DETROIT -- If you're hoping to see No. 19 on the ice one more time in a Detroit Red Wings sweater, you'll likely be disappointed.
Meeting with the Detroit media before Saturday’s Red Wings-Lightning game, former Wings great and current Tampa GM Steve Yzerman didn't sound at all committed to playing for the Wings alumni in their Winter Classic showdown against the Toronto Maple Leafs alumni on Dec. 31 at Comerica Park.
In fact, Yzerman claims he doesn’t even own a pair of skates anymore.
“I’ve been pretty busy with our team and I’ve been watching a lot of hockey game for the Olympics, so I haven’t really looked that far ahead,” said Yzerman, who's also the GM of Canada’s Olympic hockey team.
As it stands now, Detroit GM Ken Holland hasn’t reached out to Yzerman about the alumni game, and according to Yzerman, his hectic schedule might preclude him from attending the Winter Classic at all.
Yzerman said that he enjoys being in management and loves being at the rink, but he doesn’t have the urge to get back out on the ice.
"I’ve had skates on three times (since his retirement) to do something minor," Yzerman said. “I’ve kind of moved on. I don’t have time to skate, and I don’t have a real desire to do it.”
Yzerman captained the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup titles and spent his entire 23-year NHL career in Detroit. He retired after the 2005-06 season, and his number was retired by the Wings in January 2007. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.
Before taking the GM job in Tampa in May 2010, Yzerman worked in the Detroit front office as a team vice president and alternate governor.
YZERMAN'S TAKE ON CURRENT WINGS
It's been a season of inconsistency so far for the Red Wings, but their former captain believes that they're still among the NHL’s best.
"I’ve watched some of their games, and they’re incredibly well-respected around the league," Yzerman said. "Pav (Pavel Datsyuk) and Hank (Henrik Zetterberg) are at the top of their game. Jimmy (Howard) has become one of the elite goaltenders. They’re in every game.
"They’ve battled some injuries. They still haven’t been able to get their full lineup.
"I’ve been really impressed with the development of their young D (defensemen). They’ve got lots of great young players coming."
Yzerman said that the Wings organization remains the measuring stick for all other organizations.
"They keep churning out players, they keep coming back, they’re extremely well-coached and they’re well run."
As for the Wings' move to the Eastern Conference, Yzerman said it shouldn’t affect their style of play at all.
"I don’t think they’ll have to adjust," he said. "The strength and power of teams goes from year to year, almost month to month, really.
"We’ve added one of the top teams in the league into our conference and into our division, so it’s harder (to make the playoffs)."
