similar to the previous year, except the Wings got a little better offensively and worse defensively. Yzerman did it again with 89 points, but this only tied with him with Ron-'hairdo'-Duguay for 2nd on the team, while John Ogrodnick had his big year offensively to lead the club. This year's Wings' club now featured Gerard Gallant, Joe Kocur, and Shawn Burr, as a bit of a window into the Demers'-era team that was coming. This season featured a 12-game winless streak in mid-season and an 11-5 loss to... Vancouver. The Wings made the playoffs again, but were swept by the Blackhawks in round one, giving up 23 goals in three games (no, not a typo!).

1985-86
Famously, this is the season everything hit rock-bottom, for the Wings and for Yzerman. Brad Park was retired. Harry Neale came as head coach, and Yzerman got injured, missing almost thirty games. Bob Probert and Petr Klima joined, the latter scoring 32 goals. Neale was fired in mid-season, and Brad Park was brought in as coach, just months after being everyone's teammate. the Wings were last overall in offense, and last overall in defense, allowing a staggering 415 goals against. (Five times they allowed double-digit scoring to an opponent, including a memorable 12-3 loss to Edmonton.) Yzerman fell well below a point per game, with 42 in 51 games.


So, what were people's impressions of Yzerman in this period (mid-80s)? Obviously, he was a very talented offensive player who, for at least two seasons in his teens, had more than lived up to expectations of his skill level. But what about after 1985-86? I think I read once, in the late-80s or so, that Yzerman's entire future was a bit up-in-the-air after that horrid '86 season, and there was even some question as to whether he could recover from his injury and be the same player again.

That was a fun series in 84 with Wings. That was an interesting Detroit team with all those quality veterans to go with young guns Yzerman & Ogrodnick. Parks last year in NHL and he still put up 58 points. What a pro.

 

[norrisnick]

In the '03-'04 season Yzerman briefly led the league in PIMs after picking up 34PIM against Nashville. All unsportsmanlike. The refs lost control of the game and Stevie was letting them have it. That was a wild game to watch. Not often in that time frame that you'd see Chelios pick up a fighting major. Maltby had 2 that game as well.

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[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Yeah, the weirdest thing ever is how Yzerman was on the '84 team but not the '87 or '91 team.

Savard, we know Sather didn't like, probably mainly for their personality clash. But I have no idea why Hawerchuk wasn't there...

One person is responsible for this: Mike f***ing Keenan. He cut Yzerman from both for whatever reason.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

In the '03-'04 season Yzerman briefly led the league in PIMs after picking up 34PIM against Nashville. All unsportsmanlike. The refs lost control of the game and Stevie was letting them have it. That was a wild game to watch. Not often in that time frame that you'd see Chelios pick up a fighting major. Maltby had 2 that game as well.
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I remember that game! That was Jiri Fischer's revenge on Scott Hartnell.

Hartnell gave Fischer a really dirty slewfoot that tore Fischer's ACL and took him out for the season after he was looking like he was finally growing into a 2nd pair spot and probably playing the best hockey of his life.



That game was TERRIBLY officiated. Mike Peel and Tim Leggo were on deck for that disaster.
The Refs Were Wrong, But Does the League Care?

 

[cupcrazyman]

I remember that game! That was Jiri Fischer's revenge on Scott Hartnell.

Hartnell gave Fischer a really dirty slewfoot that tore Fischer's ACL and took him out for the season after he was looking like he was finally growing into a 2nd pair spot and probably playing the best hockey of his life.



That game was TERRIBLY officiated. Mike Peel and Tim Leggo were on deck for that disaster.
The Refs Were Wrong, But Does the League Care?

Officials are Tim Peel & Mike Leggo. lol
Peel was dreadful when he reffed in the OHL.

 

[Nerowoy nora tolad]

Wasn't Yzerman also... how do I put this nicely... a bit of a dick on the ice, as regards the officials?

I think I read that he was the most hated player by NHL officials at some point earlier in his career. I'm not sure if this was in the very early days under discussion here, or maybe a bit later...

(Of course, lots of players are dicks to the officials, esp. when they're young.)

I mean, strictly speaking the job of any player on the ice wearing a letter is to lean on the official for all theyre worth. You cant swear or get out of line wearing a letter, but youd better be ready to argue your case to the ref till he hopes youll shut up