Will Nicklas Lidstrom Retire?

[Guest ToMaToToWnWinGsFaN_24]

looks like Nick will make his final decision by July 1st

Nicklas Lidstrom insisted he doesn't know whether he's returning to the Detroit Red Wings for a 20th season or retiring at the age of 41.

"Before July 1," he said Saturday, two days after the San Jose Sharks eliminated Detroit in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal.

"You take everything into account," Lidstrom said. "How you feel. Motivation. Family situation."

Lidstrom's oldest son enrolled in a Swedish school last fall, a part in his decision-making process.

"I think he'll come back," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "He's a good player and he's on a team that has good opportunity."

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365704

Edited May 14, 2011 by ToMaToToWnWinGsFaN_24

[Red Wings Addict 787]

"Obviously, he proved to himself (this season) that he's a top-one defenseman," forward Danny Cleary said, laughing at his own impromptu designation. "It's hard to retire when you're the best. So, I don't know. I hope he comes back for our sake, and for everybody's sake."

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110514/OPINION03/105140388/Return-or-retire?-Wings-captain-Nicklas-Lidstrom-keeps-us-guessing-for-now#ixzz1MMTaD600

Haha. I've never heard anybody else use that "top-one" phrase.

[Theophany 110]

Yes this is something along the lines of what I was looking for. Of course I wasn't making assumptions; however it seems TOI and +/- numbers when one person plays PK and the other doesnt can skew the numbers. It didn't seem to me a valid prima facia comparison between the two bringing up the +/- when we know lids is not killing penalties and there's, call it a 10% chance (serious WAG there) of getting a - for every minute of PK time you have...

(not arguing not apologizing but I think he is staying)

Uh, +/- isn't affected by PK time unless you score a shorthanded goal (or are on the PK unit that does).

[sandyeggo wingnut 19]

Uh, +/- isn't affected by PK time unless you score a shorthanded goal (or are on the PK unit that does).

Bah too many rules to keep track of

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Yeah, totally. Second in team scoring, +8, definitely a drain on the team.

By contrast your boy Kronwall played two more minutes a game and only put up 6 points in the whole playoffs and was a +5.

In Kronwall's defense, Nick gets more PP time and gets the A-team power play, wheras Nik gets saddled with disaster-zone Flip and Hudler power play. Kronwall's performance in these playoffs made me feel much better about the Wings whenever Nick does retire.

As for whether or not that will happen next year, he was talking about how close a series it was, and could have gone either way, and he's right. Even if they don't change much at all he knows that the Wings are still going to be in the mix next year, especially if he turns in another performance like he did this season.

[Theophany 110]

In Kronwall's defense, Nick gets more PP time and gets the A-team power play, wheras Nik gets saddled with disaster-zone Flip and Hudler power play. Kronwall's performance in these playoffs made me feel much better about the Wings whenever Nick does retire.

As for whether or not that will happen next year, he was talking about how close a series it was, and could have gone either way, and he's right. Even if they don't change much at all he knows that the Wings are still going to be in the mix next year, especially if he turns in another performance like he did this season.

Oh don't get me wrong, Kronwall was excellent in the playoffs, but he's not ready to take over as a #1 defenseman yet.

I think if Lidstrom comes back for one more year you'll see Lids as essentially as a PP specialist even more-so than this season (like he was in the playoffs) and you'll see Kronwall getting more hard minutes than he has in the past. I honestly believe that next year (and possibly the year after) will be the transition year.

[MidMichSteve 1,115]

I would love to see him back next year.

For those that think he's too old, one of Lidstrom's most important assets lies in between his ears. I can't see him getting dumber in the off season.

He has an uncanny knack of knowing where to be and when to be there, thus conserving his strength by being in the right place at the right time.

Babcock knows how to manage his minutes. He probably has 2-3 more good years left if he chooses.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

mlive

Jimmy Howard on WDFN: My gut feeling is Nicklas Lidstrom will return next year

I like actual player's gut feelings over our's. So this is good news.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

With Rafi throwing in a curve ball, what will Kenny do if Nic says he's off too? I mean Nic might now say, well my old partner has

called it a day so I may as well ride off into the sunset with him. Dont think anyone has suggested this as yet, as we all assume that

the Capt is staying for another year. Now that would cause alarm bells to start ringing. Kenny may just throw out an offer to an RFA no?

