Martin Brodeur and Joe Sakic put up the numbers in leading Team Canada to a gold-medal victory over the United States at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake.
But when it came to guts and determination, Steve Yzerman was head of the class.
Steve Yzerman, shown here at the Red Wings' season opener in October, collected 1,755 career regular-season points, second only to Gordie Howe (1,850) in Red Wings history.
(Rob Widdis/Associated Press)
Just two weeks removed from knee surgery, he proved to be one of Canada's top players at the 10-day tournament.
"He came in here hurt and then played like there was no tomorrow," said Canadian assistant coach Jacques Martin of the now-retired Yzerman, whose No. 19 with the Red Wings will be raised to the rafters Tuesday night in Detroit (CBC, 7 p.m. ET).
"You wouldn't have known he was hurt if you looked at him on the ice. The guy was outstanding."
Outstanding is how many hockey observers would describe the forward's 23 National Hockey League seasons — all with Detroit and 20 as its captain.
Yzerman is still an integral member of the Red Wings, now serving as vice-president of hockey.
As a player, he helped Detroit win three Stanley Cups (1997, 1998 and 2002) and racked up 1,755 career regular-season points. Yzerman's 1,063 assists are the most in franchise history, while his point total is second only to Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe (1,850).
"He's one of the top players of all-time," said Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom, who took over as captain after Yzerman retired July 3.
"He just retired last year and already they're retiring his jersey. That shows you how much the organization thinks of him."
Helps Wings make playoffs
Yzerman will join five other Red Wings greats — Terry Sawchuk, Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio, Sid Abel and Howe — who have had their numbers retired.
Drafted fourth overall in 1983, he helped turn around a team that had made the playoffs once in the previous 13 seasons.
Yzerman quickly earned the respect of his teammates and opponents with his talent, leadership and work ethic.
In last year's playoffs, Yzerman willed himself to play Game 6 of a first-round series against Edmonton Oilers, despite suffering from a torn oblique (abdominal) muscle. He then set up Robert Lang for a power-play goal.
"He showed up every game, every shift," former teammate Martin Lapointe told reporters.
Yzerman also possesses a sense of humour often not seen by fans.
"He's the best one-liner guy I ever met," said one-time Red Wing Darren McCarty. "It takes years before he lets that guard down, even with the guys he played with."
Ex-teammates to honour Yzerman
Some of those players — Brett Hull, Igor Larionov and Mike Vernon — will be at Tuesday's ceremony at Joe Louis Arena along with former coaches Scotty Bowman, Dave Lewis and Barry Smith.
Bowman, Hull and Larionov are expected to share a few words about Yzerman. And then the Red Wings will put their three-game win streak on the line against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the NHL's top team with a 28-7-6 record this season.
Two points behind first-place Nashville Predators in the Central Division, Detroit (24-9-5) will catch a break as the Ducks will be without a number of regulars.
Sidelined with injuries are defencemen Chris Pronger (broken left foot) and Francois Beauchemin (lacerated spleen), goalies Jean-Sebastien Giguere (groin) and Ilya Bryzgalov (groin), and forward Todd Marchant (abdominal strain).
Anaheim will try to avoid its first three-game losing skid this season.
For Detroit, veteran blue-liner Chris Chelios (shin) is questionable, according to coach Mike Babcock.
