Post-Game Talk: Goodnight, Joe

[Shoalzie]

That new arena is going to be great but you can't help but miss the old barn already. It's going to take a while for LCA to feel like home. You'd hope missing the playoffs once in 26 years isn't going to dampen the spirits of the fanbase and they'll be back at it again next fall with as much energy and passion as ever. A great send-off last night...

Goodbye Joe!

 

[JPE123]

Yzerman kept talking like he's still a member of the Red Wings. His interviews were interesting.

It seemed obvious to me he will end up in detroit one day.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

Guy played 23 years in that building. And they weren't wasted. He won alot of hardware. Why wouldn't he?

The point was... he's the GM of another hockey team. He could come back (if he does) and say generic crap about how the fans were great or whatever, but that almost felt like a stump speech for the future of the Wings (aka a team that if they're playing for the Cup, then Yzerman's team cannot).

It is a fine line and more likely than not nothing, but you can read into the way he said stuff that his heart still bleeds red and white, not blue and white.

I don't want to read into it too much. I just think that he's got a crazy appreciation for the city he called how for 23 years in that he shows up to as many alumni things as he does and does as many of the events as he does, but he's committed to the job of bringing Tampa a title.

That being said, there is a 90%+ chance that at some point soon he's up in Detroit GM'ing this team.

 

[Dotter]

There's a running thread on Tampa's forum about Yzerman leaving to Detroit. They aren't amused.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Danny Gare was too busy, eh?

I'm not even sure how many people here know that he was the Wings captain before Stevie.

Being captain of the Dead Wings, I'm guessing he might not have had fond memories of the Joe.

 

[Flowah]

Here's a stat that you guys might have missed, if Sheahan had scored at a 2 goal pace all season, he would have broken the single season record AND we would be in the playoffs.

Showing once again how worthless advanced stats are.

 

[Retire91]

Great game, now let's get the team under Yzerman's control to start a new era in a new building.

A lot of friends posted pictures from the Joe many of them took their kids, that stadium was packed with the team's most hard core fans.

 

[Winger98]

There's a running thread on Tampa's forum about Yzerman leaving to Detroit. They aren't amused.

I'm not sure TB really needs to worry that much. They aren't going to let Yzerman out of his deal before it's up, especially to go to a division rival. Meanwhile, things have to line up in Detroit with Holland moving out of the way at the right time, something that's far from guaranteed.

 

[Ezekial]

If Holland were to sign a one year extension I would feel a lot better about Stevie Y coming home.

 

[Syckle78]

Finally had time to watch the ceremony. Uh what the hell was Holland doing up in the box by himself with a miserable look on his face?

 

[JPE123]

Finally had time to watch the ceremony. Uh what the hell was Holland doing up in the box by himself with a miserable look on his face?

Drawing up a new contract extension for sheahan

 

[drwings40]

What an amazing night and ceremony!
Z with a goal and assist in his 1000th game, kind of a PO atmosphere+intensity, a lot of great memories, good win and obviously I was happy for Sheahan too.

 

[Retire91]

Does anyone have a screen shot of Holland in the press box? I like pictures of Holland looking sad

 

[theD86]

Finally had time to watch the ceremony. Uh what the hell was Holland doing up in the box by himself with a miserable look on his face?

Was this when the fans were chanting "Come home Stevie" ?

 

[Hadoop]

Despite the fact the this was a disappointing year I but just wanted to say the Goodbye to the Joe ceremony was amazing (thank god Fox Sports Detroit posted the entire ceremony on youtube). So many great memories and so many former players from the 80s, 90s and the 00s - and not just the stars either. Loved that even the players were soaking it in with many waving to their family in the stands and recording the moment on their phones. It was sad at parts of course as it would have been so great if Gordie and Mr. I. were still around, but if anything the ceremony reaffirmed to me the Red Wings tradition will always live on. From the crowd to the speeches to the final hockey stick salute from the players to the fans and vice versa, it was everything the Wings and the Joe stood for. What a franchise, what a place, what a city.

P.S. Come home Stevie!

 

[TNigs]

Stevie's got 2 years left on his contract. The Wings won't be a contender for 2 years, go C/D or D/C in the first two rounds both years and pray they turn into pieces to build around. Kenny will keep his seat warm and mop up the mess he made with star length contracts to average players. (Abby, Helm, Ericsson, DDK)


Come home Stevie!

 

[Syckle78]

Was this when the fans were chanting "Come home Stevie" ?

No it was before that happened. Player announcements, I think? He was only shown once and was barely mentioned. Think Scotty is the only person to talk about him in passing along with the rest of the management group.

 

[Winger98]

To be fair to Holland, he just presided over the end of the streak and a disappointing season. That, along with the passing of Mr. I, etc., and the whole thing was probably more bitter than sweet for him.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

No, it's not a stretch of the imagination at all. The Ilitch family knows Steve belongs in Detroit, and Stevie Y has even hedged his bets and never sold his home in the area. He has been very receptive to participating in special Wings events, alumni game, etc even while working with Tampa Bay.

I'll be surprised if it DOESN'T happen.

There was a time not long ago when Yzerman could have run for Governor of Michigan just based on goodwill and name recognition.

A time? I think he would still win right now. Yzerman is going to be beloved around Detroit and the State of Michigan until they put him in the ground. He could easily be like Gordie if he choose to be. He still lives in the area and everyone will love him until his last day. In my opinion he is hands down the most popular athlete in Detroit in my lifetime.