Nicklas Lidström is known as “The Perfect Human”.
But how did the nickname get its start.
This is now revealed by former teammate Kris Draper.
Four Stanley Cup titles, seven Norris Trophy nominations, and inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Nicklas Lidström is a unique player, with a unique track record, and according to many, Swedish hockey has never seen a more skilled player than “Lidas”. It was also proven recently, when the respected magazine The Athletic named the 99 best players of the modern hockey era.
Perfect nickname
Nicklas Lidström then ended up in an honorable eighth place, which makes him one of the absolute best players of all time, in all categories. And it wasn’t just on the ice that Lidström excelled. He was a perfect team captain, a perfect representative of Detroit, and an excellent ambassador for ice hockey.
And that’s why his nickname was so fitting. In Detroit, Lidas was often referred to as “The Perfect Human”‚ or “Mr. Perfect”. The nickname takes credit for former teammate and legend Kris Draper.
– I’ll take it on! I was always a guy who carefully checked how everyone on the team got ready for games, he tells The Athletic.
READ MORE: The Canadians’ insane behavior towards Börje – which made Lidas drop his chin: “Couldn’t believe it was true”
Wonderful explanation
And that’s where the nickname came from, how perfect Lidström made sure everything was before matches.
– His skates were perfectly tied. There was never a single knot or crease. How he taped his shin guards: Perfect. If we played at home, and had red tape over white socks, it was perfectly executed. And the way he taped his club and the way his booth looked…, he says, and continues:
– What decided it for me was how many people just took their shirts off the hanger. Nick sat there, folding his shirt in three places. He folded it before hanging it up. And that’s when I said to Chris Osgood: “It’s absolutely perfect”.
Steve Yzerman, iconic player and now general manager, agrees with Kris Draper.
– He never had a bad day. He never made a mistake, never got beaten… Very, very rarely, anyway.
READ MORE: Henke Lundqvist’s incredible move in training – which made his colleague bang his head against the wall: “What an ass!”