Red Wings superstar D-man Nicklas Lidstrom did it all in his 20 NHL seasons. And in this THN archive story, writer Mike Brophy spoke to legend Scotty Bowman about Lidstrom.
Former Detroit Red Wings superstar defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom was incredibly consistent in his 20 NHL seasons. And in this cover story from THN's Dec. 26, 1997 edition (Vol. 51, Issue 16), writer Mike Brophy penned a feature on the then-27-year-old icon as he solidified his place in the Motor City.
Giveaways Never In Season
By Mike Brophy
If Nicklas Lidtsrom really were Saint Nick, chances are nobody would get anything for Christmas.
As delightful as the 27-year-old Swede is, he rarely has anything to do with giveaways-no matter what the time of season. The trusty Detroit Red Wings’ defenseman has been the NHL’s most consistent performer at his position this year.
He stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 190 pounds, yet because he is quiet and unassuming, you don’t often notice him until he leaps into the play. Then you can’t take your eyes off him.
Lidstrom, who will anchor Team Sweden’s defense at the Olympics in Nagano, led all defensemen with 11 goals. Al MacInnis of the St. Louis Blues, Bryan Berard of the New York Islanders and Calle Johansson of the Washington Capitals had 10 each.
“His offense is very surprising,” said Detroit Red Wings’ coach Scotty Bowman. “We usually match him against the other team’s top offensive line. His main job is to prevent goals, not score them. He’s not always in offensive situations.”
Yet scoring goals is nothing new for Lidstrom. He has had seasons of 17 and 15 goals and was on pace for 30 this year. Perhaps more amazingly, his six penalty minutes made him a leading candidate to win the Lady Byng Trophy as the league’s most gentlemanly player. No defenseman since Red Kelly of the Detroit Red Wings in 1960-61 has pulled off the feat.
And more importantly, Lidstrom is making his presence felt around the league. On a flight home from Boston, members of the Dallas Stars were discussing the first quarter and leading contenders for the major awards.
“A number of our guys put him down not only as the best defenseman, but also as the Hart Trophy (most valuable player) winner,” said Stars’ coach Ken Hitchcock. “That’s how highly he’s regarded.”
Lidstrom would settle for becoming the first European to win the Norris Trophy as best defenseman. He placed sixth in voting last year, while teammate Vladimir Konstantinov finished second to New York Rangers’ Brian Leetch.
“I think it would be a real big deal back home because it has never been done before,” Lidstrom said. “But it’s a little too early to be talking about it. It’s a long season and we still have the Olympics to get through.”
The defending Stanley Cup champions have undergone a facelift because of the car crash that ended the career of Konstantinov and center Sergei Fedorov’s ongoing contract dispute. The loss of Konstantinov has done two things; put pressure on Lidstrom to carry more of the weight on the blueline and brought into sharper focus his skill level.
A member of the NHL all-rookie team in 1991-92 when he broke in with 11 goals and 60 points, Lidstrom has averaged 12 goals a year in five seasons. When Lidstrom got off to a slow start last season, some thought his game suffered slightly because he was constantly paired with inexperienced youngsters Anders Eriksson, Jamie Pushor and Mathieu Dandenault.
Bowman noticed something else.
“He told me my shots were too high,” Lidstrom said. “They were getting on net, but when I didn’t score, there weren’t any rebounds.”
Lidstrom is not an overly physical player-last season’s 30 penalty minutes were the most he has accumulated in a season-but he plays the man and the puck with precision. And his shot, while not overpowering like McInnis’, is quick and accurate. When the Red Wings acquired veteran defenseman Larry Murphy from the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, they immediately teamed him with Lidstrom and the two have been a prolific pairing at even strength and on the power play.
In fact, by time the Red Wings met the Flyers in the final, Lidstrom had surpassed Konstantinov on the Detroit blueline logging upwards of 28 minutes per game. Konstantinov played slightly less.
“When you have two good defensemen on a team they share the accolades,” said Red Wings’ GM Ken Holland. “Vlad’s gone and now Nick is the guy. At the same time he’s getting more ice time and he has stepped up his game and taken charge. He’s a pro’s pro. There’s no maintenance with Nick. Just tell him what time the practices and games are and he shows up ready to work.”