The most humble and personable superstar I’ve ever met. His sons team used to have practices at the rink I played drop in at, along with Holmstroms son. I ran in to him on accident leaving the locker room and I was so embarrassed, he just laughed about it and shook my hand, he remembered my name and always used to ask how I was doing in passing. He really is the perfect human.
Lidstrom's ability to shut down attackers night after night has been sorely missed since he retired. You really had to see it to understand how great he really was. He will always be the greatest defenseman of all time in my eyes. If the Red Wings young talent can be even half of the player that Lidstrom was then their future is looking bright.
Lidstrom didn’t have a sophomore slump. He was actually excellent defensively that year. (Defense is his job after all). This is the problem with a lot of fans assessing defensemen’s performance. They just look up points. You have to actually watch them play.
@@Jesper-j4nthis is hilarious. maybe he can’t spell his name but you can’t even spell the word name. you have me here with tears in my eyes laughing rn
🎯 I say it all the time. Anyone that claims Orr was doesn’t understand that Orr was a forward playing on D, in the era of higher scoring too. Lidstrom is the best defenseman of all time. He could have had a lot more points if he wanted, but chose to play his position about perfectly to give the team best chance to win.
yes he was from 21 to 42 he was perfect all the time makes him greater than bobby orr in my opinion ok bobby orr changed the game maybe... but are we going to attribute title of greatest defender of all time to someone who barely played 10 seasons and won 2 norris and that played more like a forward lidstrom as a 2 way defender was greater and thats no disrispect to bobby orr or any of the other greats...
Growing up in the 90s he was my favorite player and a big part of what made me a Red Wings fan. Man thinking back we've had so many amazing players through the years but Lidström is the greatest defensemen of all time and just a amazing human being.
As a kid growing up during the Bobby Orr era I can honestly say if Bobby had stayed healthy, he would be the GOAT! In fact, Bobby was until Nicklas Lidström finished writing his own script. Bobby played with such intensity and reckless abandon that his body was sacrificed. Watching Lidstrom at ice level over the years was like watching a ballerina on ice. Lidstrom was so graceful and calculated in everything he did. His skating an opponent out of play didn't necessitate a bone-crushing body check. Although, he was strong enough to do this if need be. What set Lidstrom apart from all other defensemen was his intelligence and conservation of energy. Bobby Orr was an amazing talent and Lidstrom was too. Everybody, teammates and opponents loved both of them and respected both of them.
@@williewalker8048 What set Orr apart was NOT ONLY his intelligence, AND the fact that he was 3 moves ahead of everyone else, but that he had 9 different changes in speed, starting with fast.
@@jamesanthony5681 Agreed, his ability to read things so much quicker than everyone else was why he hardly ever got caught out of position. Most of his NHL opponents said he was from another level.
Truly the best of all time. I wish he won more of those Norris trophies, but now adays they hand them out to whatever defenseman scores the most. It's a forward trophy at this point.
Biggest? Nope. Fastest? Nope. Hardest shot? Nope. Smartest? Damn Skippy! Zero flash to his game but he was always in the right spot and knew what you were going to do before you did. His shot was always in the right spot, so it didn't need to be the hardest. His awareness of everything on the ice kept him from taking big hits and kept him in the lineup. Like Tim Duncan in the way that he just did everything well and dominated without being flashy. So happy I saw as many of his games as I did.
8 seconds. It took you all of 8 seconds to gain this like and subscribe. I was at this game against Calgary as a kid; I would've been 13. Down 2 with 9 minutes to play, Zetterberg treats us to his signature backhand to bring us within 1. Later, Datsyuk pulls a patented Datsyuk move to get past a guy with no stick, passes the puck to Zetterberg and just like that, the game was tied with 3 seconds and change left to play. I've been fortunate to have attended more games than I can remember in my young life. I've been to two road games, many games at the Joe and LCA, a playoff game, and I even got to watch the number 5 rise into the rafter. None of them have topped the experience I had watching Lidstrom saunter his way around Kiprusoff like he had channeled an inner Patrick Kane to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. I've watched the highlight video from that game at least a couple dozen times. Your decision to include that highlight, even if it was any other highlight from that game (and anyone else who makes that same decision, for that matter) left me no choice but to fill the thumb and check the bell. From a Red Wings fan whose team runs through his veins, thank you for this video. I look very much forward to watching the remaining 31 minutes and 12 seconds lol.
