The one sad note out of all of this is that it's likely the last time we'll see Stevie Y play. After what he went through this season, why does he need to come back? He's played so many seasons and he's accomplished everything a player can. There's nothing worse than seeing a player hang around too long, and I don't want to see Yzerman do that. Of course, he didn't want to go out this way, but he will go out as one of the best to ever play in the NHL.

The warrior went out on his shield, the rest of them went out on their knees. "He worked his ass off,'' said teammate Chris Chelios, after a third-period collapse that ended their season and possibly his career. "He's done it his whole career. It's a shame we didn't follow his lead. Hopefully it's not the end for him, he's one of the best leaders I've ever played with.''