NICKLAS LIDSTROM TO GUEST ON TODAY’S “NHL HOUR WITH COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN”

Red Wings Captain Nicklas Lidstrom
Photo by Jack Rosenberg / In Play! Magazine

NEW YORK (October 20, 2011) –Nicklas Lidstrom, captain of the Detroit Red Wings, will guest on today’s NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman. The show, which encourages fans to call in with questions, airs Thursday nights on NHL.com and on Sirius XM Radio at 6 p.m., ET.   
Lidstrom is two games away from playing the 1,500^th of his NHL career, a milestone he is scheduled to reach this Saturday in Washington against the Capitals (NHL Network US, FSN-Detroit, 7:00 p.m. ET).  The Swedish-born defenseman is a four-time Stanley Cup Champion, winner of seven Norris trophies as the League’s top defenseman and one Conn Smythe as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Currently, he ranks third among active players in points, behind only Philadelphia’s Jaromir Jagr and Anaheim’s Teemu Selanne, and second in assists, again behind Jagr.
NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman broadcasts live on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET on NHL.com as well as NHL Home Ice (channel 92 on XM and channel 207 on Sirius Premier - formerly known as “The Best of XM”). The show will re-air on Sirius XM Radio, with archived shows available for download via podcast on NHL.com.
The show encourages fans to call in with questions.
To submit questions to NHL Hour call 1-877-NHL-ON-XM (1-877-645-6696).  

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RED WINGS PROSPECTS TO SCRIMMAGE IN TRAVERSE CITY

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…  Team Lidstrom and Team Zetterberg Square Off on Sunday Afternoon at 3:00 p.m. …

Detroit, MI… The Detroit Red Wings today announced that the itinerary for Day 4 (Sunday, July 10) of the team’s Development Camp in Traverse City, Mich. will now include a scrimmage pitting Team Lidstrom against Team Zetterberg. Sunday’s intrasquad battle featuring several veteran Red Wings prospects as well as recent draft picks and free agent camp invitees will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Centre Ice Arena. Fans wishing to attend the match are able to purchase tickets for $5 apiece at the rink’s main entrance. Tomorrow’s morning practices (8:30 – 11:30 a.m.) are also open to the public. The rosters for the two teams of Red Wings Development Camp attendees set to hit the ice on Sunday can be found below:

TEAM LIDSTROM

Goalies: Thomas McCollum, Tyson Teichmann

Defensemen: Brendan Smith, Adam Almqvist, Danny Dekeyser, Max Nicastro, Richard Nedomlel, Ryan Sproul, Brad Walch

Forwards: Brent Raedeke, Gustav Nyquist, Trevor Parkes, Willie Coetzee, Landon Ferraro, Nick Oslund, Adam Estoclet, Dean Chelios, Julian Cayer, Casey Fraser

TEAM ZETTERBERG

Goalies: Petr Mrazek, Evan Mosher

Defensemen: Brian Lashoff, Sebastien Piche, Travis Ehrhardt, Nick Jensen, Brian Rufenbach, Xavier Ouellet, Artem Sergeev, Jake Chelios

Forwards: Tomas Jurco, Louis-Marc Aubry, Mitch Callahan, Travis Novak, Brooks Macek, Alan Quine, Marek Tvrdon, Philippe Hudon, Zach Franko, Jesse Fraser

The Red Wings’ 2011 Prospect Development Camp will continue next week with on/off-ice sessions taking place in Traverse City Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (8:30 – 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.). This year’s camp wraps up on Thursday, July 14 with another intrasquad scrimmage as well as a skills competition (8:30 – 10:00 a.m.). More information on Traverse City’s Centre Ice Arena can be obtained by visiting http://www.centreice.org/.

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Lidstrom Second Only to Bobby Orr

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Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings has won his seventh career James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the defenseman demonstrating "the greatest all-around ability in the position," as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

Lidstrom edged Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators 736-727 in the closest race for first place since 1996, when Chicago's Chris Chelios finished five points ahead of Boston's Ray Bourque, 408-403. With Lidstrom, Weber and third-place Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins receiving similar first-place vote totals (Lidstrom 35, Weber 32, Chara 33) and the trio separated by just 48 points, this marks the tightest three-way race for the Norris Trophy since its introduction in 1954.