Not only was he the greatest defenseman to grace the game of hockey. He is also one of the nicest and down to earth guys out there. My aunt was his kids nanny for a few years and I actually ended up getting the old play structure from his backyard. And he tried endlessly to help take it down and put it together where my father promptly reminded him, you’re making a run for the cup, there’s no chance you’re gonna ruin that by blowing out your back carrying lumber. Truly one of a kind person and player
I was born in 89. My entire conscious life, Lidstrom was there locking it down. I teared up the day they raised his banner. Only time sports has ever really hit me in the feels.
Nicklas Lidstrom is guaranteed a Top 3 or 4 defensemen of all time in NHL history. There is no way around that. The way I see it, only Ray Borque can challange him, but to be honest in so many ways, Lidstrom is a valid bid to be THE greatest defender in NHL history. He was great at both NHL level and International level. Winning evreything possible for a defender with 4x Stanley Cups + 2 finals, 7x Norris Trophy, 1 Conn Smythe Trophy, 10x NHL first All-Star team + 2x NHL Second All-Star, NHL 2000s All-Decade First Team (2009) and Olympic gold medalist 2006 + IIHF World championship gold medalist 1991 = Triple Gold Club member 17# (Only 30 players have ever achived that to win all 3 Majors)
As a Red Wings fan, I am very grateful for your video. Thank you very much for your unbiased opinion of Lindstrom. Great video.! My hat's off to you to produce this video. Great history research of him.
What a player. Detroit has made some amazing decisions over the years……and it’s lead to amazing things. Lidstrom was just like the video says “perfect”….. Only Orr would be looked at as being another at the same level…..many are closer than I might admit. But man….its hard to out people ahead of Lidstrom!
@@the.wayne.b I honestly can’t get there. Kane has higher totals in virtually every stat category. More awards won, higher points per game, all while being the hands down best player on his team throughout. Datsyuk achieved less while on a team where he arguably wasn’t even the best player. Hard to put Datsyuk over Kane when watching a video about how the best player on the red wings at the time wasn’t even him, it was lindstrom. With Kane and the 3 cups they won, he was hands down the best player through their entire run. I agree Datsyuk was great, just can’t agree that he’s the best to ever do it. I’m honestly only comparing to Kane for the fact that you’re a Hawks fan for relevance.
I remember a Mats Sundin interview some years ago, and he got asked who the hardest to play against was? Without hesitation he said "Lidström". "No matter what you did his stick was always in the way." Sundin almost seemed dejected right there thinking about Lidströms stick, even though this was long after they both quit.
You should DEFINITELY do one on Pat Lafontaine. Imo one of theeee most underrated of all time!! Pat Lafontaine. Very happy that I was able to watch him in his glory years on tv and I wasn't even an Islanders or Sabres fan. But come playoff time I made sure to tune into his games just to watch his amazing skill. When the guy was fully healthy he was a beast playmaker and goal scorer. If not for some rough injury plagued seasons on and off in his younger years and later in his career from 93 to 98, and he could have easily been a 1500 point career guy. He still made it to over 1000 points in only 865 which is fricken amazing. Imagine Pat fully healthy throughout his career and possibly playing more seasons!! He was a victim of the heavy hitter checkers of the 80s sadly too and wasn't a big guy at all at only 5'10 and 180 pounds. Also look at those years he played for the lowly basement dwelling Sabres who were quite a crummy team most of those seasons and the latter seasons of the Islanders(post dynasty years) yet he still put up massive points with them
As a Hawks fan myself that grew up watching Lidstrom's entire career - without question he's easily the 2nd best defenseman in NHL history (one could argue the best) and certainly the best I have ever seen play.. I'd say Bobby Orr is the GOAT considering his style literally changed the game of hockey, but Lidstrom isn't too far behind. I mean Bourque, Coffey, Leetch, Potvin etc were all terrific and certainly among the elite of their era, but Lidstrom was special - he was in a tier above them - and one could argue in a tier of his own. And if one want's to argue which defenseman was the most "complete defenseman" - you could argue that title belongs to Lidstrom considering he was near-perfect on both sides of the puck and is everything you would want in a defenseman if you could build one from scratch. Obviously Orr was an offensive anomaly - a wizard with the puck - and defensively sound but Lidstrom was the better of the two on the defensive side of the puck.. Either way - no matter where any hockey fan stands - Lidstrom is without question a GOAT. There are a handful players where it's difficult to argue which one is/was the GOAT and there is no clear-cut answer because you cant go wrong with any of them because it really comes down to individual preference, and Lidstrom is among them - and the same goes for Gretzky and Lemieux or Hasek and Brodeur etc, and any argument made for any of them being the GOAT is valid. And that's why I have a really difficult time ranking players because many of these GOATS are in their own league and it would be "wrong" to argue one is/was better than the other - so I think guys like Lidstrom, Gretzky, Lemieux etc all share that "GOAT" label. Good video!
