So what makes Lidstrom the greatest Defenseman of our generation?
Here’s what a few Hockey professionals and Bloggers have to say:
Ken Holland - Red wings GM
Nick plays such a smart game. It's all about positioning, the ability to move the puck. He rarely puts himself in a position where the other team can finish a check on him.
Bill Clement – TV Analyst
What a player. He's a pleasure to watch because he's so subtle, so fine. Always in the right place, always making the right play. Smooth, very smooth. The guy just doesn't get rattled.
Barry Trotz - Predators coach
He has an innate ability to slow things down, process what he sees and make the correct play -- over and over. So efficient, he always makes the right decisions.
Top Shelf
He's not particularly big or strong and he's not overly physical. He's just very, very smart. His success is based on reading the play well and putting himself in the right position. He makes playing awesome defense look pretty effortless.
Fan in Van
Nick Lidstrom epitomizes the word ‘defence’. He is THE best shut-down defenceman in the game today and even more amazing, he makes it look easy. He never gets caught out of position and he rarely makes an error on the ice.
Kukla’s Corner
One area where Lidstrom excels and which is frequently undervalued is his ability to deftly complete tape-to-tape first passes out of the defensive zone, the move that shifts the attack into gear. With Lidstrom in the lineup, the club averages 3.2 goals per game. Without him, that percentage dropped to 2.3 tallies a night.
Detroit Red Wings' Greatest Moments and Players
By Stan Fischler
Nick Played soccer as a kid. “I got my hockey skills from playing soccer. It helps me now to stop the puck with my feet” He never lets his emotions get the best of him and never spent more than 30 minutes in the penalty box in any season.
What can we learn from one of the Greatest Defenseman of all time?
- Play smart
- Play soccer
- Never get caught out of position
- Take your time and make the right play
- Don’t get rattled
- Make precise passes out of the defensive zone
- Work on your shot from the point
- Stay out of the penalty box
"He never makes mistakes"
Just a few career Highlights:
- Winner of the Norris Trophy five out of the last six seasons played
- The only European-born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy
- Three Stanley Cup Championships
- Won a gold medal with Sweden in the 2006 Olympics
- Since entering the NHL in 1991-92, he has played more games (1,176) than any other player
- Nine All-Star Game appearances
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