DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is confident that captain Nicklas Lidstrom will return next season.

"I went to Nick, I said, 'Nick, what do you want me to tell them (media)? He said, 'Tell them my wife and I are going to hang out for a couple of weeks and talk about it,' '' Babcock said. "So, Nick will be back.''

Does Babcock truly believe that?

"Of course I believe it, or I wouldn't have said it,'' Babcock said.

Players cleaned out their lockers and had the team photo Monday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena. Lidstrom's future, naturally, was the hot topic. The six-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman said he will decide before July 1, the first day of free agency.

"I just think he'll be back. I'm not one bit concerned about that,'' Babcock said. "He's got too much good hockey left in him. I think if he believed we didn't have a chance to win it might be different. But I think he's like the rest of us, he thinks we'll be right back knocking on the door.''

Don't read too much into the Lidstroms' decision to enroll their oldest son, 16-year-old Kevin, into a school in Sweden next fall. It's not an indication that Lidstrom will retire. He said they simply had to take care of the paperwork in case he decides to retire.

"It's a precaution,'' Lidstrom said. "We had to do it to make sure we're covered at both ends.''

Lidstrom said his son will remain in school in the Detroit area if he decides to play next season.