A Twist On Shakespeare: To Retire or not to Retire…
A Twist On Shakespeare: To Retire or not to Retire…
by matt benjamin
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Act I: Happy Birthday, Man!
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Steve Yzerman turned 41 on Tuesday.Â
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His gift?
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A homework assignment from Ken Holland, the Detroit Red Wings general manager, in which he must decide whether he wants to return or retire.Â
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Yzerman had hoped a long playoff run would postpone thoughts of retirement, but when the Red Wings were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round, the thought process began early. So he began to think, and after recently meeting with Holland, as reported by the Detroit News, Steve has asked for more time, and has yet to make a decision about next season.Â
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It was supposed to be a simple decision: Yzerman was to retire. The Edmonton series was the bittersweet ending to Yzerman’s illustrious career. Is this request for “more time†a sign that he may be back? That I do not know, and do not wish to speculate on. However, I do know that as long as he has not exclaimed, “I am done.†he is still an active Red Wing.    Â
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We all know Yzerman has the heart, passion and desire to continue his career sporting the winged-wheel on his chest; but is his body up for it? Yzerman has been plagued with injuries during his career; in particular, those that have appeared recently may be his body’s way of encouraging him to hang up his skates.Â
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So in the coming weeks, it will be up to him to weigh the pros and cons of returning for a 23rd season. His announcement will ultimately decide if Hockeytown’s next glimpse of number 19 is on the ice, or hanging in the rafters next to the jerseys of the “Production Line.â€Â
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Most of us relax on our birthdays, enjoy time with our families and eat an entire cake.Â
Steve? Steve gets to ponder the biggest decision of his life, one that ultimately affects him, his family and a city that is completely consumed by their professional hockey franchise. So Happy Birthday Steve; enjoy it. We only turn 41 once, so go crazy!
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Act II: Look At His Resume
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This is going to take awhile. Ready? I’ll try to recite it in one breath…and go…
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Statistically, he has earned 692 goals, and 1,063 assists, totaling 1,755 points (making him 6th all-time) during the regular season. Come playoff time he is just as productive, as he has provided 70 goals, and 115 assists, giving him 185 playoff points. His overall plus/minus rating during his career is at 202. He has been captain of the Detroit Red Wings since 1986, making him the longest reigning captain in NHL history (19 seasons).  Â
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I can’t make it. Give me a minute. Breathe in, and exhale…
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After being selected 4th overall in the 1983 NHL entry draft he has been invited to the NHL All-Star game ten times, the last invitation during the 2000 season. Individually he has collected the Lester B. Pearson Award (1989), the Conn Smythe Trophy (1998), the Frank J. Selke Trophy (2000) and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (2003). Finally, he has also earned a bronze medal at the 1983 World Junior Championships, a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and three Stanley Cups with Detroit (1997, 1998 and 2002).
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Done. Phew. (hands on knees) Huff. Huff.
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If you want statistics, Yzerman’s got them. And they show he would be a valuable asset to the Red Wings next season. After all that he has accomplished, it seems idiotic to think that his expertise on the ice wouldn’t be beneficial in pursuing the organization’s 11th Stanley Cup.
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More importantly though, is the leadership and experience that he would bring to the forefront. Â
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When the team is down, they listen to what the captain has to say. When the team needs a big goal, they look for the captain to score it. When the team needs a shift in momentum, they see the captain make an impeding hit.
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In every situation Yzerman is there, working his tail off to do anything he can do to help the team. He doesn’t panic in high-stress situations. He has one goal in mind every year; to win the cup. Because he has won all the individual awards and has numerous scoring titles, all he cares about each season is raising that big silver jug over his head. Nothing else matters.
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This team needs him.Â
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Act III: A New Era, Calls For New Leadership
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When the final horn sounded, and the Edmonton Oilers had defeated the Red Wings in the first round of this year’s playoffs, Yzerman was the first one off the bench to shake the hands of the Oiler coaching staff. He had accepted the loss, and seemed ready to move on.Â
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This is not to say he didn’t care that we had lost. But the fact is, at the point that he is at in his career, his desire to win has slightly changed because he has already won. I absolutely believe Steve wants to win every year. But when he doesn’t, he can reflect on the three championships he has already won, and feel content. It is hard not to feel content when you have had a career like the one Yzerman has experienced.Â
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This is tough to explain, because I am not trying to suggest that Yzerman has lost the competitive edge. Still, it would be unfair to say his hunger to win the Stanley Cup is the same as when he had none, compared to now, when he has earned three.Â
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That means it is time for the younger men on this team to step up. For those on the team who have never won the Stanley Cup to lead Detroit to another championship. It is their time.
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The question is; can they lead with Yzerman still on the team? Is it possible for new leadership to take place, when a player of Yzerman’s stature remains on the roster?
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As we watched the Red Wings most recent playoff exit, we were frustrated to see the youngsters like Jason Williams and Pavel Datsyuk struggle to lead us through the first round. Is it possible that they were waiting for the captain to do it? Moreover, is it fair to continue to put the burden of winning in the playoffs on Steve, this late in his career?
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Act IV: Looking For Insight
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It is impossible to imagine what Yzerman is going through. For someone who has turned his hockey lifestyle into his career, I cannot even begin to fathom the amount of stress he has endured these past weeks as he works to figure out his future. But I do wonder as Yzerman talks to citizens around Hockeytown, whom, if anyone, would ask, or even suggest to him, that it is time to retire?
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His wife? It’s possible Lisa wants to spend more time with her husband, but I’d be willing to bet she is more likely to say something to Steve like, “Just do what your heart is telling you. If you want to play, then play for another year,†rather then, “Please retire, we need you at home.â€Â Â
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General manager Ken Holland? I doubt it. Recently on the radio Holland proclaimed his desire to have the captain back for one more season. He watched Yzerman during the short-lived 2006 playoff run in awe as he was one of the best Red Wings on the ice. So I think we would have to look elsewhere to find someone requesting a retirement.
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Head coach Mike Babcock? It is possible. In his second season, Babcock might feel that it is necessary for Steve to step down so that he can begin to make the Red Wings his own team. After all, Steve has earned the right to call this his team as long as he is playing. Still, Babcock is humbled by Yzerman’s accomplishments, and would never ask such a established veteran to step down.
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The fans? That’s a joke right?
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Steve Yzerman? Actually yes. The only person that would tell Steve to step down, would be Steve. If he thinks he can no longer contribute on the ice, he will retire. Or if he thinks he no longer wants to risk being injured in exchange for another Stanley Cup, he would retire. Finally, if he thinks the organization will be unable to move forward while he is still on the team, because the younger players won’t be willing to step up and lead while he is still playing, he will also retire.Â
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Steve Yzerman is one of the most unselfish athletes in professional sports. His decision won’t be made without taking into account the feelings of those involved in the organization, as well as his own.Â
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Act V: Curtain Call?
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On Tuesday, when Steve was blowing out his birthday candles, he probably wished for this decision to be made for him.
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He probably got a bike instead.
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Yzerman has earned the right to make this decision alone. He has earned the right to take as much time as he needs. It won’t be easy. Because in the end he will have to decide if all the pain, if all the suffering of an entire season is worth the opportunity to possibly be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Because in the NHL nothing is guaranteed.Â
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We know he can play. We know he can lead. It is now up to him to decide if he wants to commit to professional hockey for another year, and postpone retirement one more time
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