During the offseason, Yzerman underwent a knee realignment surgery known as an osteotomy.[35] He missed the first 61 games of the 2002–03 season, but returned on February 24, 2003, at home against the Los Angeles Kings.] After the season, Yzerman won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance.
On May 1, 2004, Yzerman was hit in the eye by a deflected slapshot by the Calgary Flames defenceman Rhett Warrener in a playoff game, breaking his orbital bone and scratching his cornea.
On August 2, 2005, Yzerman signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings; this was his last contract signed as a player. On March 31, 2006, he scored his 691st NHL career goal, passing Mario Lemieux for eighth place all-time. Yzerman's humility was evident in an interview prior to his achievement when he was quoted saying, "I don't really know the significance. If anything, it shows how good [Lemieux] is; he played almost five years less than I did." He scored his final NHL goal, the 692nd of his career, on April 3, 2006, in a game against the Calgary Flames.[15] Yzerman played his last professional hockey game on May 1, 2006, a loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the first round of the 2006 playoffs and knocking Detroit out of the playoffs.
On January 2, 2007, the Red Wings retired Yzerman's jersey #19 before a game against the Anaheim Ducks. As an additional honour, the captain's "C" was added to the corner of his banner to forever commemorate him as "The Captain". The official retirement ceremony was hosted by Yzerman's long-time friend, former NHL goaltender and ESPN hockey analyst Darren Pang, and featured such Red Wing luminaries as Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio and Scotty Bowman. For the ceremony, active Red Wings players wore Yzerman throwback jerseys representing the Red Wings, Team Canada (Canada won gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games), the Campbell Conference All-Star Team and the Peterborough Petes. Former teammate Vladimir Konstantinov attended the ceremony, walking across the ice for the first time without a wheelchair since his last game in the 1997 playoffs.
Yzerman was considered a leading candidate for the captaincy of Team Canada in 1998, along with Wayne Gretzky and Ray Bourque. Yzerman had led the Detroit Red Wings to the Stanley Cup during the previous season and was one of the longest-serving team captains. However, general manager Bobby Clarke instead selected Eric Lindros.
Personal life
Yzerman and his wife Lisa Brennan have three daughters.They reside in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Yzerman resided in Hillsborough County, Florida during his tenure with the Lightning. Yzerman has acquired naturalized United States' citizenship as a result of his many years of residence in Michigan.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1980–81 Nepean Raiders CJHL 50 38 54 92 44 — — — — —
1981–82 Peterborough Petes OHL 58 21 43 64 65 6 0 1 1 16
1982–83 Peterborough Petes OHL 56 42 49 91 65 4 1 4 5 0
1983–84 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 39 48 87 33 4 3 3 6 0
1984–85 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 30 59 89 58 3 2 1 3 2
1985–86 Detroit Red Wings NHL 51 14 28 42 16 — — — — —
1986–87 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 31 59 90 43 16 5 13 18 8
1987–88 Detroit Red Wings NHL 64 50 52 102 44 3 1 3 4 6
1988–89 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 65 90 155 61 6 5 5 10 2
1989–90 Detroit Red Wings NHL 79 62 65 127 79 — — — — —
1990–91 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 51 57 108 34 7 3 3 6 4
1991–92 Detroit Red Wings NHL 79 45 58 103 64 11 3 5 8 12
1992–93 Detroit Red Wings NHL 84 58 79 137 44 7 4 3 7 4
1993–94 Detroit Red Wings NHL 58 24 58 82 36 3 1 3 4 0
1994–95 Detroit Red Wings NHL 47 12 26 38 40 15 4 8 12 0
1995–96 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 36 59 95 64 18 8 12 20 4
1996–97 Detroit Red Wings NHL 81 22 63 85 78 20 7 6 13 4
1997–98 Detroit Red Wings NHL 75 24 45 69 46 22 6 18 24 22
1998–99 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 29 45 74 42 10 9 4 13 0
1999–2000 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 35 44 79 34 8 0 4 4 0
2000–01 Detroit Red Wings NHL 54 18 34 52 18 1 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Detroit Red Wings NHL 52 13 35 48 18 23 6 17 23 10
2002–03 Detroit Red Wings NHL 16 2 6 8 8 4 0 1 1 2
2003–04 Detroit Red Wings NHL 75 18 33 51 46 11 3 2 5 0
2005–06 Detroit Red Wings NHL 61 14 20 34 18 4 0 4 4 4
NHL totals [99] 1,514 692 1,063 1,755 924 196 70 115 185 84
Boldface denotes career high in each statistics.
International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
1983 Canada WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 2 3 5 2
1984 Canada CC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 0 0 0 0
1985 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 3 4 7 6
1989 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 8 5 7 12 2
1990 Canada WC 4th 10 9 10 19 8
1996 Canada WCH 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 2 1 3 0
1998 Canada OG 4th 6 1 1 2 10
2002 Canada OG 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 2 4 6 2
Junior totals 7 2 3 5 2
Senior totals 50 22 27 49 28
