Nicklas Lidström
Encyclopedia
Nicklas Erik Lidström is a Swedish professional ice hockey
defenseman
who has played his entire National Hockey League
(NHL) career with the Detroit Red Wings
, and is their captain
. In his 19 NHL seasons, Lidström has won four Stanley Cup
s, seven James Norris Memorial Trophies
as the NHL's best defenseman, and has been voted into eleven NHL All-Star Games
. He is the first European-born and trained NHL captain to win the Stanley Cup , as well as the first European player named playoff MVP
. Lidström is also the active leader in NHL games played.
Representing Sweden
, Lidström won the World Championship in 1991
. At the 2006 Winter Olympics
, Lidström was a major factor in Sweden's win over Finland
in the finals, scoring the gold medal clinching goal, thus earning him a spot on the Olympic All-Star Team. He also became the 17th member of the Triple Gold Club
. The Hockey News
selected Lidström as the "Best European-trained player ever in the NHL". The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated
selected Lidström as the "NHL Player of the Decade".
as the NHL's best defenseman three consecutive seasons from 2000–01 to 2002–03 and again from 2005–06 to 2007–08. He has been nominated for the award a total of twelve times in the past fourteen seasons, the first three times finishing as the runner-up, and has won it in seven of the last ten (2004–05 had no winner due to the NHL lockout). In fourteen consecutive seasons (since 1995-96
), he has finished no worse than 6th place in Norris Trophy voting.
As of 2012, Lidström has played all of his 19 NHL seasons for the Detroit Red Wings
. He has been a member of four Stanley Cup
winning teams in 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02 and 2007–08. With the exception of the lockout year, Lidström has been on a team in the playoffs in every season since his rookie year of 1991-92.
Lidström began his career in Avesta
, Sweden
, playing with Skogsbo SK, before moving on to play with VIK Västerås HK
of the Swedish Elitserien
. In three seasons with the team, he played in 103 games, scoring 12 goals and 30 assists. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings 53rd overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
, Lidström joined the team in the 1991–92 NHL season, though he returned to play for Västerås IK for a brief period during the 1994–95 NHL lockout. Lidström scored 60 points in his rookie season, finishing second to Pavel Bure
in voting for that year's Calder Trophy
. He was selected to the 1992 NHL All-Rookie Team
along with fellow Red Wings defenceman Vladimir Konstantinov
.
Known for his durability, Lidström consistently ranks amongst the top in the NHL in ice time per game. He averaged 28:07 minutes in the 2005–06 season
, a career high. He won three consecutive Norris Trophies
, from 2001 to 2003, becoming the first defenseman since Bobby Orr
to win three straight. In the 2003–04 season
, he played in his 1,000th game of his career, having missed only 17 games in 12½ seasons (1994–95 was shortened to 48 games instead of the usual 82 by a labor dispute).
Never a big and bruising defender, many experts say that the secret behind Lidström's consistent game is his ability to read the game; this, combined with his excellent skating ability, allows him to be at the right spot of the ice at the right time. Instead of delivering a big body check, Lidström prefers to steal the puck and create a turnover. His reliance on brains rather than brawn might explain his lack of injuries, and also his low penalty minute totals. For most of his NHL career, he has studiously avoided drawing penalties, although the introduction of many new rules in 2005–06 saw him rack up his career high (50) in penalty minutes. The 2005–06 season also brought him his career high of 80 points (16 goals, 64 assists).
In the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, Lidström was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy
as most valuable player during the playoffs, becoming the first-ever European to be awarded the trophy.
Lidström was set to make $10 million during the 2005–06 season
, but because of the new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement
created in July 2006, salaries on pre-existing contracts were reduced by 24%, which lowered his compensation to $7.6 million. That season, he posted career high 64 assists and 80 points to go with 16 goals.
On June 30, 2006, it was announced that Lidström had signed a two-year, $15.2 million contract with the Red Wings; instead of seeking more money elsewhere—certainly possible for a defenseman of his caliber, especially considering his stellar numbers in the past season—Lidström decided to remain with Detroit for the same annual salary as he earned during the 2005–06 season.
Lidström was an alternate captain
of the Red Wings since the 1997–98 season, and was awarded the captaincy after the 2006 retirement of long-time Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman
. It was an honor made more special by the fact that he became the first European captain in franchise history. In his first year of captaincy, Lidström led the Red Wings to the conference finals, but lost to eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks
. In the off-season, Lidström joined an elite group by capturing the Norris Trophy as the League's outstanding defenseman for the fifth time. Lidström became the fourth defenseman in league history with as many as five Norris Trophy wins, joining Hockey Hall of Fame
members Bobby Orr
(eight), Doug Harvey (seven), and Ray Bourque
(five).
