Red Wings Rookie Rewind: Steve Yzerman
Let's rewind the tape and look back at the rookie season of Red Wings legend and current general manager Steve Yzerman
Everyone loves looking back at the history of their favourite players, especially their rookie season when they just broke into the league. That’s what this article series is going to endeavour to do, rewind the tape and let you re-live the glory of their first season in the NHL.
From their first NHL goal to milestones and exciting moments, this will either be a nostalgic flashback or an exciting introduction to Detroit Red Wings history. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the next player to be featured in this series, Hockeytown great and current general manager Steve Yzerman.
Flashback to the 1983 Draft When Yzerman Was Selected 4th Overall
Looking back at the 1983 Draft, Yzerman could have been a first-overall pick with how his career turned out. Pacing everyone ahead of him with 692 goals and 1,755 points, Pat Lafontaine was the only player who was even close to his numbers at 468 goals and 1,013 points. Brian Lawton, selected first by the Minnesota North Stars, only put up 266 points in 483 games and never established himself in the NHL as an impact player, while Sylvain Turgeon had a decent career with 669 games and 495 points.
However, all three of them couldn’t hold a light to Yzerman, who is one of only 20 players to hit the 600-goal plateau and is in a group of only 11 to get 1,700 points. In addition to all that, he has three Stanley Cup rings, a Lester B Pearson Award, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Selke Trophy, Masterton Trophy and is part of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players list. Oh yes, he’s also in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Oct. 5, 1983: Yzerman Makes His NHL Debut & Scores His First Goal
Goaltender: Doug Soetaert (Los Angeles Kings)
Time of the Goal: 14:46 of the 1st period (assisted by Eddie Johnstone & Bob Manno)
Yzerman didn’t take long to score his first goal. In fact, he did it in his debut with the Red Wings on Oct. 5, 1983, 14:46 into his NHL career. As a baby-faced 18 years, 149 days, he became the youngest Red Wing to score his first goal, surpassing Murray Cravin who did it earlier in the year on Jan. 15, 1983, versus the Toronto Maple Leafs at 18 years, 179 days.
Yzerman also had his first multi-point game, tallying a primary assist on Eddie Johnstone’s goal in the third period to put the Wings ahead 6-5. The game ended in a 6-6 tie; Yzerman finished with two points, three shots on goal and minus-1 in the plus/minus column.
The Rest of Yzerman’s Rookie Campaign
Yzerman had another two-point effort in his second game against the New Jersey Devils tallying two assists. With four points in his first two games, fans were quickly realizing they had something special in the Cranbrook, BC native. In his first couple of months in the NHL, he wowed the hockey world with a 10-game point streak and 22 points (13 goals, nine assists) in his first 20 games.
Before the calendar flipped to 1984, Yzerman had 25 goals and 43 points in 38 games, including his first hat trick and four-point game on Dec. 23 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The early frontrunner for the Calder Trophy, the eventual captain of the Red Wings was well on his way to shattering franchise rookie records and notching a 50-goal season.
Yzerman didn’t hit 50 goals, but he did have an impressive rookie campaign, finishing with 39 goals and 87 points in 80 games. He was one off the lead held by 1983 second-overall pick Turgeon but led all rookies in points. However, despite how dominant he was, fellow 18-year-old Tom Barrasso - one of only 16 goalies to win the award - walked away with the Calder Trophy after a season that saw him win 26 games and post a 2.85 goals-against average and .893 save percentage.
Yzerman did break two rookie records for the Red Wings though: most goals, eclipsing Mike Foligno’s 36 in 1979-80, and most points outpacing Marcel Dionne’s 77 in 1971-72. In the end, he finished second in the voting with 21 first-place nods to Barrasso’s 35.
Yzerman Was Dominant in the Playoffs, Even as a Rookie
Goaltender: Mike Liut (St. Louis Blues)
Time of the Goal: 8:43 of the 3rd period (assisted by Brad Park)
Yzerman was a prolific player in the playoffs throughout his career, and it all started in his first season. While the Red Wings were eliminated in four games by the St. Louis Blues, he scored three goals and six points. His first goal came in Game 2 on Mike Liut, and he had his first multi-goal effort in Game 3 when he scored two goals in a 4-3 double-overtime loss.
Yzerman was a fixture in the playoffs almost his entire career as the Red Wings only missed the postseason twice in his 22 years with the team. He finished with 70 goals and 185 points in 196 games, including a Conn Smythe Trophy in 1998 when he had six goals and 24 points, and a gutsy performance in 2001-02 when he was playing on one leg and still put up six goals and 23 points en route to his third Stanley Cup.
The Rest of Yzerman’s Career
Yzerman’s rookie season was only the beginning of an amazing career filled with goals, points, intense leadership and plenty of awards and accolades. He was a prolific goalscorer and point-getter and became one of the best two-way players in the sport. In his first 10 seasons, he had six straight campaigns of 100 or more points, hitting a career-high 155 in 1988-89. He also hit 60 goals twice and 50 three times. He played in all situations and was dangerous not only on the power play, but the penalty kill as well, tallying 118 power-play goals and 41 shorthanded goals.
By the time Yzerman hit 30 years old, he already had 481 goals and 1,160 points and before the age of 31, he was part of the 500-goal club. His 500th came against long-time rivals the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 17, 1996, a season where he tallied his 10th with 30 or more goals, finishing with 36.
After that, Yzerman’s production slowed significantly, but he still put up three 20-goal seasons and another 30-goal campaign. He also won a Selke Trophy in 1999-00 at 34 years old. Even though he was not the 60-goal, 100-point player he was in his 20s, he was still an important member of the Red Wings, leading the charge from the bottom-six and remaining clutch in the playoffs - even on one leg. He was the definition of leadership, hard work, and doing everything it took to win.
Life After Hockey
Following his retirement in 2006, Yzerman quickly entered the Red Wings’ front office as vice president of hockey operations. He held that title until 2010-11 when the Tampa Bay Lightning came calling with the VP and GM job. He helped build the Lightning into perennial Stanley Cup contenders, but never raised the Cup with them as he returned to the Red Wings as their GM the season the Lightning won their second championship in the 2020 bubble.
Yzerman has been the Red Wings executive vice president and GM since the 2019-20 season and has yet to bring them back to the playoffs. They have improved season after season, though, and currently sit tied for the first wild card spot with Yzerman’s former team, the Lightning.
Interesting Facts/Stats
Yzerman was named captain of the Red Wings in 1986-87 at the young age of 21 and wore the “C” for 19 seasons until his retirement in 2006. He was aptly nicknamed “The Captain” and has gone down as one of the most well-respected leaders hockey has ever known.
Yzerman scored the most goals in his career against the Maple Leafs (61)
Yzerman was most successful in December, scoring 132 goals and 324 points.
On the franchise leaderboard, Yzerman sits fourth in games played (1,514), second in goals (692), first in assists (1,063), second in points (1,755), second in power play goals (202), first in shorthanded goals (50) and second in game-winning goals (94).
Yzerman had 18 career hat tricks, only one behind Gordie Howe’s 19.
Yzerman still holds the longest goal streak at nine games (twice; 1988-89 and 1991-92). He also has the rookie record at six games.
As for point streaks, Yzerman holds that as well at 28 games and 22 games doing it in 1988-89 and 1987-88 respectively.
All stats were courtesy of Hockey Reference
That does it for the latest Rookie Rewind for the THW premium Substack. Stay tuned for the next one coming soon!