Number19

Z returning confirmed

Right, but no one's saying Holland would be holding Yzerman's hand. It's Yzerman's team now, but it's not like Holland is worthless. Dude has a ton of experience and institutional knowledge and insight. He's practically an NHL institution unto himself. If you can have that kind of guy in your front office and he's happy doing what he's doing, you take it without thinking twice. Yzerman + Holland = Big Hockey Brain.
Think of how much brain power the organization has lost in recent years. Think of how often you see people lamenting that "brain drain."
Personally, I'd like to see the Wings get back to collecting "institutional" guys. Not for the sake of having big names, but for the collective brain power. What's Larionov up to? What's Fedorov up to? Is Scotty Bowman bored?

Yzerman = Goku
Fedorov = Vegeta
Bring him in

You're just full of rainbows and sunshine aren't you?

I laugh at you guys still pretending Luke plays on the 4th line.

The first thing Yzerman should do is take out his personal checkbook and wish Justin Abdelkader the best of luck in his future endeavors.  

Sergei, Pavel, Hank for me. I love Ozzie but he wasn't consistent enough. It would have worked wonders for his legacy if we won in 2009 and he captured the Conn Smythe.

Absolutely amazing what Z has done these last 20 games or so after all the injuries and last year looking like an old worn down version of himself. This guy is playing his best hockey while the streak is ending and the talent around him is depleted. He's being a captain by not packing it in and giving up imo. Mickey talked about preserving the winning culture last night and I think Z is doing his best to do just that. It's important for the young guys to see that effort even if us fans would like to see them get a better draft position.

I'd be pretty cool if he managed to hit the 70 point mark by the end of the season. Silver linings and all.

People forget this. A winning culture is why some teams consistently flounder no matter what they do, while other teams seem to consistently find success with ease. We were the later, and I'd like to preserve that culture as best as possible throughout a rebuild. I do not want to become pre-McD Edmonton.
Z is a warrior. Like Datysuk, this team will take a giant leap backwards when he's gone.

This is the hardest award to judge.  Can't just look at the numbers.  One has to attend games in person and see how these players play when they don't have the puck and when the camera isn't necessarily focused on them.  
I wouldn't mind seeing the players vote for this award.  

Absolutely amazing what Z has done these last 20 games or so after all the injuries and last year looking like an old worn down version of himself. This guy is playing his best hockey while the streak is ending and the talent around him is depleted. He's being a captain by not packing it in and giving up imo. Mickey talked about preserving the winning culture last night and I think Z is doing his best to do just that. It's important for the young guys to see that effort even if us fans would like to see them get a better draft position.

I'd be pretty cool if he managed to hit the 70 point mark by the end of the season. Silver linings and all.

That line-up is something else.

You never really notice how bad the NHL point system is until you're a terrible team and can fully appreciate the fact that you're still in the hunt after losing more than half your games.

I'd scratch Sheahan in favor of a cold mcdouble and some soggy fries.

I'd scratch Sheahan in favor of a cold mcdouble and some soggy fries.

I'd scratch Sheahan in favor of a cold mcdouble and some soggy fries.

I'd scratch Sheahan in favor of a cold mcdouble and some soggy fries.

I'd scratch Sheahan in favor of a cold mcdouble and some soggy fries.

Sheahan is the worst player on this team.

He was also very good in New York.

Bob Essensa
Ken Wregget
Vincent Riendeau
Glen Hanlon
Allan Bester

Yzerman was an explosive player in his prime. Great speed and hands. He also had a great shot. He was a lot more physically gifted than Lidstrom.

Not a lot of names for casual fans but purists know this a very solid and respectable list (Makarov should have been in years ago). Hopefully next year Kariya gets in with Selanne.

Selanne
Kariya
Recchi
Fleury/Alfredsson

Year of the wingers?

Makarov is the best winger of the 1980's. It's not a weak year, unless you started watching hockey in the 90's and never bothered learning about the game's history. Lindros and Vachon, along with Makarov were the best players not in the HHOF. Long time coming for two of them.