OT - Immortalizing the Perfect Human - Retiring the Wings #5 Jersey on Lidstrom Night
8pm tonight the Wings put a cap on the career of the best modern-era defenseman. Deep down I'm hoping they lower his jersey over his shoulders and announce his return to the lineup...
Thanks for all the great years and Stanley Cups, Nick.
EDIT - Just a note, I believe the ceremony is starting at 7 or 730 with faceoff at 8. So if you wanna see the festivities, tune in early!
Enough said.
There are a ton of impressive things about #5s career but this has to be one of them:
Lidström never missed the playoffs in any of his 20 NHL seasons and in most of those the Wings were a top 3-4 seed.
4 cups, 7 Norris trophies, a Conn Smythe, 12 All-Star games.
Unbelievable.
Wings of all time:
1a Yzerman
1b Lidstrom
There was no need to worry. Prior to the Hawks' recent success, they didn't know hockey existed.
also 6th in scoring all time amongst all NHL defensemen and the top european NHL defensemen in scoring...
http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/records/nhl-defensemen-all-time-points-l…
What a classy guy and player! I wish that Detroit could clone him.
Didn't he play for Sweden? or was that a different #5 lindstom?
Not sure if this is a joke, but I'll bite. There was no Lidstrom (or "Lindstrom") on the 2014 Swedish roster, nor was there a #5.
There are things that he did that cannot be measured by statistics. At least, not yet. We're lucky to have had the pleasure of watching him every night for as long as we all did. I doubt there will ever be a defenseman who makes more mistake-free simple plays; think about whether you've ever seen him make a bad pass in the defensive zone.
The goals were great, the Cups were wonderful, but there may never be anyone again who could so effortlessly drive a forward on the rush into the corner. He was and will always be my all-time favorite player.
He's as solid a defenseman as I've ever seen. Genius.
Super nice guy off-the-ice, too. He lived near me and I knew a lot of people who knew him through his kids, and they had nothing but great things to say about him. I taught one of his kids in Safety Town, and I can confidently say the aggressive hockey genes can be passed right along. Kid didn't lose a bigwheel race all week.
And well-deserved. Super athlete and super human being. I may shed a tear watching this ceremony.
I personally saw Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, and Nick Lidstrom all play for the Red Wings. Every time Gordie was on the ice, he was the baddest. Every time Nick was on the ice, he was the best. Including when he and Stevie were on the ice at the same time.
but those three just might be the all-time Best of the Best.
No, strike "might be" and change it to "are".
Gordie would clearly be #1, though, as I consider him yet to be the all-time Greatest. Sorry, Wayne, but the concentration of talent in a 6-team league then wins out over what the NHL became by expanding way too far way too fast.
Gretzky was the better offensive player, but the all-around game, including the physicality, of Howe makes him the best.
With every thing that Nick has done people still add an N in his last name.
The best defensemen I will ever see.
NHL Network is using the FSD feed too. Awesome ceremony so far, too many greats in attendance to name, standing ovation for Vladdy, wow.
Zetterberg looks so injured. Yikes.
Lidstrom is now among legends. Howe, Lindsay, Abel, Sawchuk, Delvecchio, Yzerman and Aurie.
Oh wait....they completely ignore Larry Aurie despite the fact that James Norris retired his number in 1938 and had it on display at Olympia.
double post
I was too young to watch/remember Stevie Y's heyday so of the 2 recent Red Wing legends, I was much more conscious of Lidstrom's career. His accomplishments speak for themselves, but it was amazing how easy he made perfection look. You never saw him panic or rush anything. His positioning was perfect, his shots on the powerplay always seemed to get through and he NEVER made a bad pass or decision. Quite simply, if you need to teach young hockey players how to play defense, just pop in a tape of Lidstrom. He was a true pleasure to watch and it was quite a priviledge as Wings fans to see his entire career here.
Wait why is he the perfect human?
The idea is that he always makes the perfect decision in all situations.