Lidstrom’s 19th NHL season was one of his most productive, ranking second among NHL defensemen in scoring with 62 points (16 goals, 46 assists) in 82 games. He tied for fourth place among League defensemen in goals, was third in assists and tied for sixth in power-play goals (six). The 41-year-old Red Wings captain, who yesterday announced he will return to Detroit for a 20^th season in 2011-12, led the Central Division champions in ice time by averaging 23:28 per contest.

The 41-year-old Vasteras, Sweden native is the third defenseman in League history with as many as seven Norris Trophy wins, joining Hockey Hall of Fame members Bobby Orr (eight) and Doug Harvey (seven).

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Nicklas Lidstrom Returns for 20th Season!

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In Play! took part in today’s press conference with Red Wings Captain Nicklas Lidstrom and Wings General Manager Kenny Holland where Lidstrom announced he will in fact be returning for one more year. 

This will be Lidstrom's 20th year in the NHL and all of them with the Red Wings.

Kenny Holland started off by saying “We’re thrilled that Nick has decided to come back and play another year.  He’s coming off an outstanding season and in my opinion, even at age 41, continues to be the top two-way defenseman in the world.”

Lidstrom mentioned a few line items in his rationale for coming back, "Motivation was the most important thing in making my decision to come back. The reason it took as long to make my mind up was I wanted to talk to my family and make sure I had the motivation and commitment to be prepared for another season."

Lidstrom went on to say "The preparation starts now to be ready for the upcoming season. You have to be ready to play now…in June."

Another factor that brings Lidstrom back is the team he captains, Lidstrom says, “Having a competitive team was also a factor.”

He sets a personal bar by which he measures his play, “If I drop off and I can't keep up to that level I won't be playing."

The veteran Blueliner also takes into account the winding down process after a playoff run before considering his decision to return, "It gets a little bit tougher, you're mentally fatigued after the ups and downs of the playoffs."

As for the upcoming season Lidstrom thinks that to improve the Red Wings need to tighten up defensively, "Our goals against needs to be better, letting in less goals, especially in the playoffs. Special teams and goals against...as a team"

What would have happened if the Wings would have won the Stanley Cup? Would this have made his decision easier? Lidstrom says, “It would’ve been easier to walk away on top, but who knows if I would have had motivation to come back for a repeat? (Laughs)”

As for his future plans Lidstrom says "I will take it year by year at my age, I have to be motivated. I have to have fun otherwise I wouldn't be playing."

Holland spoke a little bit about the team’s upcoming plans to test the free agency waters, “The Wings are going to explore free agency and will make some decisions in the next 10 days. This season will see the cap space increased and the Wings also have Rafalski's salary back.”

Holland goes on to say, “I’ve been getting calls from other teams that are looking to do something different, we’re looking to be active and we have money to spend”

From the tone of Lidstrom’s presser he is approaching each year with a one at a time attitude and did not rule out the 2012-13 season.

Lidstrom currently ranks second all-time with 258 career postseason games played (Chris Chelios – 266) and is second all-time among defenseman with 183 playoff points (Paul Coffey – 196).  His 54 postseason goals rank him third all-time among NHL blue-liners.

Keeping with Red Wing front office tradition the details of Lidstrom's contract were not disclosed.

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LIDSTROM NAMED NORRIS TROPHY FINALIST

