Hockey fans debate over Nicklas Lidstrom vs. Cale Makar as elite defensemen [IMAGN]

Nicklas Lidstrom and Cale Makar are two of the best defenders in hockey. They have both had tremendous success this season and were billed by Sportsnet as ‘elite’ defensemen. They both have great skills and a team can do no wrong by employing either one of them.

The question was posed as to which player would be the choice if only one could be taken. They’re on different teams and likely not changing places any time soon (plus Lidstrom is retired), so this is purely hypothetical.

NHL fans waded into the debate over the two defensive stars, with many pitching their support for Lidstrom. A few, however, went to bat for Makar as their personal preference.

“Lidstrom easily not even a contest,” another added.

“It’s Lidstrom but let’s not pretend like Makar didn’t won a Norris and a Conn Smythe in the same season at 23. Lidstrom didn’t win his first Norris until he was 30,” one fan said.

“Man this is tough. Makar is the better offensive player but Lidstrom was a savant defensively and still a great offensive player,” another added.

“Nope, both are the best of their era. Only Bobby Orr was the [GOAT],” one fan stated.

These two hockey stars have a lot of support from NHL fans, though the preference seems to slightly tip towards former Calgary Flames star Lidstrom.

Nicklas Lidstrom reflects on late success

At one time in Nicklas Lidstrom’s life, he was not sure if he would be a successful hockey player. He was passed over in the 1988 NHL Draft, which certainly didn’t suggest he was a future star.

Via NHL, he discussed this period of his life:

“I was just a late bloomer. I wasn’t one of the best players at the age of 15 or 16. It took me a couple of years to develop into the player I eventually turned into. When I moved away from home at the age of 16, I started to develop more and more. When I was 18, I felt I had developed a lot in those two years. I was kind of flying under the radar because I wasn’t on the (junior) national team until I was 18.”

He acknowledged that scouts weren’t looking around as much back then, so it was harder to get noticed. Not being on the National Team made it even harder in his estimation, but he overcame it all, eventually becoming a hockey legend.