Lidstrom Retires!

Poop Master Flex

Mid-Card Championship Winner
It's truly a sad day for Red Wing fans and hockey fans alike as quite possibly the best pure defense men in the history of the NHL has retired. A little bit of bias on my part? Possibly as he is my all time favorite player but one thing that cannot be disputed was how incredible this guy really was.

Here is a list of Lidstrom's accomplishments:

Awards

World Championship gold medal winner (Sweden, 1991).
NHL All-Rookie Team (1992).
4-time Stanley Cup winner (1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008).
12-time NHL All-Star (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2011).

10-time NHL First All-Star Team member (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011).
2-time NHL Second All-Star Team member (2009 and 2010).
7-time Norris Trophy winner (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011).
Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2002).
Olympic gold medal winner (Sweden, 2006); Lidström became a member of the Triple Gold Club with this win.
Olympic All-Star Team (2006).
2-time Viking Award winner (2000 and 2006).

NHL Records

First European-born and trained Norris Trophy winner (2000–01).
First European-born and trained Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2001–02).
Fourth defenseman (and first European-born and trained defenseman) in NHL to win James Norris Memorial Trophy three years running (2001–2003, 2006–2008), and third seven-time Norris Trophy winner.
First European-born and trained captain of a Stanley Cup-winning team (2008).
First European-born and trained defenceman to reach 1,000 points.
Sixth defenceman (and 28th player overall) to reach 855 career assists.
Most regular season games played by a player born in Europe, any position (1564).
Most regular season games played by a player in a career spent with only one team (1564).
Most regular season wins played in (900).
Active leader in games played any position (1564).
Oldest player ever to record his first hat trick (40 years old)
Oldest defenceman ever to record a hat trick (40 years old)
Oldest Norris Trophy winner (41 years, 57 days) (2010–2011)

Detroit Red Wings Records

Points by a defenceman, season (2005–06, 80).
Postseason goals by a defenceman, career (54).
Postseason points by a defenceman, career (183).
Postseason assists, career (129).
Postseason games played, career (258).
Games played by a defenceman, career (1564).
Goals, assists, and points by a defenceman, career (264, 878, and 1142).
Goals in a single postseason by a defenceman (1998, 6).
Best postseason plus/minus, career (+61).
Best regular season plus/minus, career (+450).

Saying Lidstrom had a successful career would be a massive understatement to the pure awesomeness that was Nicklas Lidstrom. Truly a master at both ends of the ice and was a true iron man his entire career. He played stellar winning the Norris trophy 7 times and played an integral part in the 4 Stanley Cup victories the Red Wings did in the 90's-2000's, especially in 2002 when he became the first European born and trained NHL'er to win the Conn Smythe trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.

Goodbye Lidstrom, thanks for the memories and the stellar play you have given the Red Wings all these years.

[YOUTUBE]QdZVgwYk91c[/YOUTUBE]
 
Lidstrom will soon be the 7th name added to the rafters at the Joe Louis Arena. After Steve Yzerman's, this is easily the toughest retirement I have ever had to deal with as a long time Red Wing fan. But, the cap space will give the Wings a ton of room to sign free agents. Silver lining.
 
Very true although I doubt the Red Wings will ever find a defense-men like Lidstrom ever again, very difficult seeing my favorite player retire.

I'm sure they will be able to get some good players with the extra cap space considering how much Lidstrom made. With their scouting and ability to sniff out talent I'm sure they will be fine in the long run.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
174,831
Messages
3,300,741
Members
21,726
Latest member
chrisxenforo
Back
Top