Steve Yzerman Good Quotations

I would have loved the opportunity to play against Ottawa this year. We missed the entire division. Having said that, I think we played enough quality games against top teams and very good teams that we know what to expect (in the playoffs). We played well on the road. We played well at home. We went into good teams? buildings and won.

Regardless of how the game is played, there will be low-scoring games, and good teams have to win 1-0 or 2-1 (in the playoffs).

Having the best players in the world playing in the Olympics is good for hockey. Regardless of who wins, you're talking about growing the sport. It's the biggest worldwide event as far as hockey goes. It's important we continue it.

We've had a good season and given ourselves a lot of hope for the playoffs.

They've got a lot of good players, a good defense, and I think Mason has played very well for them when he's been in the net. It's tough to lose a goalie that's been so good for you, but they still have a strong team.

If anything, it shows how good he was because he played probably four or five years less than I did. So, that's quite an achievement by him than anything I've done.

His work ethic is really a good example for the younger guys. Just the experience of being through three Olympic Games will really help settle things down.

He's a good open ice hitter. Not the kind of guy who will deliver the big hit on the glass. He will get a reputation for that.

I wore No. 19 because of Bryan Trottier. I liked the overall aspect of his game. I liked the way he conducted himself on the ice. He was a quiet guy. He played really hard; just a good all-around, prototypical center man who could do everything.

Whether somebody is really competent - whether he has a good hockey mind, whether he's a good person to lead a hockey club - is something determined over a long period of time, not one tournament.

Our team's goal is always to win the Stanley Cup. I don't want to get too carried away with this regular-season success because we've had playoff disappointments the last few years, and I don't forget those. I do think it's overlooked how good a job this organization does finding players, drafting players. That's been the illusion, that we just go out and buy a team.

I didn't have quite as much jump as the game went on, but in general I felt pretty good. And when I show that I'm able to handle more and I'm effective, I'll play more. We really have some pretty good depth, so there isn't really a need to have somebody play a ton. And my situation allows me to play more if need be.

He's a really good guy. He's a popular guy. I think it's a matter of teams wanting him.