Just being on the ice is what Nicklas Lidstrom cherished the most.
The seven Norris Trophies as the best defenceman of his era and four Stanley Cups as a cornerstone of the Detroit Red Wings make him a mortal lock to be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday in his first year of eligibility.
But when Lidstrom looks back on his career, the 1,564 regular-season and 263 playoff games stand out.
"People are asking you how many games you played and how many you missed, and that's something I'm very proud of that I played in so many games," Lidstrom said in a phone interview from his home in Sweden.