NIKLAS LIDSTROM
Team:  New Jersey
Position: Defence
Number: 5
Height/Weight: 6'2", 185 
Shoots: Left
Born: Vasteras,Sweden
Age: 29
Salary: $2,150,000
All-Star: 1998, 1999

NNHL CAREER STATS
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
1997/98 New Jersey
79
11
48
59
+21
32
1998/99 New Jersey
80
23
34
57
+20
12
Totals
159
34
82
116
+41
44
Playoffs
19
3
10
13
+1
4


CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1997/98
Chosen by New Jersey (4th round, 26th overall) in NNHL Dispersal Draft.
Named to the 1st All-Star team.
Finished third in the league in assists (48) and tied for second in points among defencemen (59).
Finished second in the league in passing (87.5%).
Runner-up to Ray Bourque for the Bobby Orr Trophy.
1998/99
NNHL Player of the week (Oct. 1-7).
Set NNHL record for goals by a defenceman (23).
Finished second in points among defencemen (57) and fifth in league in passing (85.8%).
Named to the 1st All-Star team for the second straight year. First player to make 1st team two years in a row.
Runner-up to Scott Niedermayer for the Bobby Orr Trophy in closest ballot ever for a major award.
Runner-up to Teemu Selanne for the Bobby Hull Trophy.

SCOUTING REPORT
    Lidstrom may not be the total package on the blueline but he is perhaps the best defenceman in hockey today. What sets him apart from the rest of the league is his positioning and anticipation. One of the cleanest players in the NNHL, Lidstrom's penalty minute numbers are astonishing considering the number of minutes he plays.
    He's as saavy an offensive defenseman as there is, an exceptional puckhandler, one of the best in the league at running a power play. The Swede also kills penalties. He is really agile and great at disrupting the passing lanes. He's very tough to beat one-on-one and has all the attributes you want except for the fact that he's not a physical player. That's what separates him from Ray Bourque and Chris Pronger.
    He contemplated leaving the NNHL because he wants to raise his family in his native Sweden but signed on for three more years.
    OVERALL GRADE: 9.2

-Notes are combined from the Ultimate Sports Hockey, SLAM! Sports Forecaster and The Hockey News Ultimate Pool Guide. These fine publications are available at your local convenience store.