Erik Nicklas Lidström (pronounced [ˈnɪ̌kːlas ˈlîːdstrœm]; born 28 April 1970) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman and current vice president of hockey operations for the Detroit Red Wings. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings from 1991 to 2012, where he played in six Stanley Cup Finals, winning four championships, and captained the team for the final six seasons of his career. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest defencemen in NHL history and nicknamed "the Perfect Human".
Over his 20 NHL seasons, Lidström won four Stanley Cup championships, seven James Norris Memorial Trophies (awarded to the NHL's top defenceman), named to twelve NHL All-Star teams (ten First Team and two Second Team selections), was voted into 12 NHL All-Star Games, and received one Conn Smythe Trophy (the first European to win the trophy) as the playoffs most valuable player. The Red Wings never missed the playoffs during his career, tied with Larry Robinson for the longest streak of playoff appearances for a player in league history. Lidström was the first European-born-and-trained captain of a Stanley Cup-winning team. Lidström is also the all-time leader in games played with a single NHL team by a European-born player.
Lidström was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2014. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on 9 November 2015. In 2017, Lidström was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.
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Playing career
Widely considered one of the greatest defencemen of all time, Lidström was awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy seven times, a feat matched by only one other player (Doug Harvey) and exceeded only by Bobby Orr (who won the trophy eight times). Lidström was nominated for the Norris a total of 12 times in his last 14 seasons in the NHL, the first three times finishing as the runner-up (1998 to 2000), and won the award in seven of his last ten (2004–05 had no winner due to the NHL lockout), including three consecutive awards from 2001 to 2003 to become the first defenceman since Orr to win three straight. In his final 16 seasons (beginning in 1995–96), he finished no lower than sixth place in Norris Trophy voting. Lidström was also named to twelve NHL All-Star Teams, including ten First Team and two Second Team selections.
Lidström played his entire 20-year NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, finishing his career with the second-most Stanley Cup playoff games played in NHL history, with 263 appearances (Chris Chelios ranks first with 266). He was a member of four Stanley Cup-winning teams, in 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02 and 2007–08. Save for the cancelled 2004–05 season lockout year, Lidström played in the playoffs for an NHL record 20 consecutive seasons (an honour he shares with Larry Robinson).
Known for his durability, Lidström consistently ranked amongst the top in the NHL in ice time per game. He averaged 28:07 minutes in the 2005–06 season, a career-high. In the 2003–04 season, he played in the 1,000th game of his career, having missed only 17 games in 12+1⁄2 seasons (1994–95 was shortened to 48 games instead of the usual 82 by a labour dispute).
At the conclusion of the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, Lidström was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player in the postseason, becoming the first European to ever be awarded the honor.
Early career
Lidström began his career in Avesta, Sweden, playing with Skogsbo SK, before moving on to play with VIK Västerås HK of the Swedish Elitserien. In three seasons with the team, he played 103 games, scoring 12 goals and 30 assists.
NHL career (1991–2012)
Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings 53rd overall in the 1989 NHL entry draft, Lidström joined the team in the 1991–92 season, though he returned to play for Västerås IK for a brief period during the 1994–95 NHL lockout. Lidström scored 60 points in his rookie season, finishing second to Pavel Bure in voting for that year's Calder Trophy. He was selected to the 1992 NHL All-Rookie Team, along with fellow Red Wings defenceman Vladimir Konstantinov.
Lidström was set to make $10 million during the 2005–06 season. However, due to the new terms of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement that was implemented during the 2004–05 season, salaries on pre-existing contracts were reduced by 24%, which lowered his compensation to $7.6 million. That season, he posted a career-high 64 assists and 16 goals to for 80 points.
On 30 June 2006, it was announced that Lidström had signed a two-year, $15.2 million contract extension with the Red Wings. Instead of seeking more money elsewhere for a defenceman of his caliber, Lidström decided to remain with Detroit for the same annual salary as he earned during the 2005–06 season.
