Nicklas Lidström facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nicklas Lidström |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lidström in 2022
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| Born | 28 April 1970 Krylbo, Sweden |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shot | Left | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | Västerås IK Detroit Red Wings |
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| National team |  Sweden |
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| NHL Draft | 53rd overall, 1989 Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1987–2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Nicklas Lidström (born April 28, 1970) is a famous Swedish former professional ice hockey player. He was a defenceman, which is a player who mostly helps stop the other team from scoring. He played for 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings. For the last six years of his career, he was the team's captain. Many people think he is one of the best defencemen in NHL history and he was even called "the Perfect Human."
During his 20 seasons in the NHL, Lidström won four Stanley Cup championships. He also won the James Norris Memorial Trophy seven times, which is given to the NHL's best defenceman. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy once, which means he was the most valuable player in the playoffs. He was chosen to play in 12 NHL All-Star Games. The Red Wings always made it to the playoffs when he played, which is the longest playoff streak for any player in the league's history. Lidström was the first captain from Europe to win the Stanley Cup. He was also the first European player to be named the playoff MVP. He played more games for one NHL team than any other European-born player.
Lidström was added to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2014. He also joined the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2017, he was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" of all time.
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Nicklas Lidström's Amazing Career
Lidström is known as one of the greatest defencemen ever. He won the Norris Trophy seven times. Only two other players, Doug Harvey and Bobby Orr, have won it as many times (Orr won it eight times). Lidström was a top contender for this award in 12 of his last 14 seasons. He won it seven times in his last ten seasons. In his final 16 seasons, he was always among the top six players for the Norris Trophy.
Lidström played his entire 20-year NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings. He played the second-most playoff games in NHL history, with 263 appearances. Only Chris Chelios played more. He helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup four times: in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008. Except for the 2004–05 season, which was cancelled, Lidström played in the playoffs for 20 years in a row. This is an NHL record he shares with Larry Robinson.
Lidström was also known for how tough he was. He almost always played and spent a lot of time on the ice in each game. In the 2005–06 season, he played for an average of 28 minutes and 7 seconds per game, which was his highest ever. He won the Norris Trophy three times in a row from 2001 to 2003. This made him the first defenceman since Bobby Orr to do so. In the 2003–04 season, he played his 1,000th game. He had only missed 17 games in 12 and a half seasons by then.
In the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, Lidström won the Conn Smythe Trophy. This award goes to the most valuable player during the playoffs. He was the first European player ever to win this trophy.
Starting His Hockey Journey
Lidström started playing hockey in Avesta, Sweden. He played for a team called Skogsbo SK. Then, he moved to play for VIK Västerås HK in Sweden's top league. He played 103 games over three seasons, scoring 12 goals and 30 assists. The Detroit Red Wings chose him in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the Red Wings in the 1991–92 season.
In his first NHL season, Lidström scored 60 points. He finished second in voting for the Calder Trophy, which is given to the best rookie. He was also chosen for the 1992 NHL All-Rookie Team.
Captaining the Red Wings
Lidström became an alternate captain for the Red Wings in the 1997–98 season. After long-time captain Steve Yzerman retired in 2006, Lidström became the new captain. This was a special honor because he was the first European captain in the team's history. In his first year as captain, he led the Red Wings to the Western Conference Finals.
On October 8, 2007, Lidström got two assists in a game against the Edmonton Oilers. This made him the second-highest scoring Swedish-born NHL player of all time, passing Peter Forsberg. He is still behind only Mats Sundin.
In the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, the Red Wings played against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lidström and the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in Game 6. By winning, Lidström became the first captain born and trained in Europe to win the Stanley Cup. Just over a week later, he won the Norris Trophy for the third year in a row, and the sixth time in seven seasons.
At the start of the 2008–09 season, Lidström broke his nose during a pre-season game. After that, he started wearing a visor to protect his face. He was chosen for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game but decided not to play because of a problem with his leg.
The Red Wings started the 2009–10 season in Stockholm, Sweden. Lidström was honored by his home county in Sweden as an "Ambassador of Honor." On October 15, 2009, Lidström became the first defenceman born in Europe to reach 1,000 points in the NHL. He is the fourth player to score 1,000 points for the Red Wings. He also played his 1,395th game, setting a record for the most NHL games played by a European-born player.
