Nicklas Lidstrom earned the nickname ’The Perfect Human’ in Detroit, and it’s easy to understand why.
He was the perfect example of how a captain in the NHL should behave and how a defenseman should play.
Lidstrom didn’t make many mistakes during his long and incredible career, and he’s widely acknowledged as one of the best defensemen in NHL history.
Recently, Lidstrom was awarded the award as the best player in Swedish hockey history, beating legends like Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin, and Borje Salming.
Lidstrom played with the Detroit Red Wings for 20 years and won four Cups along the way. He also won the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the league a whopping seven times.
He also won Olympic gold and the World Championship, which makes him a member of the prestigious ’Triple Gold Club.’
When he decided to retire in 2012, he did so with 1,564 games played and 1,142 points recorded. It was a sad day for Detroit and a decision that stunned Wayne Gretzky.
When The Great One heard the news from NHL.com during an interview, he was shocked.
”Oh, my God. I had no idea. You stunned me there. Oh my God,” Gretzky said.
When Gretzky tried to compare Lidstrom’s career with some of the greatest hockey has ever seen, he didn’t hold back.
”What he’s done is unique. He will be remembered as one of the best ever, he’s up there with Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, and Ray Bourque. When you play someone as special as Nicklas Lidstrom, you realize what’s so special about hockey. Nobody will be able to replace him,” Lidstrom said.
For Gretzky, Lidstrom’s retirement day was just as special as some other icons.
”I think about when Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, and Mark Messier retired. You immediately think, ’How will they replace them?’ They were so special and what Lidstrom did was so unique,” said The Great One.
