NHL

Wings captain handles reduced role with class

By TOM JONES
Published December 11, 2005

A great career is nearing an end. But it's not over quite yet.

Or is it? Now only the shell of the player he was in his prime, Detroit captain Steve Yzerman admits retirement might not be far off.

"I have no plans to retire in the near future," Yzerman said. "But the plan could change. I don't want to say much more other than (retirement) is something to ponder."

At 40, Yzerman has seen his ice time diminish. He has only four goals and recently withdrew from consideration for the Canadian Olympic team.

As always, however, Yzerman is handling the final chapter of his career with class, never once whining about ice time.

"He could make it real hard for me, but he has been nothing but beyond classy and professional," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "He has never come to me and said, "Hey, I need more ice time.' If he wasn't a top-notch individual like he is, it would be harder to deal with."

How much longer will Stevie Y play?

"When I decide to retire, it's going to be because I can't compete hard enough, or I'm not effective enough, to warrant a position on the team," Yzerman said. "Other guys are playing in situations I customarily play in, but I think it's important as the captain to accept whatever role I'm given and play well.

"People have to understand it's a different Detroit Red Wings now. Things are changing around here. We all have to accept that. I have to accept that."

KEEPING QUIET: Chicago coach Trent Yawney said it was his decision to not play goalie Nikolai Khabibulin when the Hawks made their only Tampa Bay appearance recently. But a few days after the game, he said, "If Nik would have come to me and said he really wanted the game, I would have given it to him, but he never said that."

REMEMBER HIM?: Looks as if former first-round pick Daymond Langkow, who never lived up to expectations in Tampa Bay, finally has discovered his game with the Flames. He's playing on the top line with Jarome Iginla.

"He's looking confident and comfortable," Iginla said. "You can just see he feels a little more comfortable now. I imagine it's different when you go to a new environment and everything. He's just settling in and playing great."

WEIRD NUMBERS: Speaking of the Flames, they recently completed a five-game road trip in which they picked up seven of a possible 10 points despite scoring only 10 goals.

Tuesday, they became the first team in NHL history to lose a game on a night their goalie recorded a shutout. Miikka Kiprusoff officially got credit for the shutout even though Calgary lost the scoreless game in a shootout.

MURRAY VS. MURRAY: The new schedule is supposed to create rivalries because teams play division opponents eight times. But one of the best rivalries is between teams that played once and won't play again unless they meet in the final: Ottawa vs. Los Angeles.

The teams don't like one another because the coaches - Ottawa's Bryan Murray and Los Angeles' Andy Murray - don't like one another.

Each side accused the other of running goalies and starting fights in a game last week, and the rivalry got really goofy when Bryan Murray got into it with Kings color analyst Jim Fox, who called Murray "crazy" during the telecast.

"He was just frustrated with what I said," Fox said. "He didn't touch me or anything like that."

"If you're going to call a guy crazy, you should at least ask him what happened (during the game)," Murray said.

KING ANNOYING: The Kings' Sean Avery, whose mouth has gotten him in trouble on and off the ice over the past few seasons, doesn't have many friends in hockey. But he does have an ally in former Red Wings teammate Mathieu Dandenault, who now plays for Montreal.

"He's really a decent guy," Dandenault said. "He doesn't believe most of the stuff he says. He just likes to be the center of attention."

By the way, Avery's nickname is Puppy.

"He came into training camp (with Detroit in 2001) and told everyone that he wanted to be known as Dog," Dandenault said. "But ( Kris) Draper looked at him and said, "You're no dog. You're a puppy.' "

ICE CHIPS: Anyone notice the Sabres are 10-1-1 in their past 12? ... The Bruins are on pace for 68 points, which would be their second-lowest full season total since 1967. It's hard to imagine general manager Mike O'Connell lasting much longer. ... Ottawa's Martin Havlat will miss three months after shoulder surgery. He should be back before the playoffs, but the injury is a major blow to the Czech Olympic team.

Information from the Detroit News, Ottawa Citizen, Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, Montreal Gazette and Calgary Herald was used in this report.

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]