As the final seconds ticked down last Friday night and the Detroit Red Wings made their final push to try to bring Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals even at two, the eery thought began to creep into the collective mind of NHL fans everywhere; could this really be Nicklas Lidstrom's final NHL Game?
Over the last few seasons, the reality of the end has been apparent and now with the aging superstar in his 42nd year, it appears to be just around the bend. On Wednesday morning, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press wrote a story explaining that Lidstrom would provide the Red Wings an official answer by mid-June after he has had a chance to discuss the decision with his family.
According to St. James, the biggest factor will be his motivation level and whether the seven-time Norris trophy and four-time Stanley Cup winning, 20-year vet has enough drive left in the tank for a 21st year.
For more on the Detroit Red Wings, check out Winging It In Motown. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.