Sir Nick. Smooth. Dependable. Durable.
Just pick an adjective. Bobby Orr was more exciting, and many, many defensemen over the years have been more physical and flashier. But I don't know if anyone has been better in this era.
Nick Lidstrom is the first European captain of a Stanley Cup team, and I confess several years ago, after watching 170-pound Doug Gilmour beat Lidstrom out of the corner to score a playoff goal for the Maple Leafs, I never thought this would happen. I thought Lidstrom was good, but I did think he was soft.
He is NOT a physical presence, but he plays with so much savvy and uses his stick better than any player I've ever watched in the NHL.
We could go on and on and on, but I think the front-office of the Wings deserves credit here for being patient. When the Wings lost in 95 and 96 and had to retool, they made sure Lidstrom did not go anywhere. They made sure that he was a focal point, and they made the right choice, no question. Some teams have not been as wise. The Rangers shipped away Zubov, and they've been so-so in the back ever since. The Leafs never put the right players around Borje Salming, and their Cup drought continues.
Lidstrom is what he is, a rare player who breaks the mold. He has size but is not overly physical. He has great offensive skills but he rarely goes down the ice on a breath-taking rush. He's almost always in the right position, and if you were not a hockey purist you just would not understand how good a player he is.
What a great treat to watch him all these years. And what a relief that the Wings' front office recognized what they had when many of us did not.
Just pick an adjective. Bobby Orr was more exciting, and many, many defensemen over the years have been more physical and flashier. But I don't know if anyone has been better in this era.
Nick Lidstrom is the first European captain of a Stanley Cup team, and I confess several years ago, after watching 170-pound Doug Gilmour beat Lidstrom out of the corner to score a playoff goal for the Maple Leafs, I never thought this would happen. I thought Lidstrom was good, but I did think he was soft.
He is NOT a physical presence, but he plays with so much savvy and uses his stick better than any player I've ever watched in the NHL.
We could go on and on and on, but I think the front-office of the Wings deserves credit here for being patient. When the Wings lost in 95 and 96 and had to retool, they made sure Lidstrom did not go anywhere. They made sure that he was a focal point, and they made the right choice, no question. Some teams have not been as wise. The Rangers shipped away Zubov, and they've been so-so in the back ever since. The Leafs never put the right players around Borje Salming, and their Cup drought continues.
Lidstrom is what he is, a rare player who breaks the mold. He has size but is not overly physical. He has great offensive skills but he rarely goes down the ice on a breath-taking rush. He's almost always in the right position, and if you were not a hockey purist you just would not understand how good a player he is.
What a great treat to watch him all these years. And what a relief that the Wings' front office recognized what they had when many of us did not.
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