Nicklas Lidstrom still excels in a new era

Detroit -- There are absolutely no more questions about the toughness of Nicklas Lidstrom.

To go with his cool and calm presence on the ice, there's also an unimaginable toughness that few athletes in the world have.

Let's face it: He got speared in his testicles, had surgery a couple days later and was back playing to begin the Stanley Cup Finals later in the week.

"It was painful, I can tell you that," said Lidstrom, who even admitted to uttering a few curse words in English and Swedish after Blackhawk Patrick Sharp's stick caught Lidstrom between the legs.

Lidstrom will likely return to his calm and collected self tonight at the NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas. As usual, he's nominated for the Norris Trophy, given to the league's best defenseman. Lidstrom is a finalist along with Boston's Zdeno Chara and Washington's Mike Green.

Lidstrom has six Norris trophies in his cabinet at home. If he wins tonight, he'll tie Doug Harvey. Bobby Orr, with eight, would be the only defenseman with more Norris trophies.

"It's an honor being mentioned with those players," Lidstrom said.

Lidstrom has won the last three consecutive years, but he's no lock this year.

Chara, 6-foot-9, was a huge presence on and off the ice for the Bruins, who had the best record in the Eastern Conference largely due to Chara's stout defense, leadership, and physical edge.

Green has attracted media attention because of Washington's resurgence. Green was a perfect Robin to Alex Ovechkin's Batman, an offensive defenseman who reminded many analysts of Hall of Famer Paul Coffey for his skating and dynamic offensive ability.

Lidstrom was his usual self this season. He rarely made mistakes.

"He's subtle," said coach Mike Babcock, who never knew how complete a player Lidstrom was until getting an opportunity to coach him on a daily basis. "His greatest skill is that he doesn't make things complicated. He just does simple things well over and over again."

The Wings faced elite forwards such as Rick Nash (Columbus), Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim), Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane (Chicago), and Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh) in the playoffs. All said before, or early in, their series against the Wings that the challenge of facing Lidstrom wasn't necessarily a physical one as much as tactical and mental because of Lidstrom's deft work with his stick, his ability to play angles, and his skating ability, possibly the most unappreciated aspect of Lidstrom's game.

"He glides around there," Babcock said. "He can play big minutes because he's an effortless skater, but he's so good."

If Lidstrom wins the Norris this evening it'll be one more reason to call him the greatest defensemen ever. Lidstrom, of course, would never say that.

"That's for others to judge and speculate on," Lidstrom said.

Babcock consistently calls Lidstrom the best player in the world. General manager Ken Holland agrees Lidstrom, 39, is at a level few players have ever achieved.

"There's no reason to think Nick can't continue to play at the level he's at (for the near future)," Holland said. ."

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