Hall of Famers, record-setters and Stanley Cup champions are among the host of great players who've donned the Detroit Red Wings jersey the past 81 years. Only a select few earned the privilege of having their number retired and raised to the rafters.

"We aren't like a lot of teams that just retire sweaters as a PR gimmick or to sell tickets,'' Red Wings senior vice president Jimmy Devellano said. "You have to be a very, very special player for that to happen.''

Steve Yzerman was that type of player. A Detroit sports icon who revived a once-proud franchise and was the longest-serving captain in NHL history, Yzerman is referred to by legions of fans as 19. Tonight, that number will be retired and hoisted to the rafters at Joe Louis Arena in what promises to be a special ceremony before the Red Wings play the Anaheim Ducks. The festivities begin at 6:30.

"Aside from the Hall of Fame, this is the next-greatest honor you can get,'' Wings defenseman Chris Chelios said. "I know he doesn't like the limelight or all these personal accolades, but I think he's got to be very proud of what's going to happen. I'm nervous for him and at the same time proud of him. What better guy to receive this? It's going to be a great evening.''

Yzerman will be the sixth Red Wing to have his number retired, joining Terry Sawchuk (1), Ted Lindsay (7), Gordie Howe (9), Alex Delvecchio (10) and Sid Abel (12).

"For the guys that have been fortunate enough to play a number of years with him, it's a huge thrill for us to be a part of it,'' Wings forward Kris Draper said. "You look up and see the jerseys that are already there, Stevie's belongs right beside them.''

As soon as Yzerman announced his retirement on July 3 after spending his entire 22-year career with the Wings, the organization began preparing for this night. The long list of former players and coaches who'll attend includes Howe, Lindsay, Delvecchio, Brett Hull, Igor Larionov, Mike Vernon, Steve Duchesne, Larry Murphy, Joe Kocur, Doug Brown, Danny Gare, Scotty Bowman, Dave Lewis and Barry Smith.

Some will make speeches, some will present gifts. Video tributes will be shown. And there are sure to be some surprises. Yzerman is such a huge star in his native Canada that CBC will be televising the ceremony nationally north of the border (it can be seen locally on Fox Sports Net Detroit). Wings players will watch from the bench. They got a bit of a preview four weeks ago when the St. Louis Blues retired Hull's number.

"Stevie's not an emotional guy, but I expect to see some emotion from him,'' Wings defenseman Mathieu Schneider said. "What he's meant to the city and this organization, a player like that comes along once or twice in a lifetime. He's synonymous with Detroit.''

Yzerman was named a club vice president in September. He's learning all aspects of management -- scouting, player evaluation, contract negotiations, business and marketing -- while working with Devellano, general manager Ken Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill.

"From our era, they're always going to remember Stevie Yzerman as a class act, probably one of the best, if not the best ambassador for any sport, right up there with (Wayne) Gretzky, (Michael) Jordan, Cal Ripken Jr.,'' Chelios said. "Hockey was fortunate to have Steve Yzerman for 23 years representing the NHL.''

The Wings were fortunate to get Yzerman with the fourth overall pick in the 1983 NHL entry draft. He was the first player Devellano drafted as the club's GM, less than a year after Mike Ilitch purchased the team from Bruce Norris.

"It was just what the franchise needed, to get a gem of a player like that,'' Devellano said.
A prolific offensive player the first half of his career, Yzerman finished second to Howe on the franchise's career list in goals (692) and points (1,755). After Bowman arrived in 1993 and molded Yzerman into a complete player, the team finally got over the top, winning three Stanley Cup championships in a six-year span from 1997-2002.

"He sacrificed personal stats and his own goals so the team could win in the '90s,'' Wings goaltender Chris Osgood said. "We always had an offensively potent team, but after we lost to New Jersey (in the 1995 Cup finals) we knew we had to change our style of play and he led the charge to do that.''

Many players said Yzerman's finest moment came during the 2002 playoffs, when his calming words and inspired performance on a painfully damaged knee propelled a first-round comeback from a 2-0 series deficit against Vancouver. The Wings went on to win the Cup.

"He closed the doors (in the locker room) and it was just the players and he said, `Let's not panic,' just nonchalant, like he knew we were going to win,'' Draper said. "Great leaders just have a great feeling for their teammates. There's no slamming things or anything like that.''

Said Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek: "He didn't speak very often, but when he talked everybody listened.''

Osgood wasn't with the team at the time but knew he was witnessing something special.

"He willed that team back to win the series,'' Osgood said. "He always scored big goals, that's what a superstar is, not a guy that scores when you're leading 5-1. He seemed to always be there when you need him.''

DETROIT -- His voice cracking between sips of water near the end of his speech on an emotional night at Joe Louis Arena, Steve Yzerman thanked the fans.

