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Posted by George James Malik
August 05, 2007 07:52AM

The Detroit Free Press's Helene St. James spotted an article in Expressen in which Detroit Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom answered a variety of questions:

August 5, Detroit Free Press: Good news out of Sweden: Nicklas Lidstrom is willing to play for around $4,500 a month. So says the superstar Swede himself, in a feature that ran earlier this summer in Sweden's Expressen newspaper. Lidstrom answered a whole bunch of questions from readers, one of whom asked if Lidstrom would play next season in the NHL for 30,000 Swedish kroner ($4,479) a month.

"Yes," Lidstrom wrote in the paper, "I would play for 30,000 kroner per month to continue playing in the world's best league."

Too bad this isn't legally binding; imagine the cap room it would create if Lidstrom's price dropped that far down from the $7.6 million he's due to make per his contract (but perhaps the Wings can remind Lidstrom of his reply when they negotiate an extension during the upcoming season).

Lidstrom also told readers he'd rather see Peter Forsberg in a Wings uniform than Mats Sundin, but qualifies the answer by pointing out Sundin has said he wants to be a lifelong Maple Leaf. Answering a query about doping in the NHL, Lidstrom reveals that in all his time in Detroit, he's never been offered any such substances. As for his future, Lidstrom sees himself interested in coaching youth hockey.

Young people in general had best not listen to teammate Tomas Holmstrom, according to Lidstrom, who fingers his compatriot as the worst curser among the seven Swedish Wings.

Here's a rough translation of the article:

July 6, Expressen: Question: Who would you prefer to see in red Wings sweater: The Sundin or Foppa? Do not say both two! /Peter Muhlberg, Spånga

Lidstrom: Oh dear, difficult ask directly. But since Mats said that he cannot intend itself to play in someone else NHL-club than Toronto, so [must] my reply to become Foppa.

Question: The best defenceman in NHL's history? Who of Sweden's young defencemen see you as your heir? /Jakob Lagerstedt

Lidstrom: Bobby Orr revolutionized the [position] playing in NHL, he took with himself the puck up from own zone and pressed in full rate. He is the biggest. When it comes to young Swede backs on road up say I Niklas Kronvall. He has all opportunities to become a correct good defenceman.

Question: [Hello]! How long [plays] you to beyond the point of? Sees you yourself to play about five years? /Stefan

Lidstrom: No, I do not believe that I still [play] beyond the point of about five years. Now, I take a season [at a time], longer want to I not to tie me. I will not hit Chris Chelios, that is 45 years and still [going].

Question: Who is your biggest model? /Thomas Jönsson, Uppland's Väsby

FULL STORY