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Ilitch says, Lids "doesn't do things that hurt his reputation or that of the team". Here's looking at you Patrick Kane.

First off, let me say that Nick Lidstrom is one of my top 5 favorite Wings of all-time and in my opinion the best defensive defenseman of all-time. Now, his (expected) retirement is a major chapter in the history of this team. I for one cannot remember any second in the last 20 years as a Wings fan where I thought that Nick Lidstrom was a liability. On the contrary, I felt that a 50% Nick Lidstrom was an upgrade over pretty much any other defenseman that the Wings could have put on the ice to replace him. Now we as Wings fans finally get to see what we have consciously dreaded but somewhere deep in our collective subconsciousness have always wondered. "What will the Wings look like without #5?" I am (as the thread title bears) excitedly optimistic, and here are some reasons why: 1. We are already a good team - had this happened in a year where we didn't already have a strong core of players (say 2000) I would be pulling my hair out. But we have a Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kronwall, and even White to fall back on as a solid core of defensive players to build around. Not to mention the great 2-way forwards we have developing (Flip and Helm) and the ones in the minors. 2. We have SO much money - We just gained $6 million more chips in the Parise/Suter/Semin games. I would much rather have had only $3mil more (with the 1 year extension of Lids) but we have to look at what we have. I don't know the exact numbers, but if we drop the players to FA that I think we are going to drop (Stuart and Hudler) then there is even more money. I think we are looking at a summer where we sign 2 big FAs and a couple role players. 3. We are deep - Half of the Griffins played last season, and I wasn't really put off by any of them. In fact, a couple I would have wanted to take a roster spot from some vets that were having off seasons or were playing for less than they were being paid (Cleary, Hudler, Franzen). Smith, Tatar, Nyquist, and Mursak all looked good in the short time I got to see them and I think at least 2 GRGs will have roster spots on the big club this season. and finally... 4. What else could you ask for? - I mean, come on, he has left a HUGE impact on the current roster and his presence will be felt for years. Other than retiring after winning a Cup (which probably wouldn't be likely since he would probably feel that he still had something in the tank) or winning another Norris, what else can he really do to excel? I don't blame him for calling it a career, maybe he will stay with the Wings as a European scout or a director of something, or, I daren't say it aloud, decide to take an upper management position that was said to be vacated when he retired... Anyways, good luck Nick and thanks for being the wall in front of the goalie.

"Retiring today allows me to walk away with pride, rather than have the game walk away from me" Watching sports all my life,but didn't hear anything better than this quote,way to say Mr.Nick

Another thing I'm gonna miss so much was when an opposing player got a 1-on-1 with Lids. The player would be skating in and then look up only to find Nick Lidstrom in his way and the response was always the same, dump the puck in and head off for a line change. That's ******* RESPECT!

Yeah because obviously you know more than Nick about who's a leader in the locker room. If he mentioned Filppula, there's a reason for that. Don't be petty.

The words may be his but you ripped them out of his context and put them into yours, completely manipulating what he said.

Privacy of sports stars? The guy couldn't have drawn more attention to himself short of holding a press conference where people watch him get hammered. It's not like someone took pictures from a party in Kane's backyard. He went to the University of Wisconsin (no idea why you go to Wisconsin to celebrate Cinco de Mayo) with custom made t-shirts for the event and made a total ass of himself. When someone pays you $6 mill a year and you're one of the faces of the franchise, like it or not you have to know that the things you do in your personal life will reflect on the organization. It's not like he needs to be going to church 5 days a week. Just don't make such a drunken spectacle of yourself. People in their 20s may not disapprove, but I bet a lot of hockey mom's would think twice about buying their kid a Kane jersey if he keeps this up.

I don't think the issue is with him drinking, all NHL players drink. The issue is him getting black out drunk in settings like that. If you are the front office of an organization, those are not the situations you want your players to be.

Other than Gordie Howe, who was pushing 50, who else played hockey at such a high level in their early 40's?

I feel like he and his family probably walked out to the parking lot, got in a spaceship and flew home to whatever hockey god planet he came from.

Suter-Jones-Doan-Prust-Parros

Sorry, that quote was referring to last year.

No offence, but I think this is just selfish fan talk. I think if you asked Nick he would prefer if Holland looked after the future of the Wings franchise rather than mortgage it to give him, as an individual, one more shot at the cup. But maybe you feel differently.

Sign a 1 day deal just to play the Winter Classics in 2013

Sad, sad day in hockeytown tomorrow. Nick you will be missed greatly. One of my favourites of all time. So much talent, so much intelligence, but most of all so much class. He's a better person than he is a hockey player and that says a lot. Thank you Nick for everything

Offend is the wrong word. "Infuriate" might be better. No slight on Parise's talent intended, but in order to get the "C" in this town, you have to do more for the Wings than just show up.

Franzen! He reeks of leadership and work ethic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgLG8jLT8D0

Zetterberg led the handshake at the end of the Preds series.it's obvious who's gonna be our next captain

Schultz*, Dekeyser*, Welsh*, Sheahan, Jarnkrok, Mrazek, Jurco, Pulkkinen....looks like a nice future! *-my GR signing wish list!

Kane isn't the only player in the NHL to go to bars and get wasted. It has always been part of the culture of being an NHL hockey player. Most players handle it much better than Kane does. He never had a vet take him under his wing and show him the proper way of being a professional. Some young guys like Toews don't need the guidance but Kane does. The Hawks just let him get away with it because he is one of their stars. Much like the Tigers do with Cabrera. He's an alcoholic but who cares? He is our best player so just ignore it.

As to what actually happened that weekend, it'll probably be a lot of rumors and stories with little proof. One thing is for certain though, Kane is a douchebag. I get that he's 23 and rich and having fun, but there's plenty of ways to go out and drink and have a good time without announcing to the world "I'm Patrick Kane!!" every step of the way.

And, with a little bit of luck, next year he'll be twenty-four.

March 30th game in Motown... did we ever have fun!!?? The Wings did not win this game (vs Preds) but did win April 1, vs Florida - in a shoot out. I had never seen one live, so it was pretty danged cool! L-R, ChelisChick (Kristi), ACallToArms (Neal), me (loo) and WizardofOz30 (Dawn). Picture by Kristi, actually by an usher, but Kristi's camera. Me and Dawn... I love you, girl!!