Nicklas Lidstrom Returns for 2011-12 Season

Detroit Red Wings fans can breathe a sigh of relief as team captain Nicklas Lidstrom will be back for a 20th NHL season. The decision was revealed on a media conference call today by Lidstrom and Red Wings general manager Ken Holland.

Terms of the one-year contract were not disclosed when Lidstrom and Holland made the announcement in Las Vegas, home of the NHL Awards Show this Wednesday. Lidstrom is going for his seventh Norris Trophy as the top defenseman in the league. The captain is also up for the Lady Bing Trophy and Mark Messier Leadership Award.

After the Red Wings were eliminated from the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs in a disappointing Game 7 loss to the San Jose Sharks, Lidstrom said he would take some time off before he made his decision to return or retire. Many fans were of course hoping the Red Wings legend would come back for at least one more season, as Lidstrom had one of his best years in 2010-2011 with 62 points.

It's amazing that at the age 41, Nicklas Lidstrom is still one of the top 5 players in the NHL. The defenseman is near the top of every Red Wings record, including third in assists (855); fourth in points (1,108); and ninth in goals (253), which is 12 behind John Ogrodnick. Lidstrom has spent his entire career with Detroit, winning four Stanley Cups in his illustrious career.