Friday, February 8, 2002
Yzerman not playing games
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- If Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman doesn't have a good leg to stand on, he won't skate for Canada.
While the centre from Nepean expects to be recovered from knee surgery he had 10 days ago, he said yesterday he'll withdraw from Team Canada if he hasn't.
The 36-year-old Yzerman said he skated for 20 minutes yesterday -- a day earlier than expected -- and intends to return to Detroit's lineup for games Monday against Montreal and Wednesday against Minnesota, which will ultimately determine whether he's healthy enough to represent Canada.
Should Yzerman be forced to miss the Games, Team Canada associate coach Jacques Martin told the Sun Boston's Joe Thornton is at the top of the replacement list, along with Edmonton's Anson Carter.
"If I'm not going to be an effective player, then I'm not going to go to the Games," Yzerman said. "The way I'm feeling now and the way the knee is feeling, I fully expect to play. Everything should be fine, but if I don't feel 100%, then I wouldn't be doing the team any good by going. This isn't the kind of tournament where you can go in and feel 70%. These are all tough games and you have to be able to contribute."
Yzerman injured the knee nearly two weeks ago and tried playing through it in a game against St. Louis. An X-ray and an MRI exam were inconclusive and he opted for arthroscopic surgery "because it was bothering me and I felt my play was suffering."
He said doctors repaired a slight tear in the meniscus on the knee and cleaned out some loose cartilage.
Yzerman spoke with Team Canada GM Wayne Gretzky following the surgery.
"I called to let him know where I was at and that I feel good. I should be able to play next week as long as it all goes well," said Yzerman, who will miss the Wings' game against the Senators tomorrow at the Corel Centre.
Though many fans would like Gretzky to get Thornton on the team if Yzerman can't go, there's a belief that Carter may be ahead of him on the list. Don't forget Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe also has a say in what happens.
Despite the setback, Yzerman is excited about a chance to bring home the gold medal.
"To me, everybody remembers the team that finished first and then there's everybody else," Yzerman said. "I guess you could say we won our silver medal in 1995 in the Stanley Cup final when we finished second and it sure didn't mean much to anyone here. People want gold."
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
