Steve Yzerman Quotes (83 Quotes)

I don't really have a specific goal other than for whatever role I have, to be productive in it. I'm not looking for any days off, or games off, or to be rested. I want to be productive.

But I think the job he's done is overlooked, just because of the talent we have.

I think it'll be a big loss for the NHL. Such a great player and conducted himself professionally. An exciting player to watch. Just so many highlights of things he could do on the ice.

I follow what's going on in the game, who's going where and what former players are doing, ... Whether you're in scouting or management or coaching, you have an impact and it matters how your team does. You make sure you do your job well because you have a potential to make a difference. Just being a part of an organization -- whether it be the Olympic program, or just your own club -- maybe you're not on the ice, but it still matters to you.

There used to be an old thing where every team had a heavy bag in their locker room for people to punch, but again, it was more about conditioning because if you hit a heavy bag for a minute, it feels like your arms are about to fall off.

Our team's goal is always to win the Stanley Cup. I don't want to get too carried away with this regular-season success because we've had playoff disappointments the last few years, and I don't forget those. I do think it's overlooked how good a job this organization does finding players, drafting players. That's been the illusion, that we just go out and buy a team.

I'm very confident my health isn't going to allow me to be a good player, especially in the spring.

We've played a lot of games against each other, and a playoff series, and lot of guys on their team, and on ours, have played in the other building. Home ice doesn't mean a thing. Everybody feels comfortable, and all the games have been good.

When you're on the ice, you have very little time, you see very little, and everything happens really quick.

He doesn't have to stand on his head, but everybody has certain expectations and responsibilities, and the starting goalie has to play well. If it's going to be Manny (starting the playoffs), he has to elevate his play over the next 20 games.

I'm not a big fan of the shootout, but it's in the rules now and you have to make the best of it,

You can't much stock in one or two games. But if we're able to win these games, it will open the gap a little bit more.

I don't really know the significance. If anything, it shows how good Lemieux is. He played almost five years less than I did.

(The Predators) are obviously our primary competition for the division and it was a chance to really open up a bigger gap and make it more difficult for them to catch us. We're more comfortable.

I'm going to skate again Saturday. I'm not ready to play today. We'll skate Saturday and determine whether Sunday is a go.

After Game 5 was over, everybody was upset and kind of thinking about the game and what went wrong, trying to figure it all out. Then gradually you start realizing, oh, we've got to get ready for the next game. So your attitude changes, your mood changes. We got in here Saturday night, and by the time everybody went to bed, I think everybody had gotten their frustration out.

I would have loved the opportunity to play against Ottawa this year. We missed the entire division. Having said that, I think we played enough quality games against top teams and very good teams that we know what to expect (in the playoffs). We played well on the road. We played well at home. We went into good teams buildings and won.

Some of the best young players in the game are Canadian, ... I don't care how many years you have played and how much success you have had. This is the only year that matters. ... To me, I have to earn the place.

It's been a great honor for me to be a player for the Detroit Red Wings, to play for an Original Six franchise. I know I'm far from perfect, but I learned a lot.

I really enjoyed it. I played a couple of preseason games, but the atmosphere tonight was totally different. The pace is much quicker and more intense, but it was easier to get into it.

I don't see (a new coaching perspective) being a problem, ... It's different. Mike's personality is just different than Dave Lewis' and Scotty's. ... Guys like a challenge.

Very few cities in the NHL have the history or the following of the Detroit Red Wings.

Every country's players play a similar style, every country is a little bit unique in how they play. I think those guys are really comfortable together on the ice. Whether it's just communication or just knowing the player a little bit better, I'm not sure, but it worked well with the Russians.

Balanced is probably what I am, although that's just a polite way to say that you don't do anything very well.

Whether it's been Ozzie or Manny in the net, we don't really have any concern. Doesn't change the way we play.

I can pretty much make a quick decision on what I want to do for the future.

I don't know much about the techniques of fighting, but I know throwing a punch on skates is a lot different than throwing a punch from the ground.

I have an eye injury now. I can't really afford another one. I wish that I'd had a visor on before.

Having the best players in the world playing in the Olympics is good for hockey. Regardless of who wins, you're talking about growing the sport. It's the biggest worldwide event as far as hockey goes. It's important we continue it.

He's a bright guy. Known him for a long time, so I'm not surprised at all. I think it's great for former players to be as involved as they can in the PA, especially a guy with a legal background.

The best thing for everybody is that we go home and analyze as an organization what happened, where we went wrong and what needs to be done for the future. I'd like to leave my personal situation for a few days, and next week I can probably make a decision on what I'm going to do.

Being out last year with an injury, I sat up high and watched a lot of games, and you see so much more and it just seems so much slower from up top.

And for the team, I always tried to do the right thing.