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Yzerman, Pronger departures highlight big day of dealing
2006-07-04
The winds of change swept through the NHL for a third straight day on Monday with Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman announcing his retirement and the Edmonton Oilers trading leading defenseman Chris Pronger to Anaheim. While Pronger and Yzerman were saying their good-byes, other players were happy to stay put, including Ottawa Senators Jason Spezza who agreed to a two-year $9 million deal to remain with the club. There were tears in Detroit, however, where Yzerman bid an emotional farewell to fans and the team where he spent his entire 22-year career, leading the Red Wings to three Stanley Cups and Canada to a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Games. "I've had a wonderful career and I will really miss it," Yzerman told reports, fighting back tears. Detroit's first round pick (fourth overall) in the 1983 draft, Yzerman was the longest-serving captain in NHL history at 19 seasons and departs as the league's sixth leading all-time scorer with 1,755 points, including 692 goals. A 10-time All-Star, Yzerman won many awards. He was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team in 1984, won the Lester B. Pearson Award honoring the league's outstanding player in 1989, and the Conn Smythe Trophy honoring the playoff MVP in 1998. Accolades from the league and his peers, including Hall of Famers and one-time Team Canada team mates Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, came flowing in as Yzerman made his announcement. "With his leadership and determination, with his devotion to the team concept, with his refusal to accept anything less than the best, Steve Yzerman became the symbol of the Detroit Red Wings' standard of excellence in the modern era," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. SHOCKED FANS Pronger's departure from Edmonton was greeted with anger more than sadness. Considered the top prize in this year's free agency market that began on Saturday, Pronger shocked Edmonton fans when he asked to be traded for unspecified personal reasons. The news was especially surprising after Pronger helped lead the underdog Oilers to the brink of winning the Stanley Cup against the Carolina Hurricanes. In exchange for the all-star defenseman, the Oilers received rising offensive star Joffrey Lupul, prospect defenseman Ladislav Smid and a stockpile of draft picks from the Ducks. Pronger spent just one season in Edmonton scoring 12 goals and making 44 assists but was a workhorse in the post-season, logging close to 30 minutes of ice time per game while scoring five goals and setting up 16 others. The Senators moved swiftly to lock up one of their young talents, signing Spezza to a two-year deal. The second overall pick in the 2001 draft, 23-year-old center enjoyed a breakout season last year, scoring 19 goals while setting a Senators single season record for assists with 71. Veteran defenseman Teppo Numminen also agreed to stay with the Buffalo Sabres while the Atlanta Thrashers signed New York Rangers center Steve Rucchin and Switzerland's Glen Metropolit, who helped Lugano to the Swiss League title last season. The San Jose Sharks signed a pair of free agents, acquiring Buffalo Sabres winger Mike Grier and Chicago Blackhawks forward Curtis Brown.
Osgood blanks Pens again; Red Wings halfway to Cup (2008-05-27)Kings no match for high-flying Red Wings (2007-01-01)Yzerman, Pronger departures highlight big day of dealing (2006-07-04)Yzerman hangs up skates after 22 seasons with Red Wings (2006-07-03)Hemsky Leads Oilers Into Second Round (2006-05-02)
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