Nev 1,085 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 (edited) This was inspired by me and GMR jesting in another thread about how important Dmitri Bykov was to Lidstrom's 3rd Norris trophy, and it got me thinking to the um, variable, quality of his partners, particularly in his Norris years. So here is my attempt to compile a season by season list. I do require you guys help to fill in the gaps in my fading memory. Please note I am not looking for every partner he played with that year, just his main even strength partner. Names in Bold are Norris years, names in Italics indicate a career year for that partner. 91-92: McCrimmon 92-93: ?/Coffey? 93-94: Coffey? 94-95: Bettman / Coffey (won Norris) 95-96: Coffey 96-97: ?/Murphy 97-98: Murphy 98-99: Murphy 99-00: Murphy 00-01: Dandenault 01-02: Olausson 02-03: Bykov 03-04: Schneider 04-05: Bettman 05-06: Schneider 06-07: Markov 07-08: Rafalski 08-09: Rafalski 09-10: Rafalski 10-11: Rafalski 11-12:White Have at it guys, I'll edit this post with updates and corrections as we go. Thanks Edited July 22, 2013 by Nev 1 thegerkin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RusDRW 155 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 who is Bettman? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingedominance13 112 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 who is Bettman?[/quote I think he is referring to the lockouts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yeti 244 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 i miss Rafalski... urgh 2 Wingsfan72 and FireCaptain reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DickieDunn 2,571 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 Kronwall and Ericsson spent time with him Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftWinger 4,949 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 99-00 Was probably still Murphy. Lids average 28 mins and Murph was 21 minutes. Chelios (25 mins) and Duchesne (21 mins) were up there too, but I don't think neither of them played too much even strength with Lids. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,793 Report post Posted July 21, 2013 Anyone remember how Lilja ended up Lidstrom's partner in the 2006 playoffs? I don't think Schneider was injured. I just know Lidstrom held Lilja back and that pairing was a disaster in the postseason. 2 Finnish Wing and Z and D for the C reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Axe Report post Posted July 21, 2013 Lidstrom/Bettman. Someone photoshop that, because its cracking me up thinking of Bettman backpedaling alongside Nick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted July 22, 2013 What I found interesting as I was compiling the list was 3 things. Firstly, how much of his career was spent paired with a puck-moving defenceman - HOFers like Coffey and Murphy and very good players in Rafalski and Schneider. And Ian White. Secondly, that he had 6 different partners in his 7 Norris seasons, of varying quality! Rafalski>Schneider>Markov, Olausson>Bykov, Dandenault. Thirdly, the number of guys who had career years partnered with Lidstrom, even right up to the end with White. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evilmrt 636 Report post Posted July 22, 2013 Names in Bold are Norris years, names in Italics indicate a career year for that partner. 94-95: Bettman / Coffey (won Norris) 04-05: Bettman Have at it guys, I'll edit this post with updates and corrections as we go. Thanks HAHAHAHAHA! I was sitting there, for about 3 minutes, going "wtf? who is Bettman?" and then I saw the 04-05 listing and it clicked. Thanks for the laugh. Imagine if Rafi had come to the Wings a few seasons earlier. Wow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Axe Report post Posted July 22, 2013 What I found interesting as I was compiling the list was 3 things. Firstly, how much of his career was spent paired with a puck-moving defenceman - HOFers like Coffey and Murphy and very good players in Rafalski and Schneider. And Ian White. Secondly, that he had 6 different partners in his 7 Norris seasons, of varying quality! Rafalski>Schneider>Markov, Olausson>Bykov, Dandenault. Thirdly, the number of guys who had career years partnered with Lidstrom, even right up to the end with White. Lidstrom was the best defenseman of all time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites