Stunning Numbers: Nicklas Lidstrom tribute edition
Stunning Numbers is an occasional look at stats and figures from around the NHL
Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom retired on Thursday after a legendary career. You can't quantify the class, work ethic and integrity Lidstrom had off the ice; but on the ice, there are numbers that tell the story of one of the most complete players the NHL has ever had grace its arenas.
Here are some stunning numbers, facts and figures as we look back at Nicklas Lidstrom's NHL career.
1,564
The number of games played for Lidstrom in the regular season, 10th all-time in the NHL but first in League history for games played with one franchise. His 263 playoff games are tops in Red Wings history.
1,142
The number of points Lidstrom scored in his NHL career in the regular season: Sixth in NHL history for defensemen and fourth all-time amongst Detroit Red Wings players.
88
The number of career points for Lidstrom against the Chicago Blackhawks in 119 games, most against any NHL team. The St. Louis Blues were second at 86 points in 121 games. Lidstrom was a point-per-game or better player against two teams in his career: The New York Rangers (27 points in 27 games) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (34 points in 32 games).
40
The age at which Lidstrom recorded his first NHL hat trick, setting a record for being the oldest player to achieve the feat in League history on Dec. 15, 2010.
183
The number of playoff points Lidstrom scored in his NHL career, which placed him a mere two points behind Steve Yzerman for the most in Red Wings history. His 11 game-winning goals in the playoffs are best among NHL defensemen.
20
The number of consecutive years Lidstrom appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which ties Larry Robinson's record set from 1972-1992 with the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings.
Plus-450
Lidstrom's plus/minus in the regular season, to go along with a plus-61 in the playoffs. He finished minus once in his career in the regular-season: a minus-2 in 2010-11, a year in which he still won the Norris.
937
The number of regular-season wins in which Lidstrom took part. He became the first NHL player to appear in 900 regular-season wins on Nov. 11, 2011, in a 3-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Lidstrom was a plus-2.
Zero
The number of European-born and trained captains that led their NHL teams to the Stanley Cup before Lidstrom did it in 2008. And they said it couldn't be done. OK, Don Cherry might be "they" in this case, but darn it, Lidstrom did it.
7
The number of Norris Trophy wins for Lidstrom in his career, tied with Doug Harvey and one behind Bobby Orr's record.
5
The number that no other Red Wing will ever wear, because it will hang in the rafters at the Joe or its successor.
s/t NHL.com, Mlive and Hockey Reference.
