NHL mock draft: How all-time greats fit 2018 needs
player. 104. . Defenseman. . Nicklas Lidstrom. 7
The Vancouver Canucks have numerous needs. Thatcher Demko has the makings of being a solid NHL goalie, so they don’t need Dominik Hasek or Patrick Roy. They have enough forwards to piece together a decent lineup. However, the Canucks desperately lack high-end talent on the blue line. So let’s give them a seven-time Norris Trophy winner in Nicklas Lidstrom.
Vancouver has done well with players from Sweden. As great as Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin were in their primes, Lidstrom would immediately be arguably the best player they’ve ever had. From 2000 to 2011, there wasn’t a better defenseman in the NHL.
Lidstrom won seven Norris Trophies during that span. Only Bobby Orr has won more. It’s remarkable he never won a Hart Trophy because, for over a decade, he was the best player for the Detroit Red Wings. He also won the 2001-02 Conn Smythe Trophy after putting up 16 points in 23 playoff games.
What’s scary is Lidstrom could be even better in today’s NHL. Lidstrom’s skating, passing, and overall game would make him a lethal threat. The Canucks desperately need a top defenseman. They’d get arguably the second-best defenseman ever in Lidstrom.