Steve Yzerman is one of the best forwards in Detroit Red Wings history.
The center position goes to Steve Yzerman. He was drafted in the first round (4th overall) of the 1983 NHL Draft and quickly became an important piece of the future success of the Detroit Red Wings.
His career lasted 1,514 games, producing 692 goals and 1,063 assists for 1,755 points. In the playoffs, he was as successful as the regular season, contributing 70 goals and 115 assists for 185 points in 196 games.
He spent his entire 22-year career in Detroit and is responsible for much of Detroit’s success in the 1990s.
His legendary career was nothing short of amazing as he led the Red Wings to some impressive wins over his career.
The most famous moment of his career came in overtime, as he blasted a slap shot over the right shoulder of St. Louis Blues goaltender Jon Casey just moments after a Wayne Gretzky turnover in the neutral zone.
His on-ice achievements are many and start with the holy grail, winning three Stanley Cups (1997, 1998, and 2002).
Some of his other achievements include 22 hat tricks, 3-for-6 on penalty shots, 9 all-star games, the 1988-89 Ted Lindsay Award, the 1997-98 Conn Smythe trophy, 1999-00 Selke trophy, and the 2002-03 Bill Masterton Memorial trophy.
As far as the Red Wings record book is concerned, he is there as well. Yzerman leads Detroit all-time in assists (1,063), power-play points (595), and short-handed goals (50).
His longevity is also key when mentioning his career, as he holds the NHL record for longest-serving captain at 19 seasons and 1,303 games.
After he retired on July 3, 2006, Yzerman was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player in 2009. In May 2010, the Tampa Bay Lightning hired him as their general manager and he remained there until September 2018, when he accepted the same position with Detroit.