Nicklas Lidstrom throws out the first pitch

With the Detroit Red Wings moving to the new Little Caesar’s Arena for the 2017-2018 season, a lot of classic Red Wings players are in town to close out Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings steak of playoff appearances will sadly come to an end this season as well. So there’s a strong feeling of nostalgia for the classic Stanley Cup winning Wings’ teams of the 90’s and 00’s. The passing of long-time owner, Mike Ilitch, has only added to the elegiac spirit surrounding the end of the Wings’ epic run in Joe Louis Arena.

Former captain and all-time great defenseman, Nicklas Lidstrom was at Comerica Park on Sunday to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The “perfect human” as Lidstrom was known, without irony, in his playing days, surprised no one by working a little breaking ball in for a called strike. Lidstrom was received with a standing ovation in appreciation for his long career as the best defenseman in Red Wings’ history. He also was in the booth with Kirk Gibson and Mario Impemba on Saturday to talk Red Wings’ history, and life after retirement.

Lidstrom has made his home in the Detroit area for years and raised his family here. Presumably we’ll see a lot of him in a ceremonial capacity for years to come. Frankly he could probably still anchor the Wings’ first defensive pairing. Thanks to Nick and the Red Wings for two and a half decades of excellence.