Red Wings to retire Nick Lidstrom’s number on March 6
By Michael Caples –
The Red Wings announced via their social media channels today that they will retire former captain Nicklas Lidstrom’s No. 5 jersey this March.
Prior to their game with long-time rival Colorado on March 6, Detroit will formally retire Lidstrom’s number.
“For a long time, there was no doubt in ownership’s and management’s mind that Nicklas Lidstrom would play his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings and that his sweater would fittingly go up into the rafters along with the other all-time greatest Red Wing players – Abel, Delvecchio, Howe, Lindsay, Sawchuk and Yzerman,” said Red Wings senior vice president Jimmy Devellano via the team’s official website.
The seven-time Norris Trophy winner will be the seventh Red Wings alum to have his jersey retired by the Original Six club, and first since Steve Yzerman’s No. 19 went up into the rafters of Joe Louis Arena on Jan. 2, 2007.
Lidstrom, who has returned to his native Sweden since announcing his retirement on May 31, 2012, won four Stanley Cup championships with the Red Wings over 20 seasons. He ranks in the top 10 all-time among NHL defensemen with 264 goals (ninth), 878 assists (sixth) and 1,142 points (sixth). He trails on Gordie Howe for games played in a Red Wings uniform.
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