Lidstrom to return for 20th season

Submitted by Mr Mackey on

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6680212 

Lidstrom has agreed to a 1-year deal to return for his 20th NHL season for the Red Wings.

Great news for Red Wings fans and hockey fans in general. He's still got it, and it's good to see that he'll be back. Now we just need another good defenseman to play with him and replace Rafalski.

EDIT: Better and more indepth article - http://redwings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=566355&navid=DL|DET|home 

Mr Mackey

June 20th, 2011 at 10:35 AM ^

I think it'd be pretty cool if he wins the Norris this year and next year and ties Bobby Orr, because (even though he wouldn't care about it) then he would almost have to come back the following year to win another one just for shits and giggles.

Hope he plays forever, but it's understandable that his son is in Sweden and he wants to be with him

m_go_blue

June 20th, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^

have been hard to see him hang it up his skates the way he played last season. Plus having Nick back 1 more season makes it a little easier to transition w/o Rafalski. It will be nice to watch the Red Wings give the Cup one more shot to get one for Lidstrom.

Six Zero

June 20th, 2011 at 10:53 AM ^

a more arrogant, egocentric, playboy gloryhound in all my years of playing hockey.  Everything's always about 'hey look at me,' 'look what I can do,' 'I can play for 20 years I'm so great' blah blah blah!!  The guy is addicted to the limelight and clearly gets angry whenever the Hockey News talks about anyone but him.  And talk about a poor teammate-- guy doesn't care at all about his mates and probably wouldn't pass to anyone else ever if he didn't want us to be impressed by his passing.  This guy is the Britney Spears of the NHL and just needs to shut up and go away.  I have had enough of this two-decades long ego trip and I bet the good people of Sweden don't ever want the circus to come back.  ENOUGH!!

Mr Mackey

June 20th, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^

Apparently, he told the Red Wings last week that he wanted to return, and they were still working out a deal today. There's supposed to be a press conference at 11 AM today, as far as I can tell. That'll probably be when they announce the terms.

I added a better article to the OP, from the Red Wings site, which explains it

redhousewolverine

June 20th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^

The article on the Red Wings site said the details are being worked out currently so we will see. We really need Lidstrom to take less money. He doesn't have to take 1.5 mil but something like 4 mil would be awesome. Would give us more money to hit the market and try and bring in a forward with another defender. We could really use some size or at least another player who can put the puck in the net against really good teams besides Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Franzen fits that bill normally but when he gets hurt or has an off year (both last year) we need another body who can either work the boards or score.

littlebrownjug

June 20th, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^

He does everthing so well, and his technical brilliance masks just how athletic he is. It will help the younger players on the back end, and I think that his reduction in minutes last year will really help him play at a high level in 2011-12. Hopefully, the Wings can lock up a competent #4 defensemen with a right-handed shot (James Wisnieski from Montreal would fit the bill), and I would be happy to let Big E go and test the free agent market. This also allows the Wings to give Brendan Smith another year in GR to hone his defensive skills.

Mr Mackey

June 20th, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^

I'm really excited about Brendan Smith. I don't want him to come up too early, but in a couple years, he could be a very solid defenseman in the NHL. It'd be nice if Lidstrom comes back for next next season as well, and Smith comes up that year to learn from the best.

I Bleed Maize N Blue

June 20th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^

WOO!

... and there was much rejoicing!

Very relieved.  Really didn't want to lose him and Rafalski in the same offseason.  Sure would like to see him get another Stanley Cup before retiring.

stmccoy

June 20th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^

Mr. Norris wants another trophy.  Give him his 7th Norris this summer.  He'll be after his 5th Cup in about a year.  Go Wings. 

stmccoy

June 20th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^

Mr. Norris wants another trophy.  Give him his 7th Norris this summer.  He'll be after his 5th Cup in about a year.  Go Wings.