They Don't Come Any Better Than Nick Lidstrom
By: Ryan Wooley
With the news breaking on Wednesday that Nick Lidstrom will hold a news conference today from Joe Louis Arena to announce his decision to return for a 21st season or retire, it almost feels like a dream after multiple reports have indicated it's because he is hanging up his skates.
For so many years fans have been dreading the day when he walked away and no matter how hard anyone has tried to prepare for it, I don't think anyone is truly ready for life without "The Perfect Human", as so many of his teammates would refer to him as.
Nick Lidstrom has and will always be the true example of what a professional athlete should be. Off the ice you never heard of the Captain getting into trouble and never put himself before the team, while on the ice his accomplishments speak for themselves after winning four Stanley Cups, seven Norris trophies, one Conn Smythe, selected as an All-Star 11 different times and is the first European-born Captain to win the Stanley Cup, as well as the first European player named playoff MVP.
Lidstrom undoubtedly is one of, if not the greatest defensemen to ever play the game and whether he elects to walk away or announce he is planning for a send-off season, I'm sure the news conference will be filled with the same child-like passion he played with on the ice as he thanks all those that supported him over the years.
Below I've attached a few of my favorite moments of his career, including an audio montage of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals.
Be sure to listen to the full news conference as will have it complete coverage for you starting at 11am right here on 971theticket.com.
2008 Stanley Cup Champions to the tune of Journey!
Podcast
After 19 years in the league you would think Nick Lidstrom would have had a hat trick right? Well that was not the case until December 2010 against the St. Louis Blues.
Remember this golf shot against the Sharks? Nails the puck in mid air and puts it in the net!
Who could forget the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals when Lidstrom not only scored and broke the camera, but helped the Wings to two goals in a 13 second span?
This possibly could have been the moment that changed the Wings fortune as they headed towards their first Stanley Cup in over 40 years.
A fantastic compilation of #5 and his career.
Follow Ryan Wooley on Twitter @WooleyMammoth85
