It's official.
Nicklas Lidstrom will return to the Red Wings next year for a 19th, and most likely, final season.
Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland announced that he has signed a one-year deal with the iconic defenseman for $6.2 million.
On the face of it, signing a 40-year-old player to such a lucrative contract seems a bit foolhardy, if not down-right stupid.
However, there are but a handful of players in the entire history of the game as legendary and consistently excellent as Nicklas Lidstrom.
What's more, this shouldn't be looked upon as simply a "nostalgia signing", a way to honor a player who's done so much for your team in the past, but may not add much value to your team's present.
No, Nicklas Lidstrom, even at 40, is still the Red Wings best defenseman.
That isn't an indictment of how poor the Wings' defensive corps is, the Wings still boast one of the best Top Four units in the league. Rather, it exemplifies just how great a player Lidstrom is and has been for the Red Wings.
He's certainly not the same player he was five years ago, but he's still the best player on the ice more ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Matt Hutter
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