Amazing content as always! 9:53 - The lockout shortened season was 1994 (not 1995) and featured the aforementioned Pavel Bure’s Vancouver Canucks against Mark Messier’s Rangers in the Stanley cup final. The result of those playoffs left my second favorite player of all time without a cup. Good thing my first favorite player was a perfect defensemen ;)
There should be a new NHL award for defensemen named after him. The Norris has become the Art Ross for defensemen, the Lidstrom award could be the Selke.
Kids these days do not understand how good this man was. As a die hard wings fan I cannot explain how much this dude meant to this franchise. IMO I’m bias but he’s still the greatest D man of all time. Hes top 2 or 3 no doubt.
Thank you most of all to Chrisofer Rockstrom for finding him and alerting him to Wings Director of Amateur Scouting Jim McDonnell who passed the word onto GM Jimmy Devellano. Without Rockstrom, rumor had it that the Rangers were looking at him, too.
My Dad always told me he was 10 steps ahead of everyone on the ice and knew what play to make before the puck was even on his stick. His IQ is unmatched
An excellent video. But I disagree with one thing. In 96, it wasn’t Nick who was the best defenseman in the game. It was Vladdy. He combined Nicks defensive play & scoring touch, but adding a physical presence few have ever had.
Lets be fair here fam, even the best offensive shooters only make about 12% of their shots. Fleury made himself big where he needed to be big. This is like saying Kunitz(?) missed a wide open net the year before and deriding him for it when the shot was all but impossible even in ideal conditions.
Neat little mini-bio documentary. Unfortunately, the music is distracting and kinda annoying. I'm a life-long Wings fan and love LIdstrom, but I had to turn it off about halfway through. The music was seriously driving me insane.
The fact Lidstrom was still an NHL caliber defenseman and still chose to retire is a graceful way to exit. He chose to leave on his own terms rather than be forced to leave due to his body or play regressing too far for NHL standards.
@@waterboy417 you have no idea. They were the most dominant pair ever to play together imo and I watched that. Vlady was a complete dman. When you caught a breakout pass you better pray you know where he is. Lidstrom didn’t have that and yet he’s still the goat dman.
@@jacoblamb3535 I do have an idea as a wings fan who watched every game of their career lol. Just think it’s kind of a dumb take to say lidstrom wasn’t as “complete” just cause he wasn’t as physical (especially I already knew that was gonna be your reason before you even said it)
@@waterboy417 okay so we have seen the same things. A complete player at the highest level is physically dominant. So he was incomplete. Not an insult just the truth. Lidstrom is my childhood idol. I own one piece of sports memorabilia and it’s a signed game worn #5. He’s the best. But someone will come along who plays like the perfect human and also crushes dudes. And that guy will be the goat.
Best defense ever. Orr didn't even come close to numbers let alone the fact nick never missed the playoffs his whole career. In a way harder, more teams league ,and a way longer career. No one even comes close.
@@tomace194 'Orr didn't even come close to numbers'? Which numbers? Bud, crack open a stats book and check Bobby's numbers, including the 8 straight (yes, 8) Norris Trophies.
@jamesanthony5681 that's a popularity contest, a 6 team league, a way shorter career and nick never missed a year off his career in the playoffs. That is insane. First European capitan to win a cup. His 4th and nick should have won way more Norris trophies but got hosed the first part of his career. But like I said. Popularity contest. Canada's good old canadian boy. Thank God he wasn't a leaf of hab
@jamesanthony5681 I guess he eventually played with more than 6 teams but they were half drunk coke heads. Even some of his team. Not even close to the athletes of nicks time. Goalies didn't even go down. Haha.
