Number 5 in the program...

My first hockey sweater I ever purchased was a Steve Yzerman sweater. He was the captain of my team and he had been the captain for as long as I had followed hockey at my top sport. He was my captain.

Nick Lidstrom came to Detroit a quiet but steady defenseman in 1991. The Wings were on the rise and they had a world of promise. Lidstrom came to Detroit the same year as Vladimir Konstantinov but they were total opposites. Vladdie went for the booming devastating hits while Nick went for the smart plays, almost at time avoiding the hit to keep the puck alive. In 1992, they were both selected to the all rookie team.

While people didn't talk about his retirement from the game, there was the obligatory "[fill in the blank] will be Detroit's next captain." The 'fill in the blank' was usually Martin LaPointe or Kris Draper and even the occasional Darren McCarty. You really didn't hear Nick's name in the mix.

But Nick went on with his game - the same dependable reliable number 5 on the blue line. He wore an A for several seasons, but it's like the old saying goes, if you didn't notice a defenseman in a game, he was doing his job. Nick did his job with amazing skill.

When he was named the captain of the Wings, people just sort of nodded and said "oh yes, that makes sense. Why didn't we see it?". Mostly because Nick went on his way, playing the same smart capable game he's always played. Shy with the media, not making a scene. You never hear of Nick out on the town drinking with suspected minors (ok you can add him to the list of players from my post of yesterday; him and Sid)

The 6 time Norris trophy winner, the first European player to with the Conn Smythe and lead his team to the Stanley Cup; the 11 time all star.... he's the boy in high school that was always around but you never really paid attention to. Then at your ten year reunion you see him and thing how in the heck did I miss out on that action.

He scored two goals last night in a win against Nashville. Doing what he always does - reading the play well; shooting at the right times; picking his spots.

He's Mr. Dependable. He's a calming force. He's my captain.