On April 27, 2010, the day before his 40th birthday, Lidström scored three points in a playoff game. This helped the Red Wings win and move on in the playoffs.
On December 15, 2010, Lidström scored his first ever hat-trick (three goals in one game) against the St. Louis Blues. He was 40 years old, making him the oldest player in NHL history to score his first hat-trick. He was also the oldest defenceman to score a hat-trick.
On January 18, 2011, Lidström was named a team captain for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game. His team won the game.
On October 22, 2011, Lidström played his 1,500th NHL game. He was the first player not born in North America, and the first Swedish or European player, to reach this milestone. On February 12, 2012, he played his 1,550th game, breaking Alex Delvecchio's record for most games played with the Red Wings. This also made him the NHL player who has played the most games for only one team.
Retirement from Hockey
On May 31, 2012, Lidström announced he was retiring from the NHL. His former teammate Steve Yzerman said Lidström was "one of the all-time best defencemen to ever play." Another former teammate, Paul Coffey, called him "an incredible player." Chris Chelios said, "If you're going to talk about someone who's perfect, Nick's pretty darn close to being perfect."
A few days after retiring, Lidström and his wife placed an advertisement in the newspaper to thank the city of Detroit. On July 8, 2012, Lidström became a scout for the Red Wings.
On March 6, 2014, the Red Wings officially retired Lidström's number 5 jersey in a special ceremony at Joe Louis Arena. This means no other Red Wings player will ever wear that number again.
Playing for Sweden
Lidström also played for the Swedish national team. He won the World Championship in 1991. At the 2006 Winter Olympics, Lidström was a key player in Sweden's win over Finland in the finals. He scored the goal that won the gold medal for Sweden. This also made him a member of the Triple Gold Club. This club is for players who have won an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup.
Lidström also played in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He played in his final Olympic games at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where he was the team captain.
Nicklas Lidström's Life Off the Ice
When he was growing up, Lidström looked up to another famous defenceman named Börje Salming. He considered Salming his hero. In November 2023, Lidström received the first-ever Börje Salming Courage Award. This award goes to a European NHL player who has been a good influence in their community.
Lidström is married to Annika, and they have four sons. All four of his sons play high-level hockey. In October 2019, Lidström released his book called Nicklas Lidstrom: The Pursuit of Perfection.
Awards and Honors
- World Championship gold medal winner (1991).
- NHL All-Rookie Team (1992).
- 4x Stanley Cup winner (1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008).
- 12x NHL All-Star Game appearances.
- 10x NHL First All-Star Team member.
- 7x Norris Trophy winner (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2011).
- Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2002).
- NHL 2000s All-Decade First Team.
- Olympic gold medal winner (2006).
- Member of the Triple Gold Club.
- Detroit Red Wings #5 jersey retired on March 6, 2014.
- Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame (2014).
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (2015).
Records Nicklas Lidström Holds
NHL Records
- First European-born and trained player to win the Norris Trophy (2000–01).
- First European-born and trained player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (2001–02).
- Fourth defenceman in NHL history to win the Norris Trophy three years in a row (2001–2003, 2006–2008).
- First European-born and trained captain to win the Stanley Cup (2008).
- First European-born and trained defenceman to reach 1,000 points.
- Most regular-season games played by a European-born player (1,564).
- Most regular-season games played by a player who spent their entire career with only one team (1,564).
- Oldest player to score his first hat-trick (40 years, 210 days).
- Oldest defenceman to score a hat-trick (40 years, 210 days).
- Oldest Norris Trophy winner (41 years, 57 days) (2010–2011).
Detroit Red Wings Records
- Most points by a defenceman in a season (80 in 2005–06).
- Most assists by a defenceman in a season (64 in 2005–06).
- Most playoff goals by a defenceman in a career (54).
- Most playoff points by a defenceman in a career (183).
- Most playoff assists by a defenceman in a career (129).
- Most playoff games played in a career (263).
- Most games played by a defenceman in a career (1,564).
- Most goals, assists, and points by a defenceman in a career (264 goals, 878 assists, 1142 points).
Images for kids
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Lidström in 2022
See Also
In Spanish: Nicklas Lidström para niños
- List of NHL players with 1,000 points
- List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
- List of Detroit Red Wings award winners