"Ever since my first game here, I was in awe of the building, the atmosphere here,'' Yzerman said. "The demand for excellence from Red Wing fans was an inspiration to me. As you watch my jersey go up, give yourself a pat on the back because I really feel you're a big reason why that jersey is up there.''

And then, the man most responsible for restoring glory to a downtrodden franchise watched his No. 19 jersey raised to the rafters Tuesday night. Complete with a "C'' recognizing his NHL-record 19 seasons as captain of the Detroit Red Wings, Yzerman's banner will forever hang next to those of other franchise greats -- Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel, Alex Delvecchio and Terry Sawchuk.

Several of Yzerman's former teammates and coaches, current members of the front office and Yzerman's wife, Lisa, and three daughters were among those who sat in chairs on red carpets arranged to form a giant "C'' between the blue lines. When Yzerman was introduced by master of ceremonies Darren Pang, his best friend for 30 years, he received a four-minute standing ovation as the crowd chanted, "Stevie, Stevie!''

"You never disappoint me,'' Yzerman said.

He expressed his gratitude to the organization.

"They stuck with me, allowed me to grow, understood my mistakes, supported me when I was down, encouraged me when I needed encouragement,'' Yzerman said.

And he was typically humble.

"Any personal success I had was because of the wonderful players I played with,'' Yzerman said.

At one point during the one hour and 20 minute ceremony he elicited a collective groan from the crowd, when he revealed, "My image as a great leader is greatly overblown.''

Each of the current Wings players skated onto the ice in one of four special Yzerman jerseys -- the Wings jersey from 2002 featuring a Stanley Cup finals patch, the jersey from the 2002 Canadian Olympic gold medal-winning team, a Campbell Conference jersey in recognition of his 10 All-Star Game appearances and his Peterborough Petes jersey from his junior hockey days. Players wore the jerseys during pregame warm-ups before switching to their regular jersey, which included a No. 19 banner patch on the front corner, prior to their game against the Anaheim Ducks. The number 19 was painted on the ice behind each net.

Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom, on behalf of the players, presented the Yzermans with a trip to Austria to see the 2008 finals of the European soccer championships. The Ilitch family presented him with a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ.

Wings owner Mike Ilitch praised Yzerman for how he turned out as a leader, role model and member of the community. Ilitch acknowledged senior vice president Jimmy Devellano, then the club's general manager, for selecting Yzerman with the fourth overall pick in the 1983 draft and former coach Jacques Demers for making Yzerman, at 21, the youngest captain in club history in 1986.

"He inspired his teammates by walking the walk and sparing the talk; he led without arrogance and self-indulgence,'' Ilitch said. "He's the kind of person we all like to be and see our children grow up to be. I would like to thank you for returning the ultimate prize to Hockeytown . . . three times.''

With that, the Stanley Cup was brought onto the ice. Yzerman helped the franchise end its 42-year championship drought in 1997. The Wings followed with Cup wins in 1998 and 2002.

"We knew he was good, but oh, what a cornerstone he turned out to be,'' Devellano said. "The true measure of an athlete comes from gaining respect of his peers and leading his team to success. We are all very proud of what you have meant to Detroit Red Wings all these years.''

Scotty Bowman, the legendary coach who transformed Yzerman into a complete player, praised his leadership ability.

"What a comfort for a coach to have Steve as a captain because so many problems never even got to my doorstep,'' Bowman said. "I treasure all my (nine) Stanley Cup triumphs, but none more so than when Steve chose to hand the Cup to me in what would be my final game (in 2002). You were everything a captain should be.''

Yzerman singled out Bowman, telling the crowd he never got the proper sendoff after announcing his retirement that night in 2002.

"We would not have had the success we had without his absolute demands that we change the way we play (to a more defensive style),'' Yzerman said. "He taught me to be mentally tough. Although my stats declined, my confidence grew. I will forever be grateful for Scotty's coaching abilities. He changed me as a hockey player, made me a much better captain and better person as well.''

Howe, Lindsay and Delvecchio, the three surviving greats whose numbers are retired, were introduced to the crowd, as well as former Wings Danny Gare -- the team's last captain before Yzerman -- Mike Vernon, Kevin Hodson, Larry Murphy, Steve Duchesne, Bob Probert, Vladimir Konstantinov, Doug Brown, Joe Kocur, Brent Gilchrist, Brett Hull and Igor Larionov. Former Wings coaches Dave Lewis and Barry Smith also attended. Yzerman's parents, Ron and Jean, were in the audience.

Yzerman referred to his wife as his best friend, a fantastic mother and part-time psychologist when he needed one.

“If ever I needed to be brought down to earth my wife and three daughters put me in my place," Yzerman said.

On this historic night, the Red Wings put Yzerman in his rightful place, alongside the franchise's all-time greats.