Nicklas Lidstrom

At 53 years old, Nicklas Lidstrom has this physical status:

Erik Nicklas Lidström (pronounced [nklûdstrm]; born 28 April 1970) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenseman and current vice president of Detroit Red Wings hockey operations. He spent 20 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League (NHL), where he captained for the last six seasons of his career. He is widely regarded as one of the best defencemen in NHL history, and he has been dubbed "The Perfect Human."

Lidström has won four Stanley Cup championships, seven James Norris Memorial Trophies (awarded to the NHL's best defenceman), one Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP, and was invited to 12 NHL All-Star Games over his 20 seasons. The Red Wings never missed the playoffs during his career, the longest in league history for a player to never miss the playoffs. Lidström was the first European-born-and-trained captain of a Stanley Cup-winning squad as well as the first European player to be named playoff MVP. Lidström is also the all-time champion in games played by a single NHL team led by a European-born player. On September 9, 2015, Lidström was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Lidström was voted one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players" in history in 2017.

Personal life

Lidström is married to Annika, with whom he has four children. Both four sons play hockey; Kevin (born 1994) is the current defenseman for Swedish Division 1 team SK Lejon; Adam (born 1996) plays for Enköpings SK; and Lucas (born in 2003) is a member of the U16 team of VIK Väster's HK; and Lucas (born in 2000) plays for ViK Väster's HK in Division 1; and he also plays for Vik Väster's HK.

Lidström was on a show of NHL 36.

In October 2019, Lidström unveiled Nicklas Lidstrom: The Pursuit of Perfection, his authorized biography in North America.

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Playing career

Lidström was named one of the world's best defensemen seven times, a feat shared by only two other players, Doug Harvey and Bobby Orr (who won the award eight times). Lidström was nominated for the award a total of 12 times in his last 14 seasons in the NHL, the first three times winning it in seven of his last ten seasons (2004–05 had no winner due to the NHL lockout). He spent no lower than sixth place in Norris Trophy voting in his last 16 seasons (beginning in 1995-96).

Lidström spent his 20-year NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, finishing his career with the second-most Stanley Cup playoff games played in NHL history, with 263 appearances (Chris Chelios ranks first with 266). He competed on four Stanley Cup-winning teams, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, and 2007–08. Lidström played in the playoffs for a 20-year streak (an honor he shares with Larry Robinson) during the 2004-05 season lockout season.

Lidström, who is best known for his toughness, has consistently ranked among the best in the NHL in ice time per game. In the 2005–06 season, he lasted 28:07 minutes, a career high. He won three straight Norris Trophies from 2001 to 2003, becoming the first defenseman since Bobby Orr to win three consecutive. He appeared in his 1,000th game of his career (1994–95) rather than the normal 82 due to a labour dispute).

Lidström was named the Conn Smythe Trophy's Most Valuable Player during the playoffs in 2002, becoming the first European to be honoured with the award ever.

Lidström began his career in Avesta, Sweden, with Skogsbo SK, before heading to compete in VIK Väster's HK of the Swedish Elitserien. In three seasons with the team, he played in 103 games, scoring 12 goals and 30 assists. Lidström, who was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings 53rd overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, joined the team in the 1991–92 season, but he returned to play for Väster's IK for a brief period during the 1994–95 NHL lockout. Lidström scored 60 points in his rookie season, finishing second to Pavel Bure in polling for the Calder Trophy this year. He and fellow Red Wings defenceman Vladimir Konstantinov were selected to the 1992 NHL All-Rookie Team.

Lidström's debut was expected to make $10 million in 2005–06. However, wages on pre-existing contracts were cut by 24%, which reduced his compensation to $7.6 million due to the new terms of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was in place during the 2004-2005 season. He had a career-high 64 assists and 16 goals to gain 80 points in the 2013 season.

Lidström had signed a two-year, $15.2 million contract extension with the Red Wings, according to the team's announcement on June 30, 2006. Lidström, rather than seeking more money elsewhere, decided to stay with Detroit for the same annual salary as he earned during the 2005–06 season.

Lidström, the Red Wings' alternate captain from 1997-98, but after the 2006 retirement of long-time Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, he was awarded the captaincy. It was an honor made more special by the fact that he was the first European captain to fly in franchise history. Lidström led the Red Wings to the Western Conference Finals, but the Anaheim Ducks, the eventual Stanley Cup champions, failed to the Anaheim Ducks, who were in his first year as captaincy. Lidström made a notable debut in the off-season by winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman for the fifth time. Lidström became the fourth defenseman in NHL history with as many as five Norris Trophy titles, joining Hockey Hall of Famers Bobby Orr (eight), Doug Harvey (seven), and Ray Bourque (five).

Lidström scored two assists against the Edmonton Oilers in 8 October, the second-highest scoring Swedish-born NHL player of all time. According to Lark's 1,142 points to Sundin's 1,349), he trails only Mats Sundin (as of the 2011–12 season). Lidström signed a contract extension through the 2009–2010 season later this season. He was assisting on a goal by Johan Franzén in ranking Luc Robitaille at 42nd in all-time NHL assists with 726.

The Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals for the highest team point total during the regular season. Despite beating the Penguins in Game 5 three times to prevent elimination, Lidström and the Red Wings defeated Pittsburgh in Game 6 to win the Stanley Cup. Lidström became the first European-born-and-trained captain to win the Stanley Cup in doing so. Charlie Gardiner, a goaltender born in Scotland, helped the Chicago Black Hawks win the Stanley Cup in 1934, and in 1938, Johnny Gottselig, a left-winger from Russia, captained Chicago to a championship, but both players were born in Canada.

Lidström won the Norris Trophy for the third time in seven seasons, just over a week after winning his fourth Stanley Cup in 11 seasons.

