Nicklas Lidstrom Retires

The Detroit Red Wings Defenseman time has come...he has decided to retire.

The 4 time Stanley Cup Champion and 7 time Norris Trophy winner has retired after 20 seasons with the Wings. Lindstrom set an NHL record by playing 1,564 games with a single team. He held off on retirement the last two years by signing 1 year contracts. And he could've signed another 1 year contract for about 6 million, but he knew it was time to call it quits. Lindstrom said,

"My drive and motivation are not where they to need to be to play at this level"

Nick Lindstrom was one of the best defenseman to play the game. In his career he had 264 goals and 1,142 points. After being very durable for 19 seasons, he missed a career high 11 games last season with a bruised right ankle and was out for another game with the flu. Last year Lidstrom won his last Norris Trophy. He was a finalist for the trophy for the 11th time in 13 seasons. You can not replace a Nicklas Lindstrom, you can only hope you get someone who has a work ethic he did and hope everything turns out for the best. Its only a matter of time before the #5 jersey is hanging from the rafters at Joe Louis Arena. It will be just the 7th jersey to be retired in Wings history. The latest to be retired is Lindstrom's former teammate, Steve Yzerman. Red Wings general manager said,

"I think he's been the most valuable player of his era and will go down as one of the greatest Red Wings of all time." 

THANK YOU FOR 20 YEARS IN HOCKEY TOWN!!!