Nicklas Lidstrom Back in Norris Form

by Susan Slusser

Filed under: Red Wings

SAN JOSE -- Nicklas Lidstrom wasn't a Norris Trophy finalist last season. That led to speculation: At 40, were his best seasons behind the six-time Norris winner?

Apparently not. Like the Red Wings themselves, Detroit's captain just shrugs off digs about age every season, and he's now right back in line for more postseason hardware to polish.

"He certainly is," said Sharks coach Todd McLellan, whose team faces the Red Wings on Tuesday night at HP Pavilion. "He's probably the leader for the Norris right now. That's not a surprise -- as he gets older, people tag the age to his name, but I'd be careful of doing that for a few more years."

Lidstrom, who is among the top five defensemen in points, said the main thing as far as he's concerned is that he feels good. When he decided to come back after last season that was his primary consideration, and he said after the Red Wings' practice on Monday, "I feel strong. Even though you don't want to lose in the second round, it helps with a few weeks of rest in the offseason. ... I don't feel my age. I don't feel like I've slowed down."

"He's playing like he always does," Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg said. "He's our best player every night. He always makes the right decision. He's a really good leader. He's on his way to that Norris."

 

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