Nothing to do with the Devils or Rangers, sorry, Johnny's an unapologetic Red Wings fan. Tonight Red Wing fans are going to do what we do best, celebrate our own greatness as a franchise. The number 5 will retire to the rafters in the cathedral of hockey tonight, Joe Louis Arena. Nicklas Lidstrom, the Perfect Human, St. Nick, or however you know him will receive the ultimate sports honor tonight in Detroit. His number 5 will be retired in a ceremony beginning at 6:30 pm (NBCSports Network and NHL Network) and will join such legends as Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel, Terry Sawchuk, Alex Delvecchio and Steve Yzerman. Johnny could start some mess with Bruins fans and come right out and say Lidstrom was simply THE best defenseman ever to play in the NHL and there are quite a few numbers that would back that up. For now we'll just say that NHL fans now have their top all-time defense pairing set with Bobby Orr and Lidstrom.
So a heartfelt THANK YOU to St. Nick from a Red Wings fan. You have played with great distinction, honor, and pride. Steve Yzerman said you were the best played he'd ever had the chance to play with. High honors indeed. Now enjoy your evening and your hockey immortality.
Here now every playoff goal by Lidstrom is all his Stanley Cup winning seasons with the Wings, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008.
Detroit Red Wings Captain Nicklas Lidstrom will be announcing his retirement in little over an hour. Lidstrom had one of the great careers not of just a defenseman but of a player period. Described on HBO as "the perfect human" Lidstrom along with his other accolades became the first European born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy and the first European captain to be handed the Stanley Cup in 2008.
Now, some will say that Bobby Orr is the best defenseman ever. And until today's announcement they would be right (Some Boston fans are even trying to claim Ray Bourque was better than Lidstrom and to them I say put down the crack pipe). Johnny will say what so many seem to be afraid to; Nicklas Lidstrom is the best defenseman to ever play in the NHL.
Orr supporters will say he changed the game. That's right, he did but as you see above where Lidstrom is the first Euro to win the Conn Smythe AND captain a team to the title is also every bit as groundbreaking. Lidstrom's longevity is another reason he's better than Orr. Didn't take the penalties Orr took and stayed healthier. Orr won 8 Norris Trophies but Lidstrom had only one less with 7 AND he out Stanley Cupped Orr 4 to 2. You can parse other numbers as well but in the end Nicklas Lidstrom in our eyes (and we fell this will be the opinion prevailing over time say 10 years on) Lidstrom was better.
Farewell St. Nick, you have been a stalwart, a great player, a wonderful leader and captain and yes the perfect human.
