commentary...

the biggest question mark for Red Wings,in 2011-2012 will be,if Nicklas Lidstrom,as Red Wings' captain,returns for his 20th season... he actually goes to Sweden,for off-season,and will move back,when he retires,from the Red Wings(that is he has said,in interviews)... even though,he will be in his 20th year,he is a Norris Trophy(best defenseman)finalist... he has won that trophy six times,behind only Doug Harvey,who played mostly with Montreal,but actually played two games,with Detroit,in 1966-1967,with seven,and Mr. Bruin(my name for him)-Bobby Orr,who had eight Norris Trophies... he should win his seventh,this year... it will be minor shock to me,if he does not win it this year... the only thing that may stop him,from number seven,is his plus/minus rating,which was his worst,in his career(minus 2),since his rookie season,when it was a plus 7... funny thing about Lidstrom:he is near his peak(anyone who is a finalist for the Norris,is one of the best players,in NHL),because he trains so hard,and wants to play for a team who contends,and that he likes the roster and team,like the Red Wings,but honestly he has a son going to school,and playing hockey,in Sweden,and he loves his homeland-Sweden... my opinion is that he plays at least one more year,and makes a great run,at Stanley Cup,because the way that the Red Wings lost to San Jose,will gnaw at his gut,and the rest of the Red Wings,that when they play next season,i guarantee that they have a giant chip on their shoulder,and do not doubt that Mike Babcock will probably show them the video,of the entire series,as motivation...i would be stunned no end,if Nicklas Lidstrom retires this year,but i know down deep that he will probably go only a couple more years,before he does retire,from NHL...