[ShanahanMan 473]

With Rafi throwing in a curve ball, what will Kenny do if Nic says he's off too? I mean Nic might now say, well my old partner has

called it a day so I may as well ride off into the sunset with him. Dont think anyone has suggested this as yet, as we all assume that

the Capt is staying for another year. Now that would cause alarm bells to start ringing. Kenny may just throw out an offer to an RFA no?

Or calls up the Tampa Bay GM and asks for advice.

[Red Wings Addict 787]

If Nick hangs 'em too I'm looking for the nearest open bar.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Or calls up the Tampa Bay GM and asks for advice.

"Hello, Steve?"

"Hey Kenny."

"Sorry to bother you but I need advice on managing a team to a Stanley Cup."

"Oh, well I can see why you'd call me then. I learned everything I know from this guy who managed his team to 3 cups in 5 years!"

"Thanks Mr. Yzerman, I really appreciate it."

[weGotTheCup89 41]

With Rafi throwing in a curve ball, what will Kenny do if Nic says he's off too? I mean Nic might now say, well my old partner has

called it a day so I may as well ride off into the sunset with him. Dont think anyone has suggested this as yet, as we all assume that

the Capt is staying for another year. Now that would cause alarm bells to start ringing. Kenny may just throw out an offer to an RFA no?

Nick is not retiring. Go Northampton!

[Din758 371]

I think with Raffi taking off, this gives Lidstrom some motivation to stay for one more year just so we dont lose our top 2 D in one off season. When you take in account the 6 mil thats now free on the cap, if Lids stays this could be alot smoother of a transition than we think.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

If Nick hangs 'em too I'm looking for the nearest open bar.

I'll be doing the same, my friend. This is a blasphemous thread.

[dragonballgtz 273]

I think with Raffi taking off, this gives Lidstrom some motivation to stay for one more year just so we dont lose our top 2 D in one off season. When you take in account the 6 mil thats now free on the cap, if Lids stays this could be alot smoother of a transition than we think.

If Nick stays because he feels bad for us I don't think that is a good reason for him to return. He has to want it not have pity on the team.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

If Nick stays because he feels bad for us I don't think that is a good reason for him to return. He has to want it not have pity on the team.

It's possibly because he is still a top 5 dman in the game too.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Or calls up the Tampa Bay GM and asks for advice.

Oh come on, that was funny.

[ogreslayer 1,069]

I'm hoping at the end of the Rafi presser that Kenny then takes the mic to announce a new one year deal for Nic.

[gcom007 1,465]

No way he's done. I don't know why anyone's still even talking about it. Maybe next year, but no way is he done this year.

[Nev 1,085]

There's 2 approaches to this.

1) Nick feels obliged to stay one more year so as not to leave the redwings completely in the lurch, with no easily available replacements for them both

2) Nick has always said he will stay as long as the team is competetive. Depending on Kenny has lined up he can either do a Shanny and say "this is someone else's team now", or go "hell yeah! one more kick at the can!"

Either way, we're 1 season away from a major rebuild, which will be far, far more painful than the post Shanny/Stevie transition.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

hmmmmm.....

detnews

[13dangledangle 965]

"Hello, Steve?"

"Hey Kenny."

"Sorry to bother you but I need advice on managing a team to a Stanley Cup."

"Oh, well I can see why you'd call me then. I learned everything I know from this guy who managed his team to 3 cups in 5 years!"

"Thanks Mr. Yzerman, I really appreciate it."

Now thats funny!

...And no I dont think Lids will retire, not if he gets to pick Weber again

[Red Wings Addict 787]

If he comes back, which I hope he will, would you guys rather he say, "This will be my last season" or continue to take it year to year like he has so far?

[VM1138 1,921]

If he comes back, which I hope he will, would you guys rather he say, "This will be my last season" or continue to take it year to year like he has so far?

IU'd rather he just wait until the season is over to announce it. I don't want a pall over the season or additional pressure on the team. That lets people think you don't have the heart for the season.

Honestly, I think Lidstrom comes back. I always did, but with Rafalski's retirement there's no way Lidstrom retires and leaves the Wings in the lurch. He's not broken like Rafalski was from injuries. He can still play and will likely win the Norris. I know Lidstrom wants to get back to his family and Sweden, but he's enough of a team guy to hang around an extra year since he probably realizes he can handle at least one more season. And he already said he'd be back until the day when he has to play on the third pairing.