When I asked Ian White on Saturday what it's been like to play with Nicklas Lidstrom, the smile was instantaneous.
"I have learned so much from him, he slows the game down and is always
in the right position," White said from inside the visitors' locker room
at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
When I asked Ian White on Saturday what it's been like to play with Nicklas Lidstrom, the smile was instantaneous.
"I have learned so much from him, he slows the game down and is always in the right position," White said from inside the visitors' locker room at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
It was around this time last year while playing in Carolina, having not scored a goal in 39 games, when White began wondering what was next for his hockey career. He spent the first 16 games playing for the Flames, the next 39 in Carolina and the last 23 plus playoffs in the Sharks organization.
He wondered if being on three teams in one year meant that his time was coming to an end in the NHL. The Flames did communicate to him that he was traded simply because ownership wanted to get rid of some payroll, and White (without a no-trade clause) was an easy solution.
But this summer, the phone rang and a two-year deal from the Detroit Red Wings was on the table. The first year at $3 million US and the 2nd at $2.75 million. But, believe it or not, things got even better. It was on the first day of training camp, and coach Mike Babcock told him he would be paired with Lidstrom.
White admitted that the Detroit system is more suited to his game rather than the dump and chase he has played in the past.
He was very gracious when he spoke of his other defence partners in the league like Luke Richardson and Hall Gill in Toronto, and Robyn Regehr in Calgary, but really he knows he will learn more in two years with Lidstrom than he probably did his entire NHL career so far.
Just to give you a sense of the 'Lidstrom Effect' on White this season here are some numbers:
AVERAGE OVER CAREER WITH LIDSTROM (40 games in)
Goals: 7 5
Points: 27 20
TOI/Avg: 20:58 22:58
Rating: +3 +23
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Ian White (18) is having a superb season so far with the Detroit Red Wings. (Dave Sandford /Getty Images)
Cassie Campbell-Pascall
Canadian women's hockey icon Cassie Campbell-Pascall enters her fourth year with CBC'S Hockey Night in Canada broadcast team as a commentator, bringing more than 20 years of on-ice hockey experience.
During her illustrious career, Campbell took part in three Winter Olympic Games, captaining Canada's women's hockey team to gold in 2002 and 2006, and played in seven IIHF world championships. She retired from competitive hockey in August 2006.
Campbell began her broadcast career in 2002 and in October 2006, she made history when she became the first woman to do colour commentary on Hockey Night in Canada, while filling in for veteran Harry Neale.
