OT - Nick Lidstrom named All-Star game captain
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/01/red_wings_nicklas_lidst…
Nick Lidstrom and Eric Staal are going to be the captains for the NHL all-star game. I'm glad the NHL got this one right and really glad they didn't go with Crosby and Ovechkin.
January 18th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
He will always be my favorite.
January 18th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
Ditto. After his NHL career is over, is there any chance he can play defense for Michigan? TomVH?
January 18th, 2011 at 2:44 PM ^
I do believe he would have eligability left as I don't believe he never attended college, but the whole he played hockey in the pros would be an SEC like hurdle to get over.
January 18th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
January 18th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
"Lick my Nidstrom".
Definitely need to pull that one out at a bar soon. Pure gold.
January 18th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
Well played sir.
January 18th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
Absolutely the right decision.
January 18th, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
January 18th, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^
The most underappreciated athlete of our generation
January 18th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
The most true observation and statement of our generation
January 18th, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^
Agreed. I also think that the Detroit media tries to give him as much exposure as possible now though. There has to be 10 articles per season written about how much of a machine he is with player quotes along with it. Saying the same things over and over. Not that I mind because he is my favorite Red Wing since Yzerman.
January 18th, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^
Figured one would be in the "respected veteran" category since the captains were picked by the actual all-star players, not the league (who inevitably would have done Crosby/Ovie), and I had guessed Lidstrom since he's old, respected (not hated like, say, Pronger) and still darn good.
No surprise the other one is Staal since he's the captain of the host team.
January 18th, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^
That the league didnt go with Lidstrom and Staal as the real captains, but name Crosby and Ovechkin as the "honorary" captains, or some other garbage just to put their faces in front of the camera. Hopefully the other true hockey fans did the same as I did and tuned out this year's Winter Classic since it was overhyped as badly as the Heat v Lakers game on Christmas.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^
Hopefully the other true hockey fans did the same as I did and tuned out this year's Winter Classic since it was overhyped as badly as the Heat v Lakers game on Christmas.
That's a shame. You missed the best actual game of any of the Winter Classics so far.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
+1 to everyone in this thread that called him Lidstrom and not Linstrom. It is sad that he has been in Detroit for going on 2 decades and there is still a sizable part of the population that does know or can't say his name. For god sakes, the guy is a top 2 D all time, #1 during his generation. Learn his MF'n name already.
Great choice by the NHL. Congrats to Lidstrom.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^
You weren't here for the joke apparently. The OP originally made a typo and said his name was Nick Nidstrom.
Calm down. No one's questioning his status as one of the best hockey players of all-time. It was just amusing....
January 18th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^
My comment had nothing to do with the original poster, I should have made that clear. It has everything to do with Detroit Talk radio. Which is really a problem with me. I have a huge amount of self loathing that I listen to it, yet... i can't turn it off. And I find myself almost daily yelling at the dial, "its not Linstrom you moron!!!"
I really did pos bang just about everyone in this thread. Its all good and well played.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
I will have to actually watch this now. I fully expected more of Crosby jammed down my throat. Call this one a pleasant surprise.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
Concussion or not there will be plenty of coverage of him during the all star game. Probably see highlights of all 3 goals he scored in 2 Stanley Cup finals series along with his gold medal clincher at the olympics. Maybe they'll have a new commercial of him and Max Talbot shooting into another dryer in his parents basement.....
January 18th, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
I'm hoping that Crosby doesn't play at all.
Also, does this mean that we'll be able to buy "Team Lidstrom" jerseys?
As long as I'm at it, power rankings!
1. Ovechkin
2. Malkin
3. Iginla
4. Crosby
5. Henrik Sedin
6. Chara
7. Towes
8. Dan Sedin
9. Mike Green
10. Lundqvist
This All-Star game is pretty weak for goalies and defensemen if you ask me.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^
Haha. This list made me laugh out loud. Seriously... thank you! I'm going to guess that you haven't watch many of these players actually, you know, play this year. If you have, just... wow... Haha!
January 18th, 2011 at 3:03 PM ^
I suppose you're entitled to your opinion, but I'm much more inclined to take an established star over somebody like Stamkos who has put up gaudy stats in a season or two. I guess we'll have to wait until the actual all-star game to see who has the better strategy here.
January 18th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
I'm not sure what you mean. The comment you were responding to was solely about the "power rankings" list above...
January 18th, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^
By power rankings, I'm referring to what my draft board would be, were I Nick Lidstrom.
January 18th, 2011 at 5:09 PM ^
Ah, OK. I apologize then! If you're talking about who you'd pick for an all star game, then I absolutely agree with you! I thought you were talking about who is playing the best right now (i.e. like how normal NHL power rankings are done). I'm definitely with you now and I apologize!
January 18th, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^
As much as I dislike the guy, there is no way that Crosby can be anything but number one. The point streak he went on was just insane. He is the best right now and it really isn't even close.
