TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Scotty Bowman is gone. So is Dominik Hasek. Team captain Steve Yzerman won't play until early 2003.

When the Detroit Red Wings opened camp Friday, they didn't look like the team that won the Stanley Cup last season.

As longtime stars Sergei Fedorov, Brendan Shanahan and Nicklas Lidstrom glided across the ice during morning scrimmages, the Wings have several questions to answer this season.

Curtis Joseph takes over for Hasek in goal, Yzerman is rehabilitating a surgically repaired knee and longtime assistant Dave Lewis takes the baton from Bowman.

"I'm really excited about it," Lewis said. "It's a tremendous opportunity and a great challenge."

Lewis already made one decision that affects Yzerman. He won't name a temporary captain while the veteran center recuperates and instead will name a third alternate captain.

The Wings expect Fedorov to fill much of Yzerman's void. The former 50-goal scorer and one-time NHL most valuable player typically shines in Yzerman's absence.

"I am definitely going to have some more responsibilities out there and I'll probably get a few extra minutes," Fedorov said. "I'm excited, no question about it."

General manager Ken Holland, who traded for Hasek last year, then inked top goalie Joseph to a three-year deal this year, said the Wings are gradually adding youth to a crafty veteran squad.

The trick is to mesh the skills of young and old, he said.

"There's such a fine, fine line between a lot of teams and we've got to find that chemistry," Holland said.

Forward Luc Robitaille scored his 600th goal last year in his first season with the Wings. The veteran came to Detroit in search of a Stanley Cup and didn't hesitate when asked if the championship season lived up to his expectations.

"It was better," he said. "It was so much fun."