Longtime Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman is moving from the dressing room to the boardroom.
The Red Wings announced Monday that Yzerman is now the team's vice-president. The former NHL star will work alongside the Red Wings' management team of senior vice-president Jim Devellano, general manager Ken Holland and assistant general manager Jim Nill.
"After retiring as the longest-serving captain in NHL history and the on-ice leader of our franchise for 23 years, it is only fitting that he join our management team in a meaningful position," Red Wings owner Mike Illitch said in a release.
Steve Yzerman sits sixth on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 1,755 career points.
(Carlos Osorio/Associated Press)
"I'm confident Steve will bring the same passion and dedication he displayed on the ice to our management team and help us make the Detroit Red Wings the best we can be."
Yzerman, 41, announced his retirement as a player on July 3 after 22 seasons. He spent his entire career with the same team — a rarity in modern professional sports — and was the Red Wings' captain for 19 seasons.
Yzerman, who was born in Cranbrook, B.C., but grew up in the Ottawa suburb of Nepean, retired with 1,755 career points. That places him sixth on the all-time NHL scoring list.
The 10-time all-star guided the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup titles and was a member of the Canadian team that captured Olympic gold at the 2002 Salt City Winter Games.
The Red Wings plan to retire Yzerman's No. 19 jersey before a pre-game ceremony on Jan. 2 before an encounter with the Anaheim Ducks.
His jersey will join Terry Sawchuk's No. 1, Ted Lindsay's No. 7, Gordie Howe's No. 9, Alex Delvecchio's No. 10, and Sid Abel's No. 12 in the rafters at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
With files from the Canadian Press