Lidström sustained a fractured nose after a shot from Canadiens forward Chris Higgins ricocheted and struck him in the chest as the Red Wings opened the 2008–09 pre-season against the Montreal Canadiens. He started wearing a visor from then on. He returned in time for the regular season and was selected to the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal. Lidström, however, and teammate Pavel Datsyuk decided not to participate in All-Star weekend despite being bothered with tendinitis that had been bothering him all season. Lidström and Datsyuk were therefore suspended one game by the NHL due to League rules for missing the All-Star Game with no injury.

In Stockholm, Sweden, the Red Wings began the 2009-2010 season. Lidström was named Ambassador of Honor by his home county, Dalarna, during the team's tour in Sweden. Lidström became the first European-born defenseman to reach 1,000 points in a game against the Los Angeles Kings on October 15, 2009, after registering two assists in the game. He is the fourth player to score 1,000 points as a Red Wing (after Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, and Steve Yzerman) and the ninth defenceman to do so in the NHL's history. Lidström earned his 800th career assist on March 5, 2010. Lidström also played in his 1,395th game (finishing the season with 1,412), a new all-time record for NHL games played by a player born in Europe; earlier in the season, Lidström defeated Teppo Numminen for games played by a player trained in Europe. Lidström is also the second time in Red Wing uniforms in games played in a Red Wing uniform, behind only Howe.

Lidström played in his 237th game in his career, defeating Mark Messier for sole possession of third place on the NHL's all-time list on April 23 (Chris Chelios, 266; Patrick Roy, 247). He had an assist in tie Al MacInnis (121) for the third-most assists in the post-season by a defenseman (Ray Bourque 139; Paul Coffey 137).

Lidström defeated the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round of the 2010 playoffs on April 27, tying him for 171 points on the all-time playoff points list with fellow countryman Peter Forsberg.

Lidström has appeared in only 28 of a possible 1,440 regular-season team games as of the 2009–10 season (one due to suspension).

Lidström decided on a one-year deal with the Red Wings on June 1, 2010, less than $6 million.

Lidström defeated the St. Louis Blues 5–2 on December 15, 2010, his first hat-trick at 40 years old, in his first career hat-trick. He was asked how it felt to win his first hat-trick after the game, and he replied, "It feels great, I've never in my life been able to score three goals in a game." The hat-trick made him the oldest defenseman in NHL history to record his first hat-trick (previously held by Scott Mellanby at 36 years old) and the first defenseman to record a hat-trick (previously held by Mathieu Schneider at 37 years old).

Lidström was appointed a team captain in the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh, North Carolina, on January 18, 2011. His team defeated Team Staal by an 11–10 margin, captained by Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes. Lidström had one assist and completed +7.

Lidström signed a one-year deal with Detroit on June 20, the same amount he had been paid the previous year. Despite his plus/minus record for the year, he claimed his seventh Norris Trophy on June 23, 2011, tying with Doug Harvey and remaining one behind Bobby Orr for most Norris Trophies. It was the third time a player with a negative plus/minus rating received the Norris Trophy in history.

Lidström became the 14th player in the NHL to play 1,500 games on October 22, 2011, against the Washington Capitals. He is the first male player not born in North America, and thus the first Swedish and European player to do so in his 20th NHL debut. Lidström played in his 1,550th game against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 12, 2012, beating Alex Delvecchio's previous Red Wing record of 1,549 games. In addition, he has played the most games while playing for the Red Wings but also played for the Hartford Whalers for one season. Lidström, a former Red Wings Alex Delvecchio and Steve Yzerman, as the only three players with more than 1,500 games played exclusively for one team throughout their careers.

Lidström resigned from the NHL on May 31, 2012, during a press conference with Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch and General Manager Ken Holland. "I came to the decision last week and I informed our general manager, Ken Holland," the night before. Former teammate Steve Yzerman referred to Lidström as "one of the all-time top defencemen to ever play" after discussing Lidström's retirement. Paul Coffey, a former teammate and fellow Norris Trophy winner, said, "He was an outstanding player," Chris Chelios said, "There have been guys who are fantastic players, but no one is better than Nick."

As good?

Yes. But this is as large as it gets. He's one of the best athletes ever, and if you're going to talk about someone who is flawless, Nick's pretty darn close to being flawless." "One of the game's all-time greats on and off the ice," Washington Capitals defenceman John Carlson described Lidström as "one of the game's best players on and off the ice." Lidström was "the most valuable player of his time," Ken Holland said.

Lidström and his wife launched a full-page ad on the weekend, thanking the city of Detroit for his family's 21 years at home. Lidström was named a scout for the Red Wings on July 8th.

Lidström was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on February 28, 2014.

Lidström's number 5 jersey was retired by the Red Wings during the 2013–14 season. On the first weekend of the previous season, there were ceremonies planned for the first time — but the lockout made it difficult to decide when Lidström would attend the event. In a pre-game celebration at Joe Louis Arena on March 6, the Red Wings officially retired his number.

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Awards

• World Championship gold medal winner (Sweden, 1991).
• NHL All-Rookie Team (1992).
• 4x Stanley Cup winner (1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008).
• 12x NHL All-Star Game (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2011).
• 10x NHL first All-Star team member (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011).
• 2x NHL Second All-Star Team member (2009, 2010).
• 7x Norris Trophy winner (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011).
• Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2002).
• Olympic gold medal winner (Sweden, 2006)
• Olympic All-Star team (2006).
• Member of the Triple Gold Club.
• 2x Viking Award winner (2000 and 2006).
• Inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame – 2014
• Detroit Red Wings #5 retired on 6 March 2014
• Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame – 2014
• Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame – 2015
• Introduced into the IIHF All-Time Sweden Team - 2020