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NEW YORK (April 25, 2011) -- Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins, Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings and Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators are the three finalists for the 2010-11 James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position,” the National Hockey League announced today. 
Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Norris Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 22, during the 2011 NHL Awards from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas. The 2011 NHL Awards will be broadcast by VERSUS in the United States and CBC in Canada. 
Following are the finalists for the Norris Trophy, in alphabetical order:
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins 
 Chara is a Norris Trophy finalist for the third time in the past four seasons and for the fourth time overall; he finished second in 2004, third in 2008 and captured the award in 2009. The Bruins captain led the NHL in plus-minus in 2010-11 with a +33 rating, matching his career high set in 2003-04. He recorded 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists), marking the seventh consecutive season he has surpassed the 40-point plateau. Chara also ranked second among NHL defensemen in shots (264), tied for third in power-play goals (eight) and was sixth in average ice time per game (25:26).
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings 
Lidstrom is a Norris Trophy finalist for the 11th time in the past 13 seasons. He has captured the award six times, placed second three times and third once. Lidstrom enjoyed one of his most productive seasons, ranking second among NHL defensemen in scoring with 62 points (16 goals, 46 assists) in 82 games, highlighted by a career-best 11-game point streak. He tied for fourth place among League defensemen in goals, was third in assists and tied for sixth in power-play goals (six). The Red Wings captain, who turns 41 on Thursday, led the Central Division champions in ice time, averaging 23:28 per contest.
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators 
Weber, drafted by Nashville in second round of the 2003 Entry Draft, is a Norris Trophy finalist for the first time. Only two NHL skaters saw more ice time in 2010-11 than Weber, who appeared in all 82 games and averaged 25:19 per contest. The Predators captain set single-season career highs in several categories, including games, average ice time, assists (32) and shots (254). Topping all Nashville defensemen in scoring with 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists), his offensive contribution proved crucial to Nashville in securing a sixth playoff berth in seven seasons; the Predators posted a 13-2-1 record when he scored a goal.
History 
The James Norris Memorial Trophy was presented in 1953 by the four children of the late James Norris in memory of the former owner-president of the Detroit Red Wings.

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LIDSTROM NAMED LADY BYNG TROPHY FINALIST

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NEW YORK (April 21, 2011)  --   Dallas Stars left wing Loui Eriksson, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis are the three finalists for the 2010-11 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is awarded "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability," the National Hockey League announced today.

The members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 22, during the 2011 NHL Awards from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas. The 2011 NHL Awards will be broadcast by VERSUS in the United States and CBC in Canada.

Following are the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, in alphabetical order:

Loui Eriksson, Dallas Stars
Eriksson is a trophy finalist for the first time in his five-year NHL career. The 25-year-old Gothenburg, Sweden native played a strong two-way game for the Stars, leading the club in power-play goals (10) and game-winning goals (six) and placing second in scoring with a career-high 73 points (27 goals, 46 assists) and in plus-minus with a +10 rating. He posted a nine-game assist streak from Dec. 28 to Jan. 15, tied for the longest in the League this season. Eriksson received just eight minutes in penalties, the fewest among the League’s top 50 scorers and by any player appearing in at least 76 games.

Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
Lidstrom is a Lady Byng finalist for the first time in eight years and for the sixth time in his NHL career. He has never won the trophy, finishing second or third in the voting for five consecutive years from 1999 through 2003. Lidstrom enjoyed one of his most productive seasons, ranking second among NHL defensemen in scoring with 62 points (16 goals, 46 assists) in 82 games, highlighted by a career-best 11-game point streak. The Red Wings captain, who turns 41 on Apr. 28, assumed his usual heavy workload yet rarely saw the penalty box, receiving just 20 penalty minutes in a team-leading 1,924:25 of ice time.
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
St. Louis joins Lidstrom as a six-time Lady Byng Trophy finalist, all in the past seven seasons; he captured the award for the first time in 2009-10 after finishing second from 2007 through 2009 and third in 2004. The 35-year-old wing surged late in the season, tallying points in each of his last nine games and in 15 of his final 17 to finish second in League scoring with 99 points (31 goals, 68 assists). He tied a franchise record for assists in a season and posted the second-highest point total in his 12-year NHL career. St. Louis was assessed just 12 minutes in penalties, matching his career low set last year.

History
Lady Byng, wife of Canada’s Governor-General at the time, presented the Lady Byng Trophy during the 1924-25 season. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times in eight seasons, he was given the trophy to keep and Lady Byng donated another trophy in 1936. After Lady Byng’s death in 1949, the National Hockey League presented a new trophy, changing the name to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

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TEAMMATES NOMINATE LIDSTROM FOR KING CLANCY MEMORIAL TROPHY

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… Award to be Handed Out at NHL Awards Show on June 22 …

Detroit, MI… Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom has been selected by his teammates as the Red Wings’ 2010-11 King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominee. This honor is annually awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy contribution in his community. The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards Show on June 22nd.

