Eric Miller / Reuters file

Captain Steve Yzerman has taken on additional leadership roles with the Red Wings and still is capable of scoring important goals, writes NBCSports.com's Bill Clement.

Role has changed
The Red Wings are getting contributions offensively from a host of players, including top scorer Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg (who scored two goals in a Feb. 2 win over St. Louis), and  Brendan Shanahan (a wily veteran at 37), who leads the team with 24 goals.

Detroit also has the league’s top power-play unit, and during one stretch scored on the man advantage in 15 consecutive games.

Does it really need the Yzerman in his prime? No.

That said, he has taken on an important leadership role with the team. He is the Red Wings’ voice of reason, and has proven to be a solid liaison between the players and Mike Babcock, the first-year head coach. Remember, Yzerman is the longest-serving captain in league history, having first been awarded the “C” back in 1986.

Yzerman doesn’t speak a whole lot. But when he does, the Red Wings listen.

Salute to Chelios
Another respected Red Wings player is defenseman Chris Chelios, 44, who was named as Team USA captain for the upcoming Turin Olympics. Frankly, Chelios, the oldest U.S. hockey player to compete in an Olympics, was both the correct — and obvious choice.

Slide show   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

His Olympic career is also remarkable when you consider that he played for Team USA in 1984 as an amateur, and then was essentially forced to wait until professionals were allowed to play in the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan.

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