Nicklas Lidstrom has done some courtesy work for the Red Wings the past few years. Now he's officially rejoining the organization -- and in a prominent role.
GM Steve Yzerman announced Tuesday that the Wings have hired Lidstrom as VP of hockey operations. The Hall of Fame defenseman and four-time Cup winner spent the duration of his 20-year career in Detroit, the final six of which he served as captain following Yzerman's retirement.
In addition to some studio analysis for NHL games on TV in Sweden, Lidstrom, 51, said earlier this season that he'd been doing some scouting "on occasion" for the Red Wings whenever he got a phone call from Yzerman or the club's director of amateur scouting and fellow former teammate Kris Draper.
"Stevie called a couple of times, Drapes calling me about some players as well," he said. "So whenever they call, I'll give them my opinions of the guys I looked at."
Two of the guys he looked at before they came to Detroit: Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. Lidstrom, arguably the greatest defenseman in NHL history, said Seider is better than he was at the same age.
And asked if he would scout for any other teams if they called, Lidstrom smiled and said, "I'm still a Detroit loyal."
Safe to say he meant it.