Near the beginning of the 2007–08 season, in an October 8 win against the Edmonton Oilers
, Lidström registered two assists, passing Peter Forsberg
as the second-highest scoring Swedish-born NHL player of all-time. He trails only Mats Sundin
(as of the end of the 2009–10 season
, Lidström has 1,046 points to Sundin's 1,349). Later in the campaign, on December 26, Lidström signed a contract extension through the 2009–10
. Several months later, on April 3, 2008, he assisted on a goal by Johan Franzén
to tie Luc Robitaille
at 42nd all-time with 726 assists.
Entering the playoffs as Presidents' Trophy
winners, the Red Wings met the Pittsburgh Penguins
in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
. Despite a game five, triple-overtime victory by the Penguins to stave off elimination, Lidström and the Red Wings defeated Pittsburgh in game six to capture the Stanley Cup. In doing so, Lidström became the first European-born-and-trained captain to win the Stanley Cup. In 1934
, Charlie Gardiner, a goalie born in Scotland
had captained the Chicago Black Hawks
to win the Stanley Cup and in 1938
, Johnny Gottselig
, a left winger born in Russia
also captained Chicago to a championship, but both players were trained in Canada
.
Just over a week after winning his fourth Stanley Cup in eleven seasons, on June 12, Lidström won the Norris Trophy for the third straight season and the sixth time in seven seasons.
As the Red Wings opened the 2008–09
pre-season against the Montreal Canadiens
, Lidström suffered a broken nose as a shot from Canadiens forward Christopher Higgins ricocheted and hit him in the face. From then on he began wearing a visor. He returned in time for the regular season and was selected to the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal
. However, in the midst of dealing with tendinitis that had been bothering him all season, Lidström chose to sit out All-Star weekend, along with Pavel Datsyuk
. Consequently, Lidström and Datsyuk were both suspended one game by the NHL due to league policy for missing the All-Star Game without significant injury.
The Red Wings opened the 2009-10 season in Stockholm, Sweden. During the team's trip in Sweden, Lidström was honored by his home county
as an Ambassador of Honor. On October 15, 2009, in a game against the Los Angeles Kings
, Lidström became the first European-born defenceman to reach 1000 points with 2 assists in the game. He is the fourth player to score 1000 points as a Detroit Red Wing (after Gordie Howe
, Alex Delvecchio
, and Steve Yzerman
), and the eighth defenseman to do so in the history of the NHL. On March 5, 2010 Lidström got his 800th career assist. Also during the 2009-2010 season, Lidström played in his 1,395th game (finishing the season with 1,412), setting an all-time record for NHL games played by a player born in Europe; earlier in the season, Lidström had passed Teppo Numminen
for games played by a player trained in Europe. Lidström is also fourth-all time in games played in a Red Wings uniform, behind Howe, Delvecchio, and Yzerman, all forwards.
On April 23, 2010, Lidström played in his 237th career playoff game, moving past Mark Messier
into sole possession of third place on the NHL's all-time list (Chris Chelios
266; Patrick Roy
247). In the same game, he had an assist to tie Al MacInnis (121) for the third most assists in the postseason by a defenseman (Ray Bourque
139; Paul Coffey
137).
On April 27, 2010, a day before his 40th birthday, Lidström had 3 points in a game 7 win over the Phoenix Coyotes
in the first round of the 2010 NHL playoffs
, pushing his active playoff points lead to 171 points, and tying him for 17th on the all-time playoff points list with fellow countryman Peter Forsberg
. His next point will make him the highest playoff scorer in the NHL by a player born in Sweden.
As of the end of the 2009-10 season, Lidström has missed only 28 of a possible 1,440 regular-season team games (1 because of suspension).
After contemplating whether or not to retire, Lidström agreed on a 1-year contract with the Red Wings on June 1, 2010. The new contract will pay him slightly over $6 million.
On December 15, 2010, Nicklas Lidström recorded his first career hat trick, at 40 years of age, against the St. Louis Blues, sealing a 5-2 victory. After the game, he was asked how it feels to score his first hat trick "It feels great, I've never in my life been able to notch 3 goals in a game". The hat trick made him the oldest player in NHL history to record his first hat trick (previously held by Scott Mellanby
at 36 years old), and the oldest defenseman in NHL history to record a hat trick (previously held by Mathieu Schneider
at 37 years old).
On January 18, 2011, Lidström was named the captain of the 2011 NHL All-Star Game In Raleigh, North Carolina
. His team won by a final score of 11-10 over Team Staal, captained by Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes. Lidström finished +7 with one assist.
