Daily Faceoff’s writers named their “Top 25 players of the last 25 years” today, and two Red Wings made the list:
20. Pavel Datsyuk, C
The Magic Man could do everything. He had some of the most dizzyingly beautiful stickhandling the game has ever seen, regularly producing did-you-see-that highlights. He’s one of the best defensive forwards of all-time, having won three consecutive Selke Trophies at one point. He was also one of the sport’s classiest players, winning four consecutive Lady Byng Trophies. It’s particularly impressive to play such a gentlemanly game when you’re a premier shutdown center.
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4. Nicklas Lidstrom, D
Try and picture Lidstrom making a mistake. Good luck with that. He was about as close as you’ll ever find to a perfect hockey player, almost robotic in his poise and precision. He set the standard for a modern style of defending, outsmarting his opponents with positioning and anticipation rather than bludgeoning them. He took home an incredible seven Norris Trophies, bested only by Bobby Orr’s eight, and if you had to craft one starting lineup featuring every player in the NHL’s 108-year history, you’re probably putting Lidstrom out there with Orr.