@@tomace194 Popularity contest? If it were a popularity contest, then when did it cease being a popularity contest, and what were the reasons? And if those were not legit wins by Orr for the Norris, please tell me who should have won rather than him from '68 to '75? I'll wait for your answer(s) before I laugh at you. A 6-team league? Check the facts. Orr NEVER won the Norris when the NHL was a 6-team league. He won the Norris during the years when the NHL went from 12, 14, 16 and 18 teams. He broke into the NHL as an 18 year old in the '66-'67 season, however, Harry Howell won the Norris that season. And when Harry accepted the Norris, what did he say about Orr? That's your homework.
@@tomace194 Half drunk coke heads? WTF would you even know about that? Were you there? Bud, back in those days the GM's/Owners had all (or majority) the power, and if they suspected you of doing that stuff then you were gone. To the minors. No guaranteed contracts.
The most humble and personable superstar I’ve ever met. His sons team used to have practices at the rink I played drop in at, along with Holmstroms son. I ran in to him on accident leaving the locker room and I was so embarrassed, he just laughed about it and shook my hand, he remembered my name and always used to ask how I was doing in passing. He really is the perfect human.
Lidstrom's ability to shut down attackers night after night has been sorely missed since he retired. You really had to see it to understand how great he really was. He will always be the greatest defenseman of all time in my eyes. If the Red Wings young talent can be even half of the player that Lidstrom was then their future is looking bright.
He holds the NHL record for most games played Vs missed. (Close to 99%) Only 42 missed & most were scratches around playoffs for rest
Lidstrom didn’t have a sophomore slump. He was actually excellent defensively that year. (Defense is his job after all). This is the problem with a lot of fans assessing defensemen’s performance. They just look up points. You have to actually watch them play.
As a Bruins fan I really wanna say Borque or Orr were the best defenseman ever. But Lindstrom is the best defenseman of all time.
Maybe learn his namn then
@@Jesper-j4nthis is hilarious. maybe he can’t spell his name but you can’t even spell the word name. you have me here with tears in my eyes laughing rn
really, gustav lindstrom? good news for the habs then, they just signed him.
@@leeharrison5718 It looks hilarious yes, but most likely it's just a swedish language auto-correct, since name in swedish is namn.
I’m a Detroit man, but Lindstrom is second to Orr, unless you take longevity into consideration.
Lidstrom is the greatest defensemen of all time
🎯 I say it all the time.
Anyone that claims Orr was doesn’t understand that Orr was a forward playing on D, in the era of higher scoring too.
Lidstrom is the best defenseman of all time. He could have had a lot more points if he wanted, but chose to play his position about perfectly to give the team best chance to win.
yes he was from 21 to 42 he was perfect all the time makes him greater than bobby orr in my opinion ok bobby orr changed the game maybe... but are we going to attribute title of greatest defender of all time to someone who barely played 10 seasons and won 2 norris and that played more like a forward lidstrom as a 2 way defender was greater and thats no disrispect to bobby orr or any of the other greats...
Larry Robinson is the greatest of all time.
+722 career and +120 in a season.
@@godloves9163 To me,Larry is the only player in the same league as Nick.I give Nick the edge.Barely.
The NHL wouldn’t let him win a Norris until he was over 30 so he couldn’t break golden bobby’s record, truly shameless
So glad i got to watch him play, a blessing of our generation and of my lifetime. Thank you Lidstrom for all of the fantastic memories ❤️
Growing up in the 90s he was my favorite player and a big part of what made me a Red Wings fan. Man thinking back we've had so many amazing players through the years but Lidström is the greatest defensemen of all time and just a amazing human being.
I’m a simple man, I see a new lidstrom video and I drop what I’m doing to watch
As a kid growing up during the Bobby Orr era I can honestly say if Bobby had stayed healthy, he would be the GOAT!
In fact, Bobby was until Nicklas Lidström finished writing his own script.
Bobby played with such intensity and reckless abandon that his body was sacrificed.
Watching Lidstrom at ice level over the years was like watching a ballerina on ice.
Lidstrom was so graceful and calculated in everything he did. His skating an opponent out of play didn't necessitate a bone-crushing body check. Although, he was strong enough to do this if need be.
What set Lidstrom apart from all other defensemen was his intelligence and conservation of energy.
Bobby Orr was an amazing talent and Lidstrom was too.
Everybody, teammates and opponents loved both of them and respected both of them.