On June 20, 2011, after briefly contemplating retirement yet again, Lidström signed a one-year contract worth $6.2 million with the Detroit Red Wings the same amount he had been paid the previous season. On June 23, 2011 he won his 7th Norris trophy tying with Doug Harvey and one behind Bobby Orr for most Norris Trophies.
On October 22, 2011, in a game against the Washington Capitals, Lidström became the 14th player in the history of the NHL to play 1500 games. He is the first player not being born in North-America and therefore the first Swedish and European player as well as the first player to accomplish this in only his 20th season. Lidström also joined former "Red Wings" Alex Delvecchio and Steve Yzerman as the only 3 players having played exclusively for just one team throughout their careers.
and one Canada Cup
for Sweden.
Following his rookie season with the Red Wings, he earned his first gold medal with Sweden at the 1991 World Championships
. Three years later, he competed in the 1994 World Championships
in Italy
and won a bronze medal. Two years later, he participated in the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey
(successor of the Canada Cup) and contributed 3 points in 4 games. He made his Olympic debut with Sweden at the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano.
Four years later was his next international appearance, playing in his second Olympics at the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City, where Sweden was upset by Belarus in the quarterfinal after being heavy favorites in the round-robin. Lidström made his third World Championships appearance in 2004
, but only appeared in 2 games. That summer, he also competed in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
where he scored 1 goal.
In the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Torino, Lidström helped Sweden avenge their quarterfinal upset to Belarus in Salt Lake City, scoring the game winning goal in the gold medal game against Finland. In doing so, Lidström became a member of the Triple Gold Club
, adding an Olympic gold medal to go with his previous Stanley Cup
s with Detroit, and his World Championship gold medal in 1991. Lidström was also selected to the 2006 Olympic All-Star Team.
Lidström also played for Sweden in the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
serving as team captain in what would be his final Olympics. Lidström announced his retirement from Olympic competition following Sweden's loss to Slovakia.
Nicklas is married to Annika. They have 4 children: Kevin (born 1994) who attends a hockey school in Sweden for his junior year of high school, Adam (born 1996), Samuel (born in 2000) and Lucas (born in 2003).
*did not attend
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenseman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who has played his entire National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) career with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, and is their captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
. In his 19 NHL seasons, Lidström has won four Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s, seven James Norris Memorial Trophies
James Norris Memorial Trophy
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position". The James Norris Memorial Trophy has been awarded 55 times to 23 different players since its beginnings in...
as the NHL's best defenseman, and has been voted into eleven NHL All-Star Games
National Hockey League All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held at the midway point of the regular season of the National Hockey League , with many of the league's star players playing against each other...
. He is the first European-born and trained NHL captain to win the Stanley Cup , as well as the first European player named playoff MVP
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
. Lidström is also the active leader in NHL games played.
Representing Sweden
Swedish national men's ice hockey team
The Swedish men's national ice hockey team, or Tre Kronor , as it is called in Sweden, is one of the most successful ice hockey teams in the world...
, Lidström won the World Championship in 1991
1991 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
-Final Round:-Consolation Round:No team was relegated because of the expansion to twelve teams.-World Championship Group B :...
. At the 2006 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics
-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
, Lidström was a major factor in Sweden's win over Finland
Finnish national men's ice hockey team
The Finnish men's national ice hockey team, or Leijonat / Lejonen , as it is called in Finland, is governed by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association...
in the finals, scoring the gold medal clinching goal, thus earning him a spot on the Olympic All-Star Team. He also became the 17th member of the Triple Gold Club
Triple Gold Club
The Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
. The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
selected Lidström as the "Best European-trained player ever in the NHL". The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
selected Lidström as the "NHL Player of the Decade".
Playing career
Lidström is considered the top NHL defenseman of his era , having won the Norris TrophyJames Norris Memorial Trophy
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position". The James Norris Memorial Trophy has been awarded 55 times to 23 different players since its beginnings in...
as the NHL's best defenseman three consecutive seasons from 2000–01 to 2002–03 and again from 2005–06 to 2007–08. He has been nominated for the award a total of twelve times in the past fourteen seasons, the first three times finishing as the runner-up, and has won it in seven of the last ten (2004–05 had no winner due to the NHL lockout). In fourteen consecutive seasons (since 1995-96
1995-96 NHL season
The 1995–96 NHL season was the 79th regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup winners were the Colorado Avalanche, who, in their first year as the Avalanche, swept the Florida Panthers in four games.-League business:...
), he has finished no worse than 6th place in Norris Trophy voting.
