Lidstrom

[BF4L]

For you Wings fans I am sure this is hard news. When Bourque was traded out of Boston by his request a small part of my heart was gone. It returned when the Avs won the cup. I had the pleasure of speaking to Don Sweeney and Kyle McClauren soon after and they both fully admitted they wanted the Avs to win the cup and attended all the games.

Lidstrom and Bourque are in my mind the same kind of player. Lidstrom had the better teams and celebrated more but both players wore it on the sleeve and bled for the team. I as much as I loved Bourque as a player I respect Lidstrom.

 

[Wingingit]

I was very surprised today when I turned on the TV and the local news said the words.

I had a slight sinking feeling, then realized that yes this day was coming. I had a feeling, first round exit same as Steve Y.

Yes it's the end of the Lidstrom era. :yuck:

 

[Wingingit]

Jay Bo for Darren Helm...

Too soon?

Dash!!!! Again, we have this talk....

You :hdn:

Wings fans--->

 

[dash]

From Sportsbladet (Sweden):

 

[mattola]

Changed the avy for a classy man.

changed.

 

[flyersfan4706]

I guess Sweden knows because of the time difference or something

 

[pixburgher66]

From Sportsbladet (Sweden):

Okay, did anyone else read that like Swedish Chef from The Muppets? JUST NEW! Lidstrom: Career are OVER.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Looks like there's not much left to say, everyone seemed to cover it all. Class act, great player, great captain, first Euro to win the Conn Smythe and captain a team to a Cup. Four Cups, seven Norrises, a World, and an Olympic Gold. Inflated the numbers of every defenseman he played with, ran the power play like it was second nature, a silent assasin from the point, a puck distributing whiz, incredible accuracy with the one timer, maybe the best ever at using teammates sticks to deflect the puck into the net. Subtle greatness. You needed to focus on him and pay attention to really pick up all the incredible stuff he did. The best I've ever seen at playing the position technically, saw the ice like only a few other players in history have. We'll miss you, Nick, but we knew this day was coming and you earned your right to leaven on your own terms. Enjoy retirement, enjoy the kids, enjoy life.

 

[quoipourquoi]

Don't forget the boards behind the nets at the Joe. Lidstrom should have a brilliant career in trick-shot pool when he's done with this sport. And hey, he'll be on ESPN again...

 

[Comeds]

He seemed like a cool guy and he was a great player.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Nice to see so many posters changing their avatars for Lidstrom.

You guys are all cool.

 

[BF4L]

Nice to see so many posters changing their avatars for Lidstrom.

You guys are all cool.

I will be happy to jump on that once the finals are over. I am stuck with this POS avie until after playoffs are done.

Complete respect for Lidstrom

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Lidstrom had a great career. He will go down as one of the best players let alone defenseman to ever play the game & rightfully so. I wish him the best in his future endeavors. Lidstrom was ALWAYS a class act on & off the ice.

 

[pixburgher66]

Don't forget the boards behind the nets at the Joe. Lidstrom should have a brilliant career in trick-shot pool when he's done with this sport. And hey, he'll be on ESPN at last...

Fify.

 

[dash]

By the way, Detroit's first two picks in Lidstrom's draft year ('89) were Mike Sillinger and Bob Boughner. Lidstrom was taken in the 3rd round (no. 53 overall) and they followed that up by selecting a guy by the name of Sergei Federov in round 4 (no. 74 overall). Lest we forget, they also found Vladimir Konstantinov in round 11 (no. 221 overall) in the '89 draft.

 

[elocomotive]

Plus/minus has always been a dicey stat to use, but Lidstrom finished his career with the Wings scoring 511 more goals than their opponents when he was on the ice. That's insane.

Hats off.

 

[detroit_schlegs]

We all knew that eventually the inevitable was going to happen; but,yet, it's quite sad that it be right now. It's such a dismal day for me to have to see the true backbone, the eyes and ears, and the heart and mind of this most present franchise, to skate off into the sunset of his hockey career and into the sunrise of retirement, when it's most likely one of relief for him. It's surely a decision of mixed feelings for him, since his heart seemed to be in the shape of a winged wheel. He has certainly earned the right to have his days with a whole new vision of enjoyment, for no one who played the backline in a Wings' sweater could have mastered his craft any better than he did, nor could anyone have brought greater joy to those fans that wear the winged wheel on their hearts and imbedded in their minds than he did. He made so many of us proud to be Red Wing fans, not only for his unique ability on the ice, but even moreso for his persona and demeanor off the ice. Is anyone in today's game admired by so many outside of the Detroit circles for both of those attributes more than the Swedish Wonder, Nicklas Lidstrom? Nonetheless, he will undoubtedly leave so many broken hearts behind; and mine will be amonst that gigantic pile.

 

[higgyfan4]

of course it's blocked here at work and I can't watch.

 

[Ho_Brah]

this sucks.

Really respect the man. Wishing him the best for the future in his retirement.

 

[higgyfan4]

found a link I can watch, both a blessing and a curse.

I may cry at any moment...