Lidström had been an alternate captain of the Red Wings since the 1997–98 season. Long-time Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman retired after Detroit was eliminated in the first round, despite winning the President's Trophy for the season, by the eventual Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in six games. To replace Yzerman, Lidström was named captain, an honor made more special by the fact that he became the first European captain in franchise history. In his first year of captaincy, Lidström led the Red Wings to the Western Conference Finals, but lost to eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks, in six games. In the off-season, Lidström joined an elite group by capturing the Norris Trophy as the NHL's outstanding defenceman for the fifth time. Lidström became the fourth defenceman in NHL history with as many as five Norris Trophy wins, joining Hockey Hall of Famers Bobby Orr (eight), Doug Harvey (seven) and Ray Bourque (five).
Near the beginning of the 2007–08 season, in an 8 October win against the Edmonton Oilers, Lidström registered two assists to surpass Peter Forsberg as the second-highest scoring Swedish-born NHL player of all time. Accordingly, he trails only Mats Sundin (as of the end of the 2011–12 season, Lidström has 1,142 points to Sundin's 1,349). Later in the season, on 26 December, Lidström signed a contract extension through the 2009–10 season. Several months later, on 3 April 2008, he assisted on a goal by Johan Franzén to tie Luc Robitaille at 42nd in the all-time NHL assists, with 726.
Retirement
On 31 May 2012, Lidström announced his retirement from the NHL via a press conference with Red Wings Owner Mike Ilitch and General Manager Ken Holland present, after finishing the season with his lowest point total in a full season in his career. The night before, he told the Swedish tabloid Expressen, "I came to the decision last week and I informed our general manager, Ken Holland." Discussing Lidström's retirement, former teammate Steve Yzerman described Lidström as "one of the all-time best defencemen to ever play." Former teammate and fellow Norris Trophy winning defenseman Paul Coffey said, "He was an incredible player" while Chris Chelios said, "There's been guys who are great players, but no one's better than Nick. As good? Yes. But this is as big as it gets. He's one of the best athletes ever and...if you're going to talk about someone who's perfect, Nick's pretty darn close to being perfect." Washington Capitals defenceman John Carlson described Lidström as "one of the game's all-time greats on and off the ice." Ken Holland stated his belief that Lidström was "the most valuable player of his era."
The following weekend, on 3 June 2012, Lidström and his wife took out a full-page ad giving thanks to the city of Detroit for making his family feel at home for the past 21 years. On 8 July 2012, Lidström was named a scout for the Red Wings.
On 28 February 2014, Lidström was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
During the 2013–14 season, Lidström had his number 5 jersey retired by the Red Wings. Initially, ceremonies were planned for the previous season, on 5 February 2013 — however, the lockout had made it hard to determine when Lidström would be able to attend the ceremony. The Red Wings officially retired his number on 6 March 2014, in a pre-game ceremony at Joe Louis Arena.
International play
Representing Sweden, Lidström won the World Championship in 1991. At the 2006 Winter Olympics, Lidström was a major factor in Sweden's win over Finland in the finals, scoring the gold medal-clinching goal, thus earning him a spot on the Olympic All-Star team. He also became the 17th member of the Triple Gold Club. The Hockey News selected Lidström as the "Best European-trained player ever in the NHL." The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated selected Lidström as the "NHL Player of the Decade."
Prior to his NHL career, Lidström competed in one European Junior Championships in 1988, one World Junior Championship in 1990 and one Canada Cup in 1991 for Sweden.
Prior to his rookie season with the Red Wings, he earned his first gold medal with Sweden at the 1991 World Championships. Three years later, he competed in the 1994 World Championships in Italy and won a bronze medal. Two years later, he participated in the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey (successor of the Canada Cup) and contributed three points in four games. He made his Olympic debut with Sweden at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Four years later was his next international appearance, playing in his second Olympics at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where Sweden was upset by Belarus in the quarter-final after being heavy favourites in the round-robin. Lidström made his third World Championships appearance in 2004, but only appeared in two games. That summer, he also competed in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, where he scored one goal.