As of 2012, Lidström has played all of his 19 NHL seasons for the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. He has been a member of four Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winning teams in 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02 and 2007–08. With the exception of the lockout year, Lidström has been on a team in the playoffs in every season since his rookie year of 1991-92.
Lidström began his career in Avesta
Avesta Municipality
Avesta Municipality is one of 290 municipalities of Sweden. It is in Dalarna County, in central part of the country, and its seat is in the town Avesta....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, playing with Skogsbo SK, before moving on to play with VIK Västerås HK
VIK Västerås HK
VIK Västerås HK is an ice hockey club from Västerås, Sweden. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. Västerås IK has played 12 seasons in the top Swedish league Elitserien .-History:Västerås IK was founded in 1913 and started playing ice hockey in...
of the Swedish Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
. In three seasons with the team, he played in 103 games, scoring 12 goals and 30 assists. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings 53rd overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
1989 NHL Entry Draft
The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 17 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Some believe that the Detroit Red Wings' 1989 draft was the most successful ever, with 5,721 total NHL games played by the players selected.-Selections by round:...
, Lidström joined the team in the 1991–92 NHL season, though he returned to play for Västerås IK for a brief period during the 1994–95 NHL lockout. Lidström scored 60 points in his rookie season, finishing second to Pavel Bure
Pavel Bure
Pavel Vladimirovich Bure is a retired Russian professional ice hockey right winger. Nicknamed "The Russian Rocket" for his speed, Bure played for 12 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers...
in voting for that year's Calder Trophy
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season...
. He was selected to the 1992 NHL All-Rookie Team
NHL All-Rookie Team
The NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
along with fellow Red Wings defenceman Vladimir Konstantinov
Vladimir Konstantinov
Vladimir Nikolaevich Konstantinov is a Russian retired professional ice hockey player who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings. Previously, he had played for Soviet club CSKA Moscow...
.
2005–06 Detroit Red Wings season
The 2005–06 Detroit Red Wings season was the 80th National Hockey League season in Detroit, Michigan. The Wings once again found themselves having the best regular season record, scoring 124 points for the second highest point total in franchise history....
, a career high. He won three consecutive Norris Trophies
James Norris Memorial Trophy
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position". The James Norris Memorial Trophy has been awarded 55 times to 23 different players since its beginnings in...
, from 2001 to 2003, becoming the first defenseman since Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr
Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Orr played in the National Hockey League for his entire career, the first ten seasons with the Boston Bruins, joining the Chicago Black Hawks for two more. Orr is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest...
to win three straight. In the 2003–04 season
2003–04 Detroit Red Wings season
The 2003–04 Detroit Red Wings season was the 78th National Hockey League season in Detroit, Michigan. Despite multiple injuries to key players, the Wings found themselves once again winning the Presidents' Trophy for having the best regular season record in the NHL, scoring 109 points...
, he played in his 1,000th game of his career, having missed only 17 games in 12½ seasons (1994–95 was shortened to 48 games instead of the usual 82 by a labor dispute).
Never a big and bruising defender, many experts say that the secret behind Lidström's consistent game is his ability to read the game; this, combined with his excellent skating ability, allows him to be at the right spot of the ice at the right time. Instead of delivering a big body check, Lidström prefers to steal the puck and create a turnover. His reliance on brains rather than brawn might explain his lack of injuries, and also his low penalty minute totals. For most of his NHL career, he has studiously avoided drawing penalties, although the introduction of many new rules in 2005–06 saw him rack up his career high (50) in penalty minutes. The 2005–06 season also brought him his career high of 80 points (16 goals, 64 assists).
In the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, Lidström was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
as most valuable player during the playoffs, becoming the first-ever European to be awarded the trophy.
Lidström was set to make $10 million during the 2005–06 season
2005–06 Detroit Red Wings season
The 2005–06 Detroit Red Wings season was the 80th National Hockey League season in Detroit, Michigan. The Wings once again found themselves having the best regular season record, scoring 124 points for the second highest point total in franchise history....
, but because of the new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement
NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement
The NHL collective bargaining agreement is the basic contract between the National Hockey League team owners and the NHL Players Association , designed to be arrived at through the typical labor-management negotiations of collective bargaining...
created in July 2006, salaries on pre-existing contracts were reduced by 24%, which lowered his compensation to $7.6 million. That season, he posted career high 64 assists and 80 points to go with 16 goals.
On June 30, 2006, it was announced that Lidström had signed a two-year, $15.2 million contract with the Red Wings; instead of seeking more money elsewhere—certainly possible for a defenseman of his caliber, especially considering his stellar numbers in the past season—Lidström decided to remain with Detroit for the same annual salary as he earned during the 2005–06 season.
