Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom signed a one-year contract with a reportedly $6 Million+ contract to remain in the Motor City for a 19th season. Reports Tuesday morning from various Detroit media sources reported the signing to be between $5 and $7 Million dollars. Lidstrom made $7.45 Million last season, when he did not make the Norris Trophy finalist list despite winning it six of the last eight seasons.
Lidstrom, 40, scored 9 goals and 40 assists and was a plus-22 in 82 regular-season games. He finished tied for eighth among League defensemen in points, tied for seventh in plus-minus, and seventh in shots (194). In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he scored 4 goals and 6 assists in 12 games.
He is still the best defenseman on the team and still can play. Lidstrom may have dropped to the fifth-sixth best blueliner in the league, he is still effective in shutting down opponents and scoring clutch goals. In the regular season, he was second on the team in plus-minus at +22.
Some fans in Detroit wished he could given the team more of a “hometown discount” to allow the cap space to sign another quality forward, but Lidstrom will be making less than he did last season. He is the second player the team has added this off-season, joining Jiri Hudler who returns after spending last season in the KHL.