The Nicklas Lidstrom Era has come to an end in Hockeytown.

The long-standing captain of the Detroit Red Wings announced his retirement from the NHL on Thursday at Joe Louis Arena.

“I’ve been dreading this day since I became manager in 1997,” said Red Wings general manager Ken Holland.

“It’s one of the most emotional days in Red Wings history with Nick retiring and all you people showing your respect for such a high-quality individual,” said Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch.

Lidstrom, 42, said that he didn’t have what it takes physically to play at the high level that he wanted to play at.

“My drive and motivation are not where to need to be to play at this level,” Lidstrom said.

Lidstrom will go down in history as one of the greatest Detroit Red Wings and one of the greatest defense men in the history of the game.

He sports a Hall-of-Fame resume with four Stanley Cups, seven Norris Trophies, 12 All-Star appearances and a Conn Smythe Trophy among other numerous accomplishments.

“Retiring today allows me to walk away with pride, rather than have the game walk away from me,” Lidstrom said.

It is an emotional day for Red Wings fans everywhere and I’d like to thank Nick for such an amazing 20 seasons. Not only was he one of the best players to wear the winged wheel, but he was such a class-act on and off the ice.

Thank you, captain.

A conference call with Ken Holland and Chris Osgood is set for noon on Tuesday.

The Detroit Red Wings have announced a conference call with general manager Ken Holland and goalie Chris Osgood set for noon on Tuesday.

The question is whether or not the Wings will be announcing Osgood’s return in 2011 or his retirement.

The main issue for Osgood, 38, is his age and his health, as injuries have plagued him over the last couple of seasons.

After weeks of speculation, we will finally know Osgood’s fate tomorrow at noon.

Red Wings GM Ken Holland became a citizen of the United States on Tuesday afternoon.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland is now a citizen of the United States.

Holland, who joined the Wings in 1995 as assistant general manager and then general manager in 1998, said that the process of gaining U.S. citizenship took 8-10 years.

“The United States have given me a wonderful opportunity,” Holland, who was born in Vernon, British Columbia, told the Detroit News. “It’s given me a great job, a great life; my kids have pretty much grown up here. This just seemed like part of a natural process.”

Holland, 55, took the Oath of Allegiance with his wife Cindi and youngest daughter Rachel on Tuesday afternoon in Detroit.

“We’re proud to be Americans,” Holland said. “We’re proud to be living in this country.”

Nicklas Lidstrom is coming back for his 20th season.

The wait is finally over.

The Detroit Red Wings and Nicklas Lidstrom agreed to a one-year contract extension on Monday morning, which will being the Wings captain back for his 20th season.

“We’re thrilled that Nick has decided to come back and play another year,” Holland said in a teleconference on Monday at 11 a.m. “He’s coming off an outstanding season and in my opinion, even at age 41, continues to be the top two-way defenseman in the world.”

The Wings captain spent the offseason contemplating the decision to return for another season due to the physical demands, among other things.

He will sign a one-year deal worth $6.2 million, which is the same salary he earned last season.

Last season, Lidstrom was second among NHL defensemen with 62 points (16 goals, 46 assists).

General Manager Ken Holland expected an answer no later than the start of the NHL Draft, which begins on Friday.

Lidstrom is nominated for three awards at the NHL Awards Show, which is Wednesday night in Las Vegas: The Norris (best defenseman), The Lady Byng (sportsmanship) and the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

Welcome back, Nick!

Ken Holland expects a decision from Nicklas Lidstrom around June 22.

Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom has an important decision to make this offseason.

So far this offseason, Lidstrom has remained mum on his future only stating that he has been thinking his options through.

Lidstrom appeared on the Jim Rome Show on Thursday, promoting the NHL Awards Show (he is up for the Norris, Lady Byng and Messier Leadership) and reiterated that he is still uncertain of his future with the Wings.

“I’m going to take my time and really consider what I want to do,” Lidstrom said.

For Lidstrom, motivation is key.

“It’s more motivation, committing to the offseason training,” Lidstrom said. “It’s very hard to get ready for a long year, and then you have the long season in itself.”

Ultimately, offseason training has begun to take a toll on the Wings captain.

“It is a little bit harder as you get older,” Lidstrom said. “You have to train even harder to stay at that level where you want to be.

“For myself, I have to train even harder to reach where I want to be able play at.”

