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Wings to retire Lidstrom’s number on March 6, 2014

Nicklas Lidstrom

Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom of Sweden announces his retirement during a news conference in Detroit, Thursday, May 31, 2012. Lidstrom retires after a 20-season career. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

AP

Talk about perfect timing -- the Red Wings have just announced that Nicklas Lidstrom’s No. 5 will be retired on March 6, 2014, when Detroit hosts the Colorado Avalanche.

(It’s Red Wings day on PHT, if you haven’t heard.)

“For a long time, there was no doubt in ownership’s and management’s mind that Nicklas Lidstrom would play his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings and that his sweater would fittingly go up into the rafters along with the other all-time greatest Red Wing players – Abel, Delvecchio, Howe, Lindsay, Sawchuk and Yzerman,” said Wings Senior Vice President Jim Devellano in a release.

One of the greatest defensemen in NHL history, the Lidstrom ceremony should be a special one, as Wings fans have yet to really honor him in person since he officially retired. The seven-time Norris Trophy winner called it a career on May 31, 2012.

One question we still have -- will Lidstrom be part of the Winter Classic festivities? Remember, there’s an alumni game on New Year’s Eve at Comerica Park.