When the puck drops tonight at Verizon Center, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom will officially skate in his 1,500th career NHL game. That’s a staggering number for a player who has performed at a high level for virtually his entire career.
“That’s insane. 1,500 games is a tough milestone, that’s for sure,” Caps defenseman Karl Alzner said. “Not a whole lot of guys get there. I think it has to do, obviously, with him being as skilled as he is. But the style of game he plays.”
Lidstrom is 41 now and while he is gradually slowing down, he can still move the puck with the best of them. Swift passes out of the defensive zone tape-to-tape. Smart positional, always using his 6-foot-1, 193-pound frame to shield the puck and the help fuel Detroit’s puck-possession game from the back end. The veteran Swede – arguably the greatest European player ever in the NHL – was good enough last year to win his seventh Norris Trophy. And durable. Eighteen times in his career dating to his 1991-92 rookie season, Lidstrom has played at least 76 games. Fifteen times he’s topped 50 points from the blueline. He totaled a career-high 80 in 2005-06 and still managed 62 last season.
“I think when you watch him he’s playing so [smooth or smart],” said countryman Nicklas Backstrom. “He’s the best [defenseman] in the league. He’s playing so simple. He moves the puck quick. Not any hard passes. Just simple. He always put himself in the right position on the ice. That’s why I think he’s the best.”
Backstrom, 23, and teammate Marcus Johansson, 21, grew up watching Lidstrom. They may have considered the great Peter Forsberg their idle because he was a forward like them. But Backstrom still considers it a thrill that he played with Lidstrom for Sweden in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
“You’re obviously pumped to play with those kind of guys,” Backstrom said. “Great player, great leader.”
And still going. Lidstrom leads all active NHLers in games players. He is tied for 14th all-time in that category and will pass Mike Modano tonight. Former teammates Steve Yzerman (1,514) and Brendan Shanahan (1,524) are within reach by the NHL All-Star break.
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