OT - Lidstrom Back
Great news for the Wings!
http://detnews.com/article/20100601/SPORTS0103/6010384/Lidstrom-will-return-to-Wings
Time to get everyone else signed now.
It wouldn't have been the same without him, even though I know that time will come eventually.
He is one of the best defenseman (probably the best) in the history of the NHL. The Red Wings have a much better outlook for next year with him returning. DetNews and MLive are saying the contract will be around $6 million, my cousin told me the freep (since I refuse to read it) is reporting it will be around $7 million (haha, the freep over-exaggerating numbers? who would have guessed?) I hope it is around $6 so Ken Holland can have another million to work some magic with. The Wings need to resign guys like Helm, Eaves, Abdolkader, and Holmstrom, but also need to sign some forwards with speed who can score and be either second or third line wingers like a Raffi Torres who can come pretty cheap. Or Holland can get kinky and go after Ilya Kovalchuk.
Besides the actual help it will provide the Red Wings, It will be nice to see Lidstrom be able (if this is his last year) to get a sort of farewell tour. He deserves every bit of it and the only thing that would be better would be announcing his retirement as he hoists another Stanley Cup.
He may be a Sparty, but he's also a Red Wing and, for me, a hometown guy, so I must insist you know the proper spelling.
Also good news with Lidstrom. Can't wait for next season. Michigan and Red Wings should be able to do some serious damage. How can a time with no school be so aggrevating!
My bad, I admit I suck at life (and spelling)
He could play for another 5-10 years if he wanted to. Glad to see him back for at least another year.
He's still playing at a relatively high level so this is great news not only because it's Lidstrom, but because it's still one of the top defensemen in the game.
There are only two things guaranteed when I wake up in the morning: The sun will be out and Nick Lidstrom will be playing some of the best defense hockey has ever seen.
Edit: If it's cloudy the sun is obviously not out but it has still risen nonetheless. And I guess it's also guaranteed that I am breathing and alive if I am able to get up in the first place. Kill me.
Glad to hear he's back, and also getting a little less money. Might help the Wings sign a FA of importance. Also, this keeps Stuart farther away from the top line of defenders. I don't care what any hockey analyst says, I don't like Stuart playing.
He signed for a somewhat higher amount and a shorter period than I had hoped for. I was hoping that they would get maybe a three year deal out of him with an average salary of around $4.5-$5MM.
I think we're going to see a pretty good amount of youth on next year's team and Lidstrom is back just as much for his leadership as his playing abilities. I think they're going to have some new faces this year and have Lidstrom to help acclimate them and then next year when he (likely) retires, Holland will take his salary and try and go after a big-name defensemen. I don't have anything to support this, just a wild guess, no names of players I suspect will be obtained or lost, but I think it might help explain why he's back for shorter and more money than most of us may have hoped. Regardless of what happens, whether I'm close or way wrong, I'm sure Holland knows what he's doing and I'm THRILLED that Lidstrom is back. Can you imagine losing TWO Captains this off-season?!
Agreed. He's an amazing defensman, and he deserves every bit of the 6+ million based on his play. But I had hoped he might take an even more significant hometown discount. Oh well, still happy that he'll be back!
I was hoping the same... Cut it to 1-2 mil for one year and let Holland work magic a la 2001 offseason
Fantastic news for any wings fan.
Can't wait to hear the idiots that call in the radio stations on my way home from work whine about how he didn't sign for $2mil (and they always seem to).
It will be wonderful to see St. Nick back on defense, and this will allow the Wings to part ways with Lebda (possibly even Meech too). $6.2 M is a bargain for him, and we may be able to get a secondary scorer with some of the savings.
Thank God
And phew! Great to have him back. I'm not surprised it's only a year, as I think he said it would be a year-to-year decision as to whether he feels like playing the following season.
... and not surprised. The thing about it "only" being a one year deal: this works in Detroit's favor.
For one, it leaves the door open for 2011-2012.
For two, if he does decide to come back for that season, it'll be for even less money.
In the meantime, here's hoping Big Easy and/or Kindle emerge.
Just in case anyone would like to read more on the matter!!!
www.freep.com/article/20100601/SPORTS05/100601016/1053/Lidstrom-returning-to-Red-Wings
Best news I've heard all day!
Hopefully Cheli rubbed off on him a little and he'll still be playing at 48...well maybe just 45, but still...