@@williewalker8048 What set Orr apart was NOT ONLY his intelligence, AND the fact that he was 3 moves ahead of everyone else, but that he had 9 different changes in speed, starting with fast.
@@jamesanthony5681 Agreed, his ability to read things so much quicker than everyone else was why he hardly ever got caught out of position.
Most of his NHL opponents said he was from another level.
You did it again brother!
The fact that you started with that goal against Pittsburgh from 1999 is pure greatness.
Absolutely, one of the greatest Dmen to ever lace em up. Picture perfect off the ice too, a model for so many youngsters.
Truly the best of all time. I wish he won more of those Norris trophies, but now adays they hand them out to whatever defenseman scores the most. It's a forward trophy at this point.
We need the Norris for best offensive dman and the Lidstrom for best defensive dman
So proud of Lidas from Västerås IK 💛🖤🇸🇪
Biggest? Nope. Fastest? Nope. Hardest shot? Nope. Smartest? Damn Skippy!
Zero flash to his game but he was always in the right spot and knew what you were going to do before you did. His shot was always in the right spot, so it didn't need to be the hardest. His awareness of everything on the ice kept him from taking big hits and kept him in the lineup. Like Tim Duncan in the way that he just did everything well and dominated without being flashy. So happy I saw as many of his games as I did.
This opening song has to be from Donkey Kong Country 🔥
that's where I remembered that from!
Watching this with my morning coffee and I'm like, "That's Aquatic Ambience from DKC!"
It is! From one of the water levels where you get to ride a marlin. lol
the fact that u put the underwater DK music to the intro highlights is so kickass. works so well too, feels like a synthy surreal 80s jam
8 seconds. It took you all of 8 seconds to gain this like and subscribe. I was at this game against Calgary as a kid; I would've been 13. Down 2 with 9 minutes to play, Zetterberg treats us to his signature backhand to bring us within 1. Later, Datsyuk pulls a patented Datsyuk move to get past a guy with no stick, passes the puck to Zetterberg and just like that, the game was tied with 3 seconds and change left to play. I've been fortunate to have attended more games than I can remember in my young life. I've been to two road games, many games at the Joe and LCA, a playoff game, and I even got to watch the number 5 rise into the rafter. None of them have topped the experience I had watching Lidstrom saunter his way around Kiprusoff like he had channeled an inner Patrick Kane to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. I've watched the highlight video from that game at least a couple dozen times. Your decision to include that highlight, even if it was any other highlight from that game (and anyone else who makes that same decision, for that matter) left me no choice but to fill the thumb and check the bell. From a Red Wings fan whose team runs through his veins, thank you for this video. I look very much forward to watching the remaining 31 minutes and 12 seconds lol.
Hell yes brother LGRW!
I love the Donkey Kong music 😁 brings back memories of the 90s
Bruh..... DKC music and red wings ot glory is just so much perfection 👌 ❤
Love your videos keep em coming 💯
Also great song choice with donkey Kong in the background
Everybody makes mistakes. Except Nick Lidstrom.
Great comment. The Perfect Human.
Not only was he the greatest defenseman to grace the game of hockey. He is also one of the nicest and down to earth guys out there. My aunt was his kids nanny for a few years and I actually ended up getting the old play structure from his backyard. And he tried endlessly to help take it down and put it together where my father promptly reminded him, you’re making a run for the cup, there’s no chance you’re gonna ruin that by blowing out your back carrying lumber. Truly one of a kind person and player
Perfect human
I was born in 89. My entire conscious life, Lidstrom was there locking it down. I teared up the day they raised his banner. Only time sports has ever really hit me in the feels.
Nicklas Lidstrom is guaranteed a Top 3 or 4 defensemen of all time in NHL history. There is no way around that.
The way I see it, only Ray Borque can challange him, but to be honest in so many ways, Lidstrom is a valid bid to be THE greatest defender in NHL history.
He was great at both NHL level and International level. Winning evreything possible for a defender with 4x Stanley Cups + 2 finals, 7x Norris Trophy, 1 Conn Smythe Trophy,
10x NHL first All-Star team + 2x NHL Second All-Star, NHL 2000s All-Decade First Team (2009) and Olympic gold medalist 2006 + IIHF World championship gold medalist 1991 =
Triple Gold Club member 17# (Only 30 players have ever achived that to win all 3 Majors)
He is number 1. If you are drafting al all-time team, he is the first defenseman off the board for any franchise that is serious about winning.
