Detroit, MI – Detroit Red Wings Senior Vice President Jim Devellano announced on Thusday that the club will retire Nicklas Lidstrom's number five in a special ceremony prior to their March 6, 2014 contest against the Colorado Avalanche.
"For a long time, there was no doubt in ownership's and management's mind that Nicklas Lidstrom would play his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings and that his sweater would fittingly go up into the rafters along with the other all-time greatest Red Wing players - Abel, Delvecchio, Howe, Lindsay, Sawchuk, and Yzerman," said Devellano.
The legendary defenseman announced his decision to retire on May 31, 2012 after an illustrious 20-year career. The seven-time Norris Trophy winner finished his career ranking in the top 10 all-time among defensemen with 264 goals (ninth), 878 assists (sixth), 1,142 points (sixth), and 132 power-play goals (fifth). He played in 263 postseason games. which ranks second in NHL history behind Chris Chelios.
Lidstrom was a third-round selection (53rd overall) by the Red Wings in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft and spent all 20 seasons in Motor City. He was named captain prior to the 2006-07 season and became the first European-born captain to lead his team to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2008.
The 43-year-old Swede won the Stanley Cup four times (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008) and became the first European-born player to win the Conn Smythe, the postseason's MVP, in 2002. He was selected to play in 12 NHL All-Star games.
Lidstrom also represented his home country during the Olympics four times, winning a gold medal at Torino in 2006.
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