This Could Be Nicklas Lidstrom's Farewell to Detroit

DETROIT -- "I don't even want to think about it," said Kris Draper, but the reality exists. Game 4 on Thursday night could be the final game in Detroit in the extraordinary career of Nicklas Lidstrom.

The future Hall of Fame defenseman from Sweden, who turned 40 last week, politely declined to shed any insight into his plans.

"I will address that issue once the season is over," Lidstrom said on Wednesday after the Red Wings' brief practice at Joe Louis Arena. "I don't feel this is the proper time to discuss it."

Lidstrom was asked by FanHouse if the end-of-season evaluation has been his approach every year in his late 30s.

"No," he said. "But keep in mind that before last season I signed a two-year contract. It wasn't an issue a year ago. Let's see what happens."

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No one who cares about hockey wants to see this happen, but they'll also understand Lidstrom is a generational player who has always done the right thing. As one longtime Red Wings observer said during practice, "This is not going to be a Chris Chelios situation."

"Nik is the absolute, complete defenseman of his time. I have been so lucky to spend my career with him."
-- Kris Draper Like Denis Potvin and Ray Bourque before him, Lidstrom could go out on top. He will have won six Norris Trophies in his final nine NHL seasons. He is the only European-born captain to lead an NHL team to a Stanley Cup and the first European to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Lidstrom has the highest plus-minus in the NHL since 1991-92. That would be +432.

As a career-long Red Wing, he is fourth in franchise history in games played and points. While he is quietly proud of all those Player of the Decade honors, he grins broadly when you mention his team's four Stanley Cups.

After making the Cup Final the last two years, the Red Wings now face elimination in the second round. They trail the San Jose Sharks, 3-0, with Game 4 at The Joe on Thursday.

"I know it's a tough task," said Lidstrom, "but I liked the way we looked today. No one came in with their head down. We had a good meeting. We know what we have to do."

Detroit head coach Mike Babcock joked that he and his players crave another round of meal money, so they need to win more games. To a man, no one wanted to touch the subject of this possibly being the end of their captain's career. However, Draper -- who has been here for the last 16 of Lidstrom's 18 years and all four Cups -- was more than willing to discuss his impact.

"How much ink you got in that pen?" Draper asked FanHouse. Then he took a deep breath, shook his head, and began.

"Nik is the absolute, complete defenseman of his time," said Draper. "I have been so lucky to spend my career with him. People talk about him being one of the greatest defensemen of all time. To me, Nik's one of the greatest players of all time.

"He has been such a calming influence. Look at today. You know we're in a desperate situation, but Nik walks in here so calm and makes everyone understand that we can handle this challenge. It reminds me that he's every bit as good off the ice. Without a doubt, I became a better player and person by being a teammate of Nik's."

Rookie goaltender Jimmy Howard used words like "awesome" to describe the experience of playing behind Lidstrom.

"To wear the same uniform as that man has been special," said the 26-year-old goalie. "Watching him on TV, I knew he was great but now I know what makes him so great. Nik sees the game in a different way than the rest of us. To be honest with you, being on his team this season has been kind of surreal."

Unless the Red Wings can find a way to beat the Sharks, the end of a brilliant career will be all too real. Hockeytown might want to consider that on Thursday night.

NOTES: After missing the last two games with an elbow injury, Patrick Eaves will possibly return for Game 5 ... Babcock made it very clear that Howard would start on Thursday and he hadn't spent a second considering otherwise ... Draper on the possibility of a comeback from 3-0: "Have they been better than us and deserved to win these three games? Yes. It is over? No. History can be made, right?"