Lidström was an alternate captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
of the Red Wings since the 1997–98 season, and was awarded the captaincy after the 2006 retirement of long-time Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman
Stephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League...
. It was an honor made more special by the fact that he became the first European captain in franchise history. In his first year of captaincy, Lidström led the Red Wings to the conference finals, but lost to eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. In the off-season, Lidström joined an elite group by capturing the Norris Trophy as the League's outstanding defenseman for the fifth time. Lidström became the fourth defenseman in league history with as many as five Norris Trophy wins, joining Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
members Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr
Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Orr played in the National Hockey League for his entire career, the first ten seasons with the Boston Bruins, joining the Chicago Black Hawks for two more. Orr is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest...
(eight), Doug Harvey (seven), and Ray Bourque
Ray Bourque
Raymond Jean "Ray" Bourque is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player. He currently holds records for most goals, assists and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League . Bourque has become near-synonymous with the Boston Bruins franchise, for which he played 21 seasons and...
(five).
Near the beginning of the 2007–08 season, in an October 8 win against the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, Lidström registered two assists, passing Peter Forsberg
Peter Forsberg
Peter Mattias "Foppa" Forsberg is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and currently an assistant general manager of Modo Sports. Known for his on-ice vision and physical play, Forsberg is considered one of the most complete players of his generation...
as the second-highest scoring Swedish-born NHL player of all-time. He trails only Mats Sundin
Mats Sundin
Mats Johan Sundin is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. Originally drafted first overall in 1989, Sundin played his first four seasons in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1994, where he played the majority of his career, serving 11...
(as of the end of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
, Lidström has 1,046 points to Sundin's 1,349). Later in the campaign, on December 26, Lidström signed a contract extension through the 2009–10
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
. Several months later, on April 3, 2008, he assisted on a goal by Johan Franzén
Johan Franzen
Johan Franzén is a Swedish professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :Franzén started playing ice hockey in Boro/Vetlanda HC, Landsbro near Vetlanda in Sweden...
to tie Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. During his 19-season National Hockey League career, Robitaille won a Stanley Cup in 2001–02 with the Detroit Red Wings, and played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, but is most known for his fourteen seasons,...
at 42nd all-time with 726 assists.
Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins. The winning team is also awarded C$350,000...
winners, the Red Wings met the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
2008 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2008 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2007–08 season. As a culmination of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings defeated the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh...
. Despite a game five, triple-overtime victory by the Penguins to stave off elimination, Lidström and the Red Wings defeated Pittsburgh in game six to capture the Stanley Cup. In doing so, Lidström became the first European-born-and-trained captain to win the Stanley Cup. In 1934
1934 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1934 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Chicago Black Hawks and the Detroit Red Wings. It was the Red Wings' first appearance in the Final, and Chicago's second, after 1931...
, Charlie Gardiner, a goalie born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
had captained the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
to win the Stanley Cup and in 1938
1938 Stanley Cup Finals
-References & notes:* Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame . Lord Stanley's Cup. Bolton, Ont.: Fenn Pub. pp 12, 50. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7...
, Johnny Gottselig
Johnny Gottselig
John Gottselig was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League between 1928 and 1946. He was the second player born in the Russian Empire to play in the NHL, as well as the first European-born head coach in the league's...
, a left winger born in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
also captained Chicago to a championship, but both players were trained in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Just over a week after winning his fourth Stanley Cup in eleven seasons, on June 12, Lidström won the Norris Trophy for the third straight season and the sixth time in seven seasons.
As the Red Wings opened the 2008–09
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
pre-season against the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, Lidström suffered a broken nose as a shot from Canadiens forward Christopher Higgins ricocheted and hit him in the face. From then on he began wearing a visor. He returned in time for the regular season and was selected to the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. However, in the midst of dealing with tendinitis that had been bothering him all season, Lidström chose to sit out All-Star weekend, along with Pavel Datsyuk
Pavel Datsyuk
Pavel Valerievich Datsyuk is a professional ice hockey player from Russia and alternate captain for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League . He is known for his stick-handling and is considered the best two-way forward in the game today, having won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in the...
. Consequently, Lidström and Datsyuk were both suspended one game by the NHL due to league policy for missing the All-Star Game without significant injury.