On the ice, Lidstrom posted his best offensive season since 2007-08 this year with 16 goals and 46 assists for 62 points at the age of 40, becoming the oldest NHL defenseman to record 60 points in a single season. He ranks fourth all-time in Detroit history in games played (1,494) and points (1,108).

With a career spanning 19 seasons, the Swedish defenseman has a laundry list of accomplishments, including four Stanley Cup titles (1997, ’98, 2002, ’08), one Olympic gold medal (2006), six Norris Trophies in the last nine seasons and the Conn Smythe Trophy (2002). He has also been named to 12 NHL All-Star Games, including being tabbed captain of Team Lidstrom at this year’s NHL All-Star Game.

Whether he is lending his image for a poster to support soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, meeting a sick child after a practice or game or making an appearance at a local school, Lidstrom is an active member in the Metro Detroit community.

Lidstrom visited the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, which is a 758-bed nursing home for military veterans, as part of the team’s third annual Community Relations Tour right before the start of training camp in September. “Everyone involved enjoyed it very much,” activity therapy manager Tiffany Carr explained. “It’s this kind of activity that makes life more pleasurable for our residents.”

Later that same day, Lidstrom along with four of his teammates stopped at Churchill Elementary School in Muskegon, Mich., where forward Justin Abdelkader had attended school as a kid. Following a 45-minute Q&A session, Lidstrom posed for photos with each grade and high-fived every single student as they exited the gym at the end of the assembly.

Each year, the team makes its annual trip to Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit to bring some holiday cheer to the patients getting treatment. As the team spokesman, Lidstrom addresses the media, staff and fellow teammates with a brief speech to kick off the hospital visit.

Lidstrom joined Red Wings’ radio play-by-play announcer Ken Kal at Field Elementary School in Canton, Mich., back in January to talk to 570 kids about the importance of eating healthy and staying active. “He took the time to individually support their new learning, through encouragement and special attention,” principal Peter Kudlak said. “He was engaging, personable and positive with every student.”

Past winners of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy include former Red Wings player Brendan Shanahan, who started a smoke detector collection initiative during the 2002-03 season.

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Red Wing Captain Nicklas Lidstrom Gets Street Name in Novi

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Novi to honor Detroit Red Wing Captain Nicklas Lidstrom with a street re-naming ceremony
Nick Lidstrom Dr. will be located off of Novi Road, just south of Ten Mile Road

NOVI, Mich., March 16, 2011 – The City of Novi will re-name Arena Drive to Nick Lidstrom Drive during an official ceremony on Thursday, March 24 at 5:30 pm. The event will take place outdoors at the City of Novi Ice Arena (currently, 42400 Arena Drive, off Novi Road, just south of Ten Mile Road). Event includes a sign presentation to Lidstrom, shoot-out contest, giveaways, and free refreshments.


Red Wings Captain Nick Lidstrom hoists the Stanley Cup during the
October 9, 2008 celebration at the Joe. The Toronto Maple Leafs were in
attendance that night to kick off the season with an original six match up.
Photo by Jack Rosenberg / In Play! Magazine

Lidstrom, a longtime Novi resident, has been a Detroit Red Wing since being drafted in 1989. He has been on four Stanley Cup winning teams and is the first European player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player during the playoffs. Lidstrom has received the James Norris Memorial Trophy as best NHL defenseman six times and scored the game-winning goal for Sweden in the 2006 Olympic Gold-Medal Game.

"Nicklas Lidstrom is a local icon and we are proud he chose Novi as the community in which to live and raise his family in Michigan," commented David B. Landry, Mayor, City of Novi. "His involvement with youth hockey at the City of Novi Ice Arena is a testament to Mr. Lidstrom's commitment to the future of hockey, good sportsmanship, and exemplary of the community spirit for which Novi is known."

Parking at the City of Novi Ice Arena for the event is limited. A shuttle service will be available from the Novi Civic Center (45175 West Ten Mile Road) starting at 4:45 pm.

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