Steve Yzerman Quotes

Canada, Ice Hockey Player
May 9, 1965

Stephen Gregory Yzerman is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent his entire National Hockey League (NHL) playing career with the Detroit Red Wings and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. After his retirement as a player he served in the front office of the Red Wings, and then as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, while also being executive director for Team Canada in two Olympics.

It's true that in Canada, we pride ourselves on the game, and we like to think we're the dominant hockey nation in the world.

Steve Yzerman
- Nation
- Hockey
- Dominant
And for the team, I always tried to do the right thing.

Steve Yzerman
- Team
- Tried
- Right Thing

People here want the team to win and to do well. The thing is, we know when to shoot the puck.

Steve Yzerman
- Win
- Shoot
- Puck
Playoff hockey is the best way to market your team. It's the best way to grow your fan base and give hope to your players and for them to develop.

Steve Yzerman
- Team
- Grow
- Playoff
I consider the Detroit Red Wings one of the greatest franchises in any sport. For a player to come in and play, it's so special to wear the jersey.

Steve Yzerman
- Player
- Sport
- Franchises
Whether somebody is really competent - whether he has a good hockey mind, whether he's a good person to lead a hockey club - is something determined over a long period of time, not one tournament.

Steve Yzerman
- Hockey
- Club
- Competent
When you're on the ice, you have very little time, you see very little, and everything happens really quick.

Steve Yzerman
- Happen
- Ice
- Quick
I also feel I adapted. I was willing to try to fit into any role. The way I figured, it was always up to me to prove my worth, that I deserved to be here.

Steve Yzerman
- Role
- Prove
- Deserve

I hope people like me and appreciate me the way I am.

Steve Yzerman
- People
- Appreciate
- I Am
We have to get better at that. All of the Stanley Cup winning teams throughout the past few seasons, when they needed to play defense, they did it. If you can play defense, that's when you know it's game over.

Steve Yzerman
- Game
- Play
- Defense