Bob Duff: Is Holmstrom Detroit's latest diamond in the rough? The Red Wings signed Swedish center Alex Holmstrom, their sixth round pick last year, to a contract Monday, even though it's a virtual certainly he'll play in Sweden next season.

A 7th round pick that they've signed a year a year later...so I would say yes, he's probably a nice find.

They brought Tomas Holmstrom back????!!

They brought Tomas Holmstrom back????!!




- jerseyleaf

They could use another net front presence since Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, and Franzen are done.

Detroit's scouting staff might actually be worth 50 million.

They could use another net front presence since Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, and Franzen are done.
- TokenBlack

We got lil Bert coming through the ranks. But Holmstrom is interesting, racking up 18 points in 15 playoff games. Been hearing a lot of other chatter on other blogs about him being a good find.

- smellmyfinger

No. Stop it.

Hard to believe the guy is only 37 though. It feels like he's been playing since the 80s. Every year he's highly ranked on my list of "Wait, he's still in the NHL?" players.

No. Stop it.

Hard to believe the guy is only 37 though. It feels like he's been playing since the 80s. Every year he's highly ranked on my list of "Wait, he's still in the NHL?" players.
- Sven22

He played 74 games for us last year, and I forgot he was still in the NHL.

Six years ago i said on the wings blog that keith would one day be mentioned with lidstrom and i got ripped a new a-hole for it.

Is keith closer to the esteemed lidstrom now?

Six years ago i said on the wings blog that keith would one day be mentioned with lidstrom and i got ripped a new a-hole for it.

Is keith closer to the esteemed lidstrom now?
- Vanhawk

No. Keith is great but Lidstrom was on another level.

Six years ago i said on the wings blog that keith would one day be mentioned with lidstrom and i got ripped a new a-hole for it.

Is keith closer to the esteemed lidstrom now?
- Vanhawk

No... Keith is a great defenseman... But he's not the elite level Lidstrom was. Lidstrom is entire level above any defensemen in the NHL... and is one the best defensemen to ever play the game (on equal level with Bobby Orr). The most amazing thing about Lidstom is the elite level he played at for his entire career (his durability is unmatched and he had virtually no injuries). And hardly ever took any penalties.

This is why he had the nickname "The Perfect Human".

Six years ago i said on the wings blog that keith would one day be mentioned with lidstrom and i got ripped a new a-hole for it.

Is keith closer to the esteemed lidstrom now?
- Vanhawk

IMO, which is not fact or anything... No,

Lidstrom is basically the 2nd best D man to play behind Orr of all time.

Keith is amazing, hes basically ONE of the best D in the league hands down, but will he go down as the "3rd best defensemen of ALL time" .. no

IMO, which is not fact or anything... No,

Lidstrom is basically the 2nd best D man to play behind Orr of all time.

Keith is amazing, hes basically ONE of the best D in the league hands down, but will he go down as the "3rd best defensemen of ALL time" .. no
- digitalbath

Paul Coffey deserves the third IMO.

Paul Coffey deserves the third IMO.
- TokenBlack

I'd put Ray Bourque ahead of Coffey

I'd put Ray Bourque ahead of Coffey
- porkchops1977

Coffey over Bourque because of that wicked Sherwood curve.

Six years ago i said on the wings blog that keith would one day be mentioned with lidstrom and i got ripped a new a-hole for it.

Is keith closer to the esteemed lidstrom now?
- Vanhawk

Closer: absolutely. But that doesn't mean he's close, at least not yet or anytime within the next couple of years.

Norris nominations
Lidstrom: 7 trophies, 3 times runner-up, 1 time third place
Keith: 2 trophies

Postseason all-star teams
Lidstrom: 10 first team, 2 second team
Keith: 2 first team

Lidstrom career points per game: 0.73
Keith career points per game: 0.54

And while things like championships and even playoff MVPs generally depend more on the team than the individual, both guys have a Smythe and Lidstrom leads in Cups 4-3.

Granted, Keith is still 31, which is old for 99% of players but not necessarily elite defensemen -- Lidstrom won a majority of his hardware at that age and older, though he was still ahead of where Keith is now at the same age.

But Lidstrom is in the "greatest of all time, not named Orr division" with the likes of Bourque and Harvey. For Keith to get there, he would need to be the consensus best defenseman in the NHL (or close to it) for something like the next 7-8 years. Not impossible, but his work is cut out for him.

Six years ago i said on the wings blog that keith would one day be mentioned with lidstrom and i got ripped a new a-hole for it.

Is keith closer to the esteemed lidstrom now?
- Vanhawk

no. now back to the hawk blog with u

Six years ago i said on the wings blog that keith would one day be mentioned with lidstrom and i got ripped a new a-hole for it.

Is keith closer to the esteemed lidstrom now?
- Vanhawk