On Monday morning, the Detroit Red Wings announced that 41-year old defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom will return for another season in 2012, extending what is already believed to be a Hall of Fame career. The 2012 season will be the 20th NHL season for the veteran defender.
The deal is reported to be worth $6.2 million, the same amount that Lidstrom had made in the 2011 season.
Lidstrom was very good in the 2011 season, ranking 2nd among all defensemen in scoring with 62 points (16 goals and 46 assists) in all 82 games, ranking 63rd overall in scoring. Even at the golden age that Lidstrom is at, he is showing that he is still a viable All-Star defenseman, putting up some serious numbers and leading the Red Wings by example. There is no reason why he shouldn't be a top pick in the 2012 hockey pool drafts this year.
The Red Wings are in very good shape against the unofficial salary cap ceiling mark of $64 million, as they currently have 10 forwards, four defensemen and a goalie on their team table at a projected annual cost of $47 million. That should leave $17 million for six to eight players, including the team's desire for a couple more top four defensemen.
I really believe that it is important for the success of the Red Wings in the long-term that Lidstrom stays for the 2012 season, but at the same, the team is able to provide him with a protégée to work with and start the transition into a new age. Lidstrom has been able to mentor players like Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson into decent defensemen, but the Red Wings don't have that dynamic offensive defenseman like a Lidstrom or a Brian Rafalski, who just retired in this off-season.
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