Wings Extend Lidstrom...Cup Window

Yesterday, the Detroit Red Wings and captain Nicklas Lidstrom agreed to a two year extension that will keep the star defenseman with the franchise until 2010. In doing so, they've also extended their window as a truly elite Stanley Cup contender.

Lidstrom is the highest scoring defenseman in Red Wings history and been a mainstay on the blue line since breaking into the league in 1991. Never a physical presence, he's made his mark being a step ahead of opposing forwards and as a superb positional defender. He's a five-time Norris trophy winner awarded to the league's best defenseman, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, and winner of the Conn Smythe trophy for playoff MVP during the 2002 Cup run. He also was a member of the 2006 Gold Medal winning Swedish Olympic hockey team for good measure.

Despite those accolades, Lidstrom's game and impact have been overlooked and in some cases completely ignored by hockey writers and to a lesser extent casual Wings fans. Nevertheless, it can be argued he was their most important player on those three Stanley Cup winning teams and it's indisputable at this point.

While the progression of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg has put the Red Wings comfortably ahead of all their peers this season, the Red Wings would be an average team that might make the 2nd round of the playoffs if they're lucky without Lidstrom's contribution. He is closer to machine than man as his game always had an inhuman efficiency to it. He can log 30 minutes a night on the ice, is a good bet for 55-70 points a year from the blue line, never gets hurt, and hardly ever takes a penalty. Those kind of players are in short supply in today's NHL. At age 37 (38 in April), he's still arguably the best defenseman in the NHL today.

All his production considered, the financial figures of the new contract speaks volumes about the relationship between Lidstrom and the only NHL team he has ever played for. Rather than testing the market and likely getting max dollars to play elsewhere, the Wing's captain instead took a paycut to stay in Detroit (he'll make $7.35 million per season under the new contract, he's making $7.6 this season) despite the fact that the salary cap is projected to go up again.

While Ken Holland has done a fantastic job retooling the Wings with youth while keeping them on the short list of Stanley Cup contenders, this team could not afford to lose Lidstrom. He is the engine that keeps this train running. Detroit didn't just extend the contract of the captain for two years, they extended their window as perrenial Stanley Cup favorites.