Nicklas Lidström (born 28.4.1970) is a Swedish former ice hockey defenceman. He played 20 seasons in NHL with the Detroit Red Wings – Detroit never missed NHL playoffs during his career and Lidström won four Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. Nicklas Lidström is widely regarded as one of the greatest defencemen in NHL – especially modern era of it.

Early Career

Lidström started his career in Sweden with Skogsbo SK, before moving to Swedish Eliteserien and VIK Västerås HK – he played three seasons with Västerås HK. Detroit Red Wings drafted Lidstörm 53rd overall in 1989 NHL draft – Lidström joined the Red Wings in 1991-92 season.

Detroit Red Wings

When Nicklas Lidström joined to the Red Wings, Detroit was started to build some kind of dynasty in NHL. In 1993 Scotty Bowman was hired as the new head coach to the Red Wings and in his second season (1994-95) Detroit reached to the Stanley Cup Finals, but lose to the New Jersey Devils 4-0. But in season 1996-97 Detroit finally won Stanley Cup after 42 years long waiting when they swept the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 in the finals. The Red Wings became back-to-back champions in season 1997-98 – this time they met Washington Capitals in the finals and won again 4-0.

New millennium was the prime time of Nicklas Lidström – he won Norris Trophy, as the best defenceman of NHL, seven times (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011). Detroit won Stanley Cup next time in season 2001-02 – they won Carolina Hurricanes in finals 4-1 and Nicklas Lidström won Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ MVP. Detroit Red Wings opened season 2006-07 with Nicklas Lidström as the new captain after retirement of long-time Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman. In season 2007-08 the Red Wings won another Stanley Cup – they won Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 in finals and Niclas Lidström became the first non-North American captain to won the Stanley Cup. Nicklas Lidström retired 31.5.2012.

Other interesting stuff

Nicklas Lidström won seven Norris Trophies as the NHL’s best defenceman. and one Conn Smythe Trophy (2002) for the most valuable player in the NHL playoffs. Nicklas Lidström has been chosen to the NHL First All-Star Team 10 times (1998, 1999, 2000. 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011). Nicklas Lidström is the first European-born and trained Norris Trophy winner (2001), Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2002), captain of Stanley Cup – winning team (2008).

Nicklas Lidström owns many records of Detroit Red Wings, for example: Games played by defenceman (1564) and goals, assists and points made by defenceman (264, 878 and 1142). Nicklas Lidström is the oldest defenceman to record hat-trick in the NHL (40years and 210 days) – he is also the oldest Norris Trophy winner (41years, 57 days – 2011).