"Nicklas Lidstrom is the greatest player I ever played with. He was just consistently the workhorse of our hockey team, kind of the backbone of the whole team." STEVE YZERMAN, longtime Detroit Red Wings captain "Nick Lidstrom is a true role model. He's someone for our community, for Hockeytown, to trust, to admire, to respect. As good of a player as he was, he was a better man and better teammate." MIKE BABCOCK, former Red Wings head coach "I'm aware of what a big part Nick played in my career, both on and off the ice. I have not played with anyone better. Just look at what he has accomplished. It's mind-boggling." HENRIK ZETTERBERG, former Red Wings captain "He was just a wonderful player. One of a kind. As to who's the best ever, it's tough to rate this guy here and that guy there. I will say I don't rate anyone ahead of Lidstrom." SCOTTY BOWMAN, former Red Wings head coach "I don't think people realize, still, how good he really was. There's no one like him, and there probably never will be another guy like him." NIKLAS KRONWALL, Red Wings defenseman "He is the best I ever played against. If you go back 100 years and start counting Bobby Orr and others, Lidstrom is top five, for sure. But during my career, and if you include Shea Weber, Zdeno Chara, and Drew Doughty, my No. 1 is Nicklas Lidstrom." EVGENI MALKIN, Pittsburgh Penguins forward "The mark Nick left on the NHL and the hockey world is that he was a picture of perfection. Not only was Nick one of the best players to ever play his position, but he is also one of the greatest gentlemen to ever play in the NHL." PIERRE McGUIRE, analyst for the NHL on NBC "Nick Lidstrom was obviously a legend in this league and in the hockey world. He was somebody I looked up to as a young player. I really wanted to be him. I'm not close to being there, but I'm working hard at it." DREW DOUGHTY, Los Angeles Kings defenseman