The Red Wings opened the 2009-10 season in Stockholm, Sweden. During the team's trip in Sweden, Lidström was honored by his home county
Dalarna County
Dalarna County is a county or län in middle Sweden. It borders the counties of Jämtland, Gävleborg, Västmanland, Örebro and Värmland. It is also bordered by the Norwegian counties of Hedmark and Sør-Trøndelag in the west...
as an Ambassador of Honor. On October 15, 2009, in a game against the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Lidström became the first European-born defenceman to reach 1000 points with 2 assists in the game. He is the fourth player to score 1000 points as a Detroit Red Wing (after Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
, Alex Delvecchio
Alex Delvecchio
Alexander Peter "Fats" Delvecchio is a former ice hockey player and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.After playing a single junior league season for the Oshawa Generals of the OHA Delvecchio joined the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League for the 1952 season, and helped the team to...
, and Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman
Stephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League...
), and the eighth defenseman to do so in the history of the NHL. On March 5, 2010 Lidström got his 800th career assist. Also during the 2009-2010 season, Lidström played in his 1,395th game (finishing the season with 1,412), setting an all-time record for NHL games played by a player born in Europe; earlier in the season, Lidström had passed Teppo Numminen
Teppo Numminen
Teppo Kalevi Numminen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League. He is currently an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres.-Playing career:...
for games played by a player trained in Europe. Lidström is also fourth-all time in games played in a Red Wings uniform, behind Howe, Delvecchio, and Yzerman, all forwards.
On April 23, 2010, Lidström played in his 237th career playoff game, moving past Mark Messier
Mark Messier
Mark Douglas Messier is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre of the National Hockey League and current special assistant to the president and general manager of the New York Rangers. He spent a quarter of a century in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver...
into sole possession of third place on the NHL's all-time list (Chris Chelios
Chris Chelios
Christos Kostas Tselios is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently the Executive Advisor to Ken Holland, the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, a role that Steve Yzerman held before leaving to become general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Chelios played...
266; Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
247). In the same game, he had an assist to tie Al MacInnis (121) for the third most assists in the postseason by a defenseman (Ray Bourque
Ray Bourque
Raymond Jean "Ray" Bourque is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player. He currently holds records for most goals, assists and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League . Bourque has become near-synonymous with the Boston Bruins franchise, for which he played 21 seasons and...
139; Paul Coffey
Paul Coffey
Paul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points, behind Ray Bourque.-Playing career:Coffey was drafted 6th...
137).
On April 27, 2010, a day before his 40th birthday, Lidström had 3 points in a game 7 win over the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
in the first round of the 2010 NHL playoffs
2010 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 14, 2010, after the 2009–10 NHL regular season. The Finals ended on June 9, 2010, with the Chicago Blackhawks defeating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to two to win their fourth championship and their first since 1961...
, pushing his active playoff points lead to 171 points, and tying him for 17th on the all-time playoff points list with fellow countryman Peter Forsberg
Peter Forsberg
Peter Mattias "Foppa" Forsberg is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and currently an assistant general manager of Modo Sports. Known for his on-ice vision and physical play, Forsberg is considered one of the most complete players of his generation...
. His next point will make him the highest playoff scorer in the NHL by a player born in Sweden.
As of the end of the 2009-10 season, Lidström has missed only 28 of a possible 1,440 regular-season team games (1 because of suspension).
After contemplating whether or not to retire, Lidström agreed on a 1-year contract with the Red Wings on June 1, 2010. The new contract will pay him slightly over $6 million.
On December 15, 2010, Nicklas Lidström recorded his first career hat trick, at 40 years of age, against the St. Louis Blues, sealing a 5-2 victory. After the game, he was asked how it feels to score his first hat trick "It feels great, I've never in my life been able to notch 3 goals in a game". The hat trick made him the oldest player in NHL history to record his first hat trick (previously held by Scott Mellanby
Scott Mellanby
Scott Edgar Mellanby is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He primarily played right wing throughout his career, on occasion shifting over to the left side. He is the son of former Hockey Night in Canada producer Ralph Mellanby. He is currently the assistant coach of the St...
at 36 years old), and the oldest defenseman in NHL history to record a hat trick (previously held by Mathieu Schneider
Mathieu Schneider
Mathieu Schneider is a American former professional ice hockey player. Considered an offensive defenseman, Schneider played 1289 games in the National Hockey League with ten different teams, scoring 233 goals and totalling 743 points...
at 37 years old).
On January 18, 2011, Lidström was named the captain of the 2011 NHL All-Star Game In Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. His team won by a final score of 11-10 over Team Staal, captained by Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes. Lidström finished +7 with one assist.
On June 20, 2011, after briefly contemplating retirement yet again, Lidström signed a one-year contract worth $6.2 million with the Detroit Red Wings the same amount he had been paid the previous season. On June 23, 2011 he won his 7th Norris trophy tying with Doug Harvey and one behind Bobby Orr for most Norris Trophies.