An* all-time team
@@CertifiedClapaholic Yeah he is on a lot of fans, pro players and experts wish-list of draft pick for first line defenders.
I appreciate the use of the Donkey Kong water level song at the beginning of the video. Tapped right into my nostalgia bone.
One of the best defensemen of all time, and I’m honored to share a birthday with him.
As a Red Wings fan, I am very grateful for your video. Thank you very much for your unbiased opinion of Lindstrom. Great video.! My hat's off to you to produce this video. Great history research of him.
Legend
one of the first PC games I played with my brothers was NHL98 what a time! great video as always!
Lidström from blue line was unstoppable in that game 😂
What a player. Detroit has made some amazing decisions over the years……and it’s lead to amazing things. Lidstrom was just like the video says “perfect”…..
Only Orr would be looked at as being another at the same level…..many are closer than I might admit. But man….its hard to out people ahead of Lidstrom!
i'm a hawks fan, and if you give me an all time draft, i'm picking datsyuk and lidstrom with my first two.
I agree,man Datsyuk was something special
1000%
I’m not even a hawks fan but I’d take Kane > Datsyuk for sure.
@@dmwd96 kanes brilliant man. but 1 v 1 datsyuk would smoke him. lets be honest here.
@@the.wayne.b I honestly can’t get there. Kane has higher totals in virtually every stat category. More awards won, higher points per game, all while being the hands down best player on his team throughout. Datsyuk achieved less while on a team where he arguably wasn’t even the best player. Hard to put Datsyuk over Kane when watching a video about how the best player on the red wings at the time wasn’t even him, it was lindstrom. With Kane and the 3 cups they won, he was hands down the best player through their entire run. I agree Datsyuk was great, just can’t agree that he’s the best to ever do it. I’m honestly only comparing to Kane for the fact that you’re a Hawks fan for relevance.
The Lidstrom years. What a time to be alive!
I remember a Mats Sundin interview some years ago, and he got asked who the hardest to play against was? Without hesitation he said "Lidström". "No matter what you did his stick was always in the way." Sundin almost seemed dejected right there thinking about Lidströms stick, even though this was long after they both quit.
So lucky to have him for all those years
You should DEFINITELY do one on Pat Lafontaine. Imo one of theeee most underrated of all time!!
Pat Lafontaine. Very happy that I was able to watch him in his glory years on tv and I wasn't even an Islanders or Sabres fan. But come playoff time I made sure to tune into his games just to watch his amazing skill.
When the guy was fully healthy he was a beast playmaker and goal scorer. If not for some rough injury plagued seasons on and off in his younger years and later in his career from 93 to 98, and he could have easily been a 1500 point career guy.
He still made it to over 1000 points in only 865 which is fricken amazing. Imagine Pat fully healthy throughout his career and possibly playing more seasons!! He was a victim of the heavy hitter checkers of the 80s sadly too and wasn't a big guy at all at only 5'10 and 180 pounds.
Also look at those years he played for the lowly basement dwelling Sabres who were quite a crummy team most of those seasons and the latter seasons of the Islanders(post dynasty years) yet he still put up massive points with them
Why on earth did you use the water level theme from Donkey Kong country 😭😭😭
As a Hawks fan myself that grew up watching Lidstrom's entire career - without question he's easily the 2nd best defenseman in NHL history (one could argue the best) and certainly the best I have ever seen play.. I'd say Bobby Orr is the GOAT considering his style literally changed the game of hockey, but Lidstrom isn't too far behind. I mean Bourque, Coffey, Leetch, Potvin etc were all terrific and certainly among the elite of their era, but Lidstrom was special - he was in a tier above them - and one could argue in a tier of his own. And if one want's to argue which defenseman was the most "complete defenseman" - you could argue that title belongs to Lidstrom considering he was near-perfect on both sides of the puck and is everything you would want in a defenseman if you could build one from scratch. Obviously Orr was an offensive anomaly - a wizard with the puck - and defensively sound but Lidstrom was the better of the two on the defensive side of the puck.. Either way - no matter where any hockey fan stands - Lidstrom is without question a GOAT.
