By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
The Detroit Red Wings, already smarting from the retirement of defenseman Brian Rafalski, averted another issue Monday when captain Nicklas Lidstrom, 41, said he will return to play his 20th season with the franchise.
By Paul Sancya, AP
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom has agreed to a one-year deal.
By Paul Sancya, AP
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom has agreed to a one-year deal.
"If I'm a sixth or seventh defenseman, I probably wouldn't be playing," Lidstrom said, " because I wouldn't be having as much fun as when you are involved and when you are contributing to the team."
At 41, Lidstrom is a Norris Trophy finalist, the team's top power-play performer and its top defensive defenseman. He agreed to a one-year deal paying him $6.2 million, the same salary he earned this past season when he was the team's third-highest-paid player.
"The reason it took so long was that I wanted to make sure I had the motivation to commit to the workouts over the summer to be ready for next season," Lidstrom said.
With Lidstrom now aboard, Detroit's defense now has Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Brad Stuart and Jakub Kindl committed for next season. Holland said he has entered talks with soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Jonathan Ericsson. No decision has yet been made about bringing back Ruslan Salei.
Holland said high-profile defensive prospect Brendan Smith will be given every opportunity to make the team. He's a puck-carrying defenseman, similar to the Los Angeles Kings' Jack Johnson.
"I have never had any doubt in my mind that Kenny is trying to do everything he can to put the best product on the ice," said Lidstrom, who indicated he had discussed Detroit's defensive situation with Holland.
With the salary cap expected to go to $64 million, the Red Wings have close to $16 million left, depending if they re-sign Ericksson, Kris Draper, Patrick Eaves and Drew Miller, etc. Potential free-agent defensemen on the market this summer include Andrei Markov, Kevin Bieska, Christian Ehrhoff, James Wisniewski, Ed Jovanovski and Ian White, among others.
"We plan to try to be aggressive on July 1 to find a defenseman or two," Holland said, adding that if the team had lost both Rafalski and Lidstrom, "it would have probably been devastating."
Lidstrom said he likes the Red Wings' roster, even without changes.
"I think special teams and goals-against are the things that have to be improved," Lidstrom said. "That might not be personnel. (It's) playing the system better, not taking chances."
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