On October 22, 2011, in a game against the Washington Capitals, Lidström became the 14th player in the history of the NHL to play 1500 games. He is the first player not being born in North-America and therefore the first Swedish and European player as well as the first player to accomplish this in only his 20th season. Lidström also joined former "Red Wings" Alex Delvecchio and Steve Yzerman as the only 3 players having played exclusively for just one team throughout their careers.
International play
Prior to his NHL career, Lidström competed in two European Junior Championships in 1988 and 1991, one World Junior Championship in 19901990 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 1990 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 14th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held mainly in Helsinki, Finland...
and one Canada Cup
Canada Cup (ice hockey)
The Canada Cup was an invitational international ice hockey tournament held on five occasions between 1976 and 1991. The tournament was created to meet demand for a true world championship that allowed the best players from participating nations to compete regardless of their status as professional...
for Sweden.
Following his rookie season with the Red Wings, he earned his first gold medal with Sweden at the 1991 World Championships
1991 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
-Final Round:-Consolation Round:No team was relegated because of the expansion to twelve teams.-World Championship Group B :...
. Three years later, he competed in the 1994 World Championships
1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
- Group 2 :- Quarterfinals :- Consolation Round 11-12 Place :- Semifinals :- Match for third place :- Final :-World Championship Group B :...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and won a bronze medal. Two years later, he participated in the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey
1996 World Cup of Hockey
The first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
(successor of the Canada Cup) and contributed 3 points in 4 games. He made his Olympic debut with Sweden at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to...
in Nagano.
Four years later was his next international appearance, playing in his second Olympics at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics were held at the E Center in West Valley City and Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host USA in both games.-Men:...
in Salt Lake City, where Sweden was upset by Belarus in the quarterfinal after being heavy favorites in the round-robin. Lidström made his third World Championships appearance in 2004
2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2004 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held April 24-May 9, 2004, in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. Games for this Ice Hockey World Championships tournament were played at Sazka Arena and ČEZ Aréna...
, but only appeared in 2 games. That summer, he also competed in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
2004 World Cup of Hockey
The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
where he scored 1 goal.
In the 2006 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics
-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
in Torino, Lidström helped Sweden avenge their quarterfinal upset to Belarus in Salt Lake City, scoring the game winning goal in the gold medal game against Finland. In doing so, Lidström became a member of the Triple Gold Club
Triple Gold Club
The Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
, adding an Olympic gold medal to go with his previous Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s with Detroit, and his World Championship gold medal in 1991. Lidström was also selected to the 2006 Olympic All-Star Team.
Lidström also played for Sweden in the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
serving as team captain in what would be his final Olympics. Lidström announced his retirement from Olympic competition following Sweden's loss to Slovakia.
Nicklas is married to Annika. They have 4 children: Kevin (born 1994) who attends a hockey school in Sweden for his junior year of high school, Adam (born 1996), Samuel (born in 2000) and Lucas (born in 2003).
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
+/− | PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | +/− | PIM | ||
| 1988–89 | VIK Västerås HK VIK Västerås HK VIK Västerås HK is an ice hockey club from Västerås, Sweden. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. Västerås IK has played 12 seasons in the top Swedish league Elitserien .-History:Västerås IK was founded in 1913 and started playing ice hockey in... |
SEL Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Västerås IK | SEL | 39 | 8 | 8 | 16 | — | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | ||
| 1990–91 | Västerås IK | SEL | 38 | 4 | 19 | 23 | — | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | ||
| 1991–92 | Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
80 | 11 | 49 | 60 | 36 | 22 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −5 | 0 | ||
| 1992–93 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 84 | 7 | 34 | 41 | 7 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 0 | ||
| 1993–94 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 84 | 10 | 46 | 56 | 43 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 | Västerås IK | SEL | 13 | 2 | 10 | 12 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 43 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 15 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 1995–96 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 81 | 17 | 50 | 67 | 29 | 20 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 1996–97 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 79 | 15 | 42 | 57 | 11 | 30 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 2 | ||
| 1997–98 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 80 | 17 | 42 | 59 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 12 | 8 | ||
| 1998–99 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 81 | 14 | 43 | 57 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1999–00 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 81 | 20 | 53 | 73 | 19 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||||
| 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2000–01 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 82 | 15 | 56 | 71 | 9 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 78 | 9 | 50 | 59 | 13 | 20 | 23 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2002–03 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 82 | 18 | 44 | 62 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 81 | 10 | 28 | 38 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2005–06 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 80 | 16 | 64 | 80 | 21 | 50 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −4 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 80 | 13 | 49 | 62 | 40 | 46 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 76 | 10 | 60 | 70 | 40 | 40 | 22 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 14 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 78 | 16 | 43 | 59 | 31 | 30 | 21 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 6 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 82 | 9 | 40 | 49 | 23 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 82 | 16 | 46 | 62 | ||||||||||
| 20 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 4 | ||||||||||
| SEL totals | 110 | 14 | 39 | 53 | — | 32 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | ||||
| NHL totals | 1494 | 253 | 855 | 1108 | 429 | 486 | 258 | 54 | 129 | 183 | 61 | 76 | ||||
Awards
- World Championship gold medal winner (Sweden, 19911991 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships-Final Round:-Consolation Round:No team was relegated because of the expansion to twelve teams.-World Championship Group B :...