January 18th, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^
while I agree Crosby is the best Individual player in the league today. He is not the first player I would draft if I were Lidstrom. The First player I would draft would be one of the Sedin brothers or Tim Thomas in net.
And we all know if Sid plays and him and Ovie are on opposite teams then IT will still be Team Sid vs. Team Ovie to the media.
January 18th, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^
I don't think the goalies are worth anything but later picks.
In terms of skill no goalie really stands head and shoulders above the rest and because it's an All-Star game you're going to be switching goalies every so often anyway. Give me a proven scorer like Ovechkin with the first pick because you know a guy like him could reasonably drop 4 goals in the All-Star game.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
Dude is having yet another Norris freaking Trophy season. Classiest guy around and absolutely my favorite Red Wing of all time. The day he retires is the day #5 should never be worn again on the ice at Joe Louis Arena (and wherever the Wings eventually play after).
January 18th, 2011 at 12:54 PM ^
Number retired at the Joe yes, absolutely, but it won't happen league wide because he isn't Canadian. Should happen, but he's been fighting against the stereotype of the "soft Swede" for his whole career. Come to think of it, that's probably the only fight Lids has been in.
January 18th, 2011 at 1:20 PM ^
Puh-leez. The only number that will ever be retired league-wide is 99. Unless goalies forget the butterfly style. That's the only way (other than Mario Lemieux's career not being riddled with inluries/cancer) someone will ever put up numbers like Gretz.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:25 PM ^
I don't think he was suggesting it be retired league-wide, but rather it should hang from the rafter sin the Joe and whereever the Wings play after the Joe is replaced.
January 18th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^
I was little unclear in what I meant. I did indeed mean that it should hang from the rafters of the Joe and whatever arena the Wings eventually move into when the Joe is closed.
January 18th, 2011 at 1:18 PM ^
they got one thing right in picking him as a captain. Zetty not in the all star game??! 16 goals, 34 assists and 50 points. He's seventh in points! And he isn't a dirty player like crosby or malkin. AND THE FLOW!
January 18th, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^
The only thing dirty about Crosby is his attempt at a mustache. Malkin isn't dirty either. I wish Wings fans could get over their obsession with the Penguins.
January 18th, 2011 at 1:42 PM ^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cZ5Bd0x9bE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPVO1p6Mttg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awQjx9jDRAU&feature=related
because these aren't dirty players? And there are so many more videos like these of them. And if you think that I'm trying to argue that those are the only players that play dirty, obviously not, but those are the most prevalent that benders, like you, should easily know about. There's no doubt they are amazing players. But I have a lot of trouble with their mentality and the NHL embracing it, when there is an underrated and humble player like Zetterberg that didn't get selected. I think the captains will select him in the end, but it's a slap in the face to all the Zetty stands for.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
I think the captains will select him in the end, but it's a slap in the face to all the Zetty stands for.
Can't happen.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^
Nevermind, someone beat me to it. See link below my post.
January 18th, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^
and recieved permission from the league to sit out the all star game
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/01/refreshed_after_two-day_break.html
Down towards the bottom of the article
January 18th, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^
Congrats to Nik but Staal... Really. I get they didn't want Ovi or Crosby to be captains but there had to be a better option than Staal. I get that he is the hosting teams captain but kind of disappointed in that choice.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^
Nik = Kronwall
Nick = Lidstrom
January 18th, 2011 at 3:12 PM ^
Sorry was on the app and driving equals typos.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^
The only players having arguably better seasons than Staal in the East this year are Crosby (who's not available and wasn't going to be picked - too young), Stamkos (who wasn't going to be picked - too young), Byfuglein (not going to be picked - too young) and St. Louis (who could have been picked, but has the benefit of his play being inflated by Stamkos). Staal is 11th in the league in scoring (4th in the East) and is carrying Carolina (an otherwise not very good team) on his back. Couple that with being the home team, and it's a no brainer pick.
January 18th, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
As a Raleigh resident, let me tell you the excitement level for the NHL ASG is at a fever pitch.
or
Maybe it's the free 3 Doors Down Concert that everyone is excited about.
January 18th, 2011 at 1:51 PM ^
Still have the cheerleaders in the stands at the RBC? As a hockey purist (could be read: snob) I am not a fan of cheerleaders, but as a fan of the fairer sex I can tolerate it.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^
I like your title, but I think it should be Hurricanes (Not Those Hurricanes)
Carolina Hurricanes (NTH) : Miami (YTM) :: Miami (NTM) : Miami (YTM)
January 18th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
for future posts, although somehow I doubt that there will be many instances where clarification of which team we are talking about will come up. Just cant see that happening..
January 18th, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^
I can't see any other scenerio where the Hurricanes (NTH) will be brought up on this board again.
Do the wings play them at any point this season?
January 18th, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^
Awesome. Who will he pick? :)
January 18th, 2011 at 5:56 PM ^
That is all.