There are a handful players where it's difficult to argue which one is/was the GOAT and there is no clear-cut answer because you cant go wrong with any of them because it really comes down to individual preference, and Lidstrom is among them - and the same goes for Gretzky and Lemieux or Hasek and Brodeur etc, and any argument made for any of them being the GOAT is valid. And that's why I have a really difficult time ranking players because many of these GOATS are in their own league and it would be "wrong" to argue one is/was better than the other - so I think guys like Lidstrom, Gretzky, Lemieux etc all share that "GOAT" label.
Good video!
bobby orr did not win a norris at 41 or led his team to a stanley cup at what 38 years old....
Amazing content as always!
9:53 - The lockout shortened season was 1994 (not 1995) and featured the aforementioned Pavel Bure’s Vancouver Canucks against Mark Messier’s Rangers in the Stanley cup final.
The result of those playoffs left my second favorite player of all time without a cup. Good thing my first favorite player was a perfect defensemen ;)
Might wanna give that a quick google…
@@davekuhn9342- well I’ll be damned!
Imagine how certain I was of that memory for not even checking before posting smh.
There should be a new NHL award for defensemen named after him. The Norris has become the Art Ross for defensemen, the Lidstrom award could be the Selke.
Kids these days do not understand how good this man was. As a die hard wings fan I cannot explain how much this dude meant to this franchise. IMO I’m bias but he’s still the greatest D man of all time. Hes top 2 or 3 no doubt.
4:50 love that you
Can see he’s wearing red wings pants
Thank you most of all to Chrisofer Rockstrom for finding him and alerting him to Wings Director of Amateur Scouting Jim McDonnell who passed the word onto GM Jimmy Devellano. Without Rockstrom, rumor had it that the Rangers were looking at him, too.
Perfect song to match with one of the greatest games ever made
You have earned a sub my man
Lidstrom was the greatest defensemen of all time...... Orr was he?
My Dad always told me he was 10 steps ahead of everyone on the ice and knew what play to make before the puck was even on his stick. His IQ is unmatched
Am i right in thinking the opening music is the Donkey Kong Country underwater levels music?????
I’m not crying you’re crying
I bet awood40 clips made its way into here.
An excellent video. But I disagree with one thing. In 96, it wasn’t Nick who was the best defenseman in the game. It was Vladdy. He combined Nicks defensive play & scoring touch, but adding a physical presence few have ever had.
Nothing wrong with that opinion at all💯 I really need to remake my vladdy video soon🙏
4:44 the "all star" makes an appearance
His final season he was the defending Norris Trophy winner…. ‘Nuff said
Lindstrom was ridiculous. He was money in the bank for the wings every night. Easiest guy to coach and play with. Well done
Is that music in the background in the beginning a lil donkey Kong snes I detect? 🤌
6:45, why is Honelander in this video?
Absolutely perfect meme hahaha
Homelander though.
This music got me thinking I'm watching a Donkey Kong Country 2 playthrough.
Lidstrom. Forsberg. Lundqvist.
Not bad Sweden!
Lidström is in my opinon the most solid defenseman in NHL history.
As a Colorado avalanche fan lidstrom will always be the greatest defensemen of all time
Easily top 3 or 4 defensemen of all time so glad I got to enjoy watching him and the red wings in the 90s and 2000s
Aquatic ambiance for music. Lmao. Like for me
everything except his shot. had the series on his stick for the repeat in 09 and shot it RIGHT INTO FLEURYS CHEST.
It was a great save by flowers and the Wings had gotten screwed earlier in the 09 series.
Lets be fair here fam, even the best offensive shooters only make about 12% of their shots. Fleury made himself big where he needed to be big. This is like saying Kunitz(?) missed a wide open net the year before and deriding him for it when the shot was all but impossible even in ideal conditions.
He was called the "perfect human" for a reason
Neat little mini-bio documentary. Unfortunately, the music is distracting and kinda annoying. I'm a life-long Wings fan and love LIdstrom, but I had to turn it off about halfway through. The music was seriously driving me insane.
as a finn that reminder of torino 2006 finlas loss its hard...
I miss Nick playing on the Wings
Is that the Stardew Valley mining music?
The fact Lidstrom was still an NHL caliber defenseman and still chose to retire is a graceful way to exit. He chose to leave on his own terms rather than be forced to leave due to his body or play regressing too far for NHL standards.
"The Perfect Human" was his nickname if I remember correctly
I thought I heard a rumor Franzen didn't care for Lidstrom. Probably bogus, pretty sure it was just Babcock.