). - NHL All-Rookie TeamNHL All-Rookie TeamThe NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
(1992). - 4-time Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winner (19971997 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1997 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers. Detroit was in the Final for the second time in three years while the Flyers were making their first appearance since the 1987 Final...
, 19981998 Stanley Cup Finals- Detroit Red Wings - 1998 Stanley Cup Champions :- Stanley Cup engravings :* Wally Crossman was oldest person engraved on the Stanley Cup at age 87....
, 20022002 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 2002 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes, making their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Detroit defeated Carolina in five games to win their tenth Stanley Cup championship...
, and 20082008 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 2008 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2007–08 season. As a culmination of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings defeated the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh...
). - 12-time NHL All-Star (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2011).
- 10-time NHL First All-Star TeamNHL All-Star TeamThe NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are...
member (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 20112010–11 NHL seasonThe 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech...
). - 2-time NHL Second All-Star Team member (20092008–09 NHL seasonThe 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
and 2010). - 7-time Norris TrophyJames Norris Memorial TrophyThe James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position". The James Norris Memorial Trophy has been awarded 55 times to 23 different players since its beginnings in...
winner (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011). - Conn Smythe TrophyConn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
winner (20022002 Stanley Cup PlayoffsThe 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championships of the National Hockey League, was played from April until June. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes four games to one to clinch the 10th championship in their history. It was the Hurricanes first ever appearance in the...
). - OlympicIce hockey at the Olympic GamesIce hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1920. The men's tournament was introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics and was transferred permanently to the Winter Olympic Games programme in 1924. The women's tournament was first held at the 1998 Winter Olympics...
gold medal winner (Sweden, 2006Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
); Lidström became a member of the Triple Gold ClubTriple Gold ClubThe Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
with this win. - Olympic All-Star Team (2006).
- 2-time Viking AwardViking AwardThe Viking Award is awarded annually to the best Swedish ice hockey player in North America. The winner is decided by a vote among the players themselves. Only Mats Sundin has received the award four times. Peter Forsberg, Markus Näslund and Börje Salming have received it three...
winner (2000 and 2006).
*did not attend
NHL
- First European-born and trained Norris Trophy winner (2000–01).
- First European-born and trained Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2001–02).
- Fourth defenseman (and first European-born and trained defenseman) in NHL to win James Norris Memorial Trophy three years running (2001–2003, 2006–2008), and third seven-time Norris Trophy winner.
- First European-born and trained captain of a Stanley Cup-winning team (2008).
- First European-born and trained defenseman to reach 1000 points.
- First European-born player, any position, to play over 1500 games.
- Sixth defenseman (and 28th player overall) to reach 855 career assists.
- Most regular season games played by a player born in Europe, any position (1494).
- Most regular season games played by a defenseman in a career spent with only one team (1494), also third all-time league-wide and with the Red Wings (any position).
- Most regular season wins played in (900).
- Active leader in games played, any position (1500).
- Oldest player ever to record his first hat trick (40 years old)
- Oldest defenseman ever to record a hat trick (40 years old)
- Oldest Norris Trophy winner (41 years, 57 days) (2010-2011)
Detroit Red Wings
- Points by a defenceman, season (2005–06, 80).
- Postseason goals by a defenceman, career (54).
- Postseason points by a defenceman, career (183).
- Postseason assists, career (129).
- Postseason games played, career (258).
- Games played by a defenceman, career (1500).
- Goals, assists, and points by a defenceman, career (253, 855, and 1108).
- Points in a single postseason (1998, 19).
- Goals in a single postseason by a defenceman (1998, 6).
- Best postseason plus/minus, career (+61).
- Best regular season plus/minus, career (+429).
See also
- List of NHL players with 1000 points
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
- List of Detroit Red Wings draft picks