Newest class of Hockey Hall of Fame gets its rings

TORONTO -- Steve Yzerman has one regret when looking back on his Hall of Fame career: He wishes he didn't return to the ice four years ago after the NHL lockout.

"I really debated should I come back, is this the right thing or not?" the former Red Wings captain said Monday after his induction into the Hall. "Looking back on the thing, I wouldn't have done it. If I had the opportunity [to do it again], I wouldn't have come back and played."

That means he could have been part of another strong induction group instead -- the class of 2007.

In addition to having remarkable careers and their names on the Stanley Cup, this year's inductees all endured the league's latest labor dispute that canceled the 2005-2005 season. Yzerman, Brett Hull, Brian Leetch and Luc Robitaille went through it as players while Lou Lamoriello was on the other side as an executive with the New Jersey Devils.

They picked up their rings during a morning ceremony at the Hall with the induction speeches scheduled for Monday night.

Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, who has kept a low profile during the Phoenix Coyotes' bankruptcy and ownership dispute in recent months, traveled to Toronto to see his friends honored.

Hull signed with the Coyotes after the lockout ended, but only appeared in five games before retiring.

The pace was suddenly too fast for a 41-year-old who hadn't played a meaningful game in 1 1/2 years.

Without the layoff, Hull believes he would have stuck around the league longer.

"Absolutely, no question," he said. "I know that for a fact."

The hardest thing for Leetch is the lingering belief the lockout cost him a chance at another Stanley Cup.