General Manager Ken Holland told Lidstrom he needs a decision by July 1, which marks the beginning of free agency, but expects to have one around the time of the NHL Awards, which is on June 22. Lidstrom is set to leave for Sweden for the summer following the awards.

The Detroit Red Wings have some decisions to make this offseason.

Forward Kris Draper made it known a few days ago that he wants to return to the team for the 2011 season, saying that he needs General Manager Ken Holland to “believe in me.”

Will the Wings bring Osgood back?

Now, goaltender Chris Osgood has joined in on the campaign in hopes of returning to the Wings next season.

But the Wings won’t make any player decisions until next week.

“His agent has told me Chris does have interest in playing next year,” Holland told the Free Press this week.

Holland said that there are contributing factors that have the Wings uncertain at this point.

Osgood, who is 39, is coming off sports hernia surgery and isn’t the long-term answer the Wings are looking for to back up Jimmy Howard.

“He’s been injured, there are lots of unknowns — all that has to factor into the decision,” Holland said. “Right now, we’re not really leaning one way or another.”

There’s no denying the storied history that Osgood has with the franchise. He has won three Stanley Cups and last year eclipsed 400 career wins.

The Wings drafted Osgood in 1991 and have followed him through the minors and up to the pros. After they waived him in favor of Dominik Hasek in 2001, Detroit brought him back four years later.

“I’ve known him since he was 18 years of age,” Holland said. “I joke he’s like my fifth child to a degree. Whatever decision we make, it’s going to be very, very difficult. We have to look at the goalies that are out there and then try to figure out how we can be the best team that we can be.”

The Wings have some decisions to make.

Draper needs Holland "to believe in me."

Detroit Red Wings forward Kris Draper has played 17 seasons in the NHL.

And he’s ready to take on no. 18, so long as General Manager Kenny Holland is willing to give him the chance.

“I just turned 40 (on May 24) and I felt great this past year,” Draper told the media. “That’s why I feel I can still play. That’s why I have been training as hard as I have been. I feel really good. I want to play. I think I can play. But I need Kenny Holland to believe in me.”

Draper worked out with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday in which he showed that he still physically has what it takes to return to the ice this winter.

“If Kenny (Holland, Red Wings general manager) could’ve seen me working out, he would have made a decision right away,” he told the media. “They (the Lions) wanted you guys to go away, but I wanted you to stay. I want Kenny to see exactly what I was doing.”

Draper has already met with Holland twice in regards to his future as a player with the team and he expects to know his fate in seven to 10 days.

But either way Draper will remain a part of this hockey club, perhaps taking on a front office job as other retired Wings have done.

While Draper has considered the option of playing for another team, he acknowledged that it wouldn’t feel right if he did so.

“I have played out a lot of different scenarios in my mind,” Draper told the media. “To be honest, for me to play hockey somewhere else for a year would be pretty selfish. I know my wife and my family would support anything I do, but I know that if you ask my 9-year-old son there’s no way he thinks his dad is finished playing NHL hockey.

“But it would be a tough decision. I love this organization and I want to play here. I told Kenny that. You never say never, but I don’t see myself wearing another team’s colors. It wouldn’t be right.”

Draper is aware of the younger crop of Wings players looking to find their way into the organization and realizes that his number might soon be up.

“I knew this day was going to come,” he said. “It hit home last year with Malts and everything he went through. You realize the end is coming. I saw Brian Rafalski walk away from the game two weeks ago. Doug Weight retired. Guys I’ve played 18-20 years against are walking away. I get it.

“But for me, I love the game. I love all the preparation and everything about it and I still feel there’s good hockey left in me.”

Assistant coach Brad McCrimmon and the Detroit Red Wings have parted ways

The Detroit Red Wings will be looking to fill the spot of departing assistant coach Brad McCrimmon this offseason.

McCrimmon served three years behind as part of Coach Mike Babcock’s staff before deciding to move forward with other career opportunities.

“I’d like to thank Brad for his dedication and tremendous work in serving as an assistant coach for the Red Wings,” general manager Ken Holland said in a statement released Thursday morning. “We wish Brad and his family all the best in their future endeavors.”

For McClellan, the future might hold an NHL heading coaching position. Teams that are currently seeking new coaches are Atlanta, New Jersey, Minnesota, Ottawa and Florida.

McCrimmon served as a defenseman for the Wings from 1990-93 in his 18-year NHL career. He was also an assistant for the Islanders (1997-98), Calgary (2000-03) and Atlanta (2003-07).