In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Lidström helped Sweden avenge their quarter-final upset to Belarus in Salt Lake City, scoring the game winning goal in the gold medal game against Finland. In doing so, Lidström became a member of the Triple Gold Club, adding an Olympic gold medal to go with his previous Stanley Cups with Detroit and his World Championship gold medal in 1991. Lidström was also selected to the 2010 Olympic All-Star team.
Lidström also played for Sweden in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, serving as team captain in what would be his final Olympic appearance. Lidström announced his retirement from Olympic competition following Sweden's loss to Slovakia.
Personal life
Growing up, Lidström idolized trailblazing defenceman Börje Salming, whom he considers to be his hero. In November 2023, Lidström was the recipient of the inaugural Börje Salming Courage Award, which is given to the European NHL alumnus who has been a positive influence in their community and best embodies Salming's legacy.
Lidström is married to Annika, with whom he has four children. All four sons play high-level hockey: Kevin (born 1994), is currently a defenceman for Swedish Division 1 team SK Lejon; Adam (born 1996) also plays in Division 1 with Enköpings SK; Samuel (born in 2000) plays on Elitettan team Köping HC and Lucas (born in 2003) also plays for VIK Västerås HK on its U16 team.
Lidström was featured on an episode of NHL 36.
In October 2019, Lidström released his authorized biography in North America titled Nicklas Lidstrom: The Pursuit of Perfection.
Career statistics
Awards
NHL All-Rookie Team (1992).
4x Stanley Cup winner (1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008).
12x NHL All-Star Game (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009*, 2011).
10x NHL first All-Star team member (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011).
2x NHL Second All-Star Team member (2009, 2010).
7x Norris Trophy winner (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011).
Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2002).
NHL 2000s All-Decade First Team (2009)
Olympic All-Star team (2006).
Member of the Triple Gold Club.
2x Viking Award winner (2000 and 2006).
Inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame – 2014
Detroit Red Wings #5 retired on 6 March 2014
Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame – 2014
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame – 2015
Introduced into the IIHF All-Time Sweden Team - 2020
*did not attend
Records
All records are as of the end of the 2011–12 regular season unless otherwise noted.
NHL
First European-born and trained Norris Trophy winner (2000–01).
First European-born and trained Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2001–02).
Fourth defenceman (and first European-born and trained defenceman) in NHL to win James Norris Memorial Trophy three years running (2001–2003, 2006–2008), and third seven-time Norris Trophy winner.
First European-born and trained captain of a Stanley Cup-winning team (2008).
First European-born and trained defenceman to reach 1,000 points.
Most regular-season games played by a player born in Europe, any position (1,564).
Most regular-season games played by a player in a career spent with only one team (1,564).
Most regular-season wins played in (900).
Most postseason games played with single franchise, career (263)
Most postseason assists by defenceman with single franchise, career (129)
Most postseason points by defenceman with single franchise, career (183)
Highest postseason plus/minus, career (+61)
Most postseason power-play goals by defenceman, career (30)
Most postseason shots on goal with single franchise, career (656)
Oldest player to record his first hat-trick (40 years, 210 days)
Detroit Red Wings
Points by a defenceman, season (2005–06, 80).
Assists by a defenceman, season (2005–06, 64).
Postseason goals by a defenceman, career (54).
Post-season power-play goals, career (30).
Power play goals by a defenceman, career (132).
Postseason points by a defenceman, career (183).
Postseason assists, career (129).
Postseason games played, career (263).
Games played by a defenceman, career (1,564).
Goals, assists, and points by a defenceman, career (264, 878, and 1142).
Goals in a single postseason by a defenceman (1998, 6).
Best postseason plus/minus, career (+61).
Best regular season plus/minus, career (+450).