They called him the perfect human for a reason
The goal at 0:38 is why I'm named Nick
"Tom Brady of hockey, playing well into his mid 40's" you mean like Gordie Howe?
Goated!
I agree 100%
The music sounds like it's from an RPG.
It’s from Donkey Kong Country. Aquatic Ambiance.
The Perfect Human😂
W Chrono Trigger song
Lidstrom is 100% the greatest defenseman ever to play the game.
Sweden. The best players
This video makes me sad
Dryden 6 cups in 8 seasons?
Buddy that background music is 2/10
Its crazy to think that Konstantinov was better! And im a huge Red Wings fan! No disrespect to #5
Vlad was the real complete defender. Lids is the greatest Dman all time but he was still incomplete.
@@jacoblamb3535out of your mind
@@waterboy417 you have no idea. They were the most dominant pair ever to play together imo and I watched that. Vlady was a complete dman. When you caught a breakout pass you better pray you know where he is. Lidstrom didn’t have that and yet he’s still the goat dman.
@@jacoblamb3535 I do have an idea as a wings fan who watched every game of their career lol. Just think it’s kind of a dumb take to say lidstrom wasn’t as “complete” just cause he wasn’t as physical (especially I already knew that was gonna be your reason before you even said it)
@@waterboy417 okay so we have seen the same things. A complete player at the highest level is physically dominant. So he was incomplete. Not an insult just the truth. Lidstrom is my childhood idol. I own one piece of sports memorabilia and it’s a signed game worn #5. He’s the best. But someone will come along who plays like the perfect human and also crushes dudes. And that guy will be the goat.
Please stop mispronouncing the legends name. Its pronounced as it's spelled
Man this comment section is not it 😂 there’s no way this many of you actually believe he’s better than Bobby Orr
“Iron man streak unfathomable”
Phil kessel is laughing
The way Gustav Forsling plays, he must model his game after Lidstrom.
Every single swede since 1989 has tried endlessly be like nick. So yes duh.
nikita kucherov at 58th overall is about a equal as crazy draft steal
No he isn’t. That’s a crazy statement.
Datsyuk at 171 is preeeeeeetty crazy
Before Lidstrom, wings never make the playoffs, after Lidstrom, still never make the playoffs.
Bobby Orr may have been better at his peak, but Lidstrom had a way better career.
Best defense ever. Orr didn't even come close to numbers let alone the fact nick never missed the playoffs his whole career. In a way harder, more teams league ,and a way longer career. No one even comes close.
@@tomace194 'Orr didn't even come close to numbers'? Which numbers? Bud, crack open a stats book and check Bobby's numbers, including the 8 straight (yes, 8) Norris Trophies.
@jamesanthony5681 that's a popularity contest, a 6 team league, a way shorter career and nick never missed a year off his career in the playoffs. That is insane. First European capitan to win a cup. His 4th and nick should have won way more Norris trophies but got hosed the first part of his career. But like I said. Popularity contest. Canada's good old canadian boy. Thank God he wasn't a leaf of hab
@jamesanthony5681 I guess he eventually played with more than 6 teams but they were half drunk coke heads. Even some of his team. Not even close to the athletes of nicks time. Goalies didn't even go down. Haha.
@@tomace194
Popularity contest?
If it were a popularity contest, then when did it cease being a popularity contest, and what were the reasons? And if those were not legit wins by Orr for the Norris, please tell me who should have won rather than him from '68 to '75? I'll wait for your answer(s) before I laugh at you.
A 6-team league?
Check the facts. Orr NEVER won the Norris when the NHL was a 6-team league. He won the Norris during the years when the NHL went from 12, 14, 16 and 18 teams. He broke into the NHL as an 18 year old in the '66-'67 season, however, Harry Howell won the Norris that season. And when Harry accepted the Norris, what did he say about Orr? That's your homework.
@@tomace194 Half drunk coke heads? WTF would you even know about that? Were you there? Bud, back in those days the GM's/Owners had all (or majority) the power, and if they suspected you of doing that stuff then you were gone. To the minors. No guaranteed contracts.
Lindstrom is the most overrated defenceman of all time
Donkey kong underwater level music is really off putting and taking me out of the video.
i feel the complete opposite
Why did you use Donkey kong water level soundtrack 😂😂 i cant enjoi the video lol