Detroit Red Wings’ captain Nicklas Lidstrom not contemplating retirement-NHL News
Detroit Red Wings’ captain, Nicklas Lidstrom, has refused to let the thought of his retirement come on his mind at this stage even though he is going to be 42 next week.
The player has played the National Hockey League (NHL) for over past two decades and everyone is anxious to know now if he has decided to call it a day from the professional career. If he comes back next year it will be his 21st consecutive season
in the NHL.
He is the only person not to let the thought of retirement take over his nerve and it still reflects on his desire to continue playing for the side for more seasons to come.
A majority of his teammates are at least with him in his hopes of coming back to the side next season without leaving any room for a change in his professional run.
Lidstrom was the focal point in the team’s locker room cleanout and photo session ceremony following exit of Red Wings from the Western Conference playoff quarterfinal series, which has come only in five games. They have lost the race to the Nashville Predators.
The captain said:
"I try and push (it aside) during the regular season and even in the playoffs, but I get reminded by [the media] a lot. You don't want that to become a distraction to the team or to myself. I push that aside."
He commented after the last game of the playoff series:
"[I] never thought [in the last few seconds] that this was going to be my last game. I didn't get into those thoughts at all."
Red Wings’ coach, Mike Babcock, has backed him for return to the squad next season. He said:
"I just think he's too good to quit."
Lidstrom has received a similar support from his teammates, who think the player has the ability of not feeling his age and come back again to start into the third decade.
Red Wings’ left wing, Henrik Zetterberg, who is also a Swede, said:
"In the end, we hope it'll be a nice decision.”
At the end, the right of the final decision rests with the player himself and only next season will determine if he is going to continue playing the NHL.
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