Nicklas Lidstrom’s career was truly historic, and as such he impacted a great number of people in the hockey community, specifically the players. From the opponents he tormented with his excellence, to the teammates who were proud to serve by his side, to the young players who idolized him as they grew up, they were all influenced by Lidstrom’s illustrious career.

Today many of them took to Twitter with their thoughts regarding the great defenseman’s retirement.

Special thanks to @RedWingsFeed for aiding in the finding of several of these quips.

Congrats to Nicklas Lidstrom on an amazing career! One of, if not the greatest D-men of all time #legend — Nathan Oystrick (@Oystie74) May 31, 2012

Nick Lidstrom was one of the best teammates i ever had! One of the best of all time! Congrats Super Swede you deserve to sit back and relax. — Jamie Rivers (@JamieRivers08) May 31, 2012

https://twitter.com/mbacklund11/status/208225233298145281

Had the privilege of growing up watching and playing against Nick Lidstrom #OneOfTheBest #ClassAct — Dave Moss (@djmoss25) May 31, 2012

Lidstrom retires. Must have been a fun career when you're one of the best d-man for all 20 years u play — Troy Bodie (@TroyBodie) May 31, 2012

It's gonna be a lot easier to dump pucks in on the Red Wings next year w/o Lidstrom knocking every puck down. #legend #HOF — Andrew Ebbett (@aebbett) May 31, 2012

Congrats to nick lidstrom on an incredible career,was a huge thrill to take the ice against him. Was amazing to watch how he carried himself — James van Riemsdyk (@JVReemer21) May 31, 2012

Lidstrom retires after 20 @NHL seasons and showing the way for other swedes! one of the best of all time, proud to be a swede! thank you — Jacob Markstrom (@j_markstrom) May 31, 2012

I'm proud to be one of MANY players Nicklas Lidstrom humiliated (twice) over the last 20 yrs. What a career. Nobody earned retirement more. — Andrew Gordon (@AndrewGordon10) May 31, 2012

Congrats to Nick Lidstrom on an incredible career! He will be missed, one of the best all time! #silkysmooth @NHL @DetroitRedWings — Ken Daneyko (@KenDaneykoMSG) May 31, 2012

I'll never forget the time Nick Lidstrom told me @ center ice, in warm-ups, that he loved reading my tweets. Congrats on a legendary career. — Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) May 31, 2012

Congrats to Nick Lidstrom on a great career. Made the game look way too easy. Fun to watch even from the bench… — Kevin Bieksa (@kbieksa3) May 31, 2012

Congrats Nicklas Lidstrom "Norris" on a stellar NHL career. Easy to say our lives as forwards in the Joe will be much easier now — Scottie Upshall (@ScottieUpshall) May 31, 2012

https://twitter.com/b_ryan9/status/208252197564198912

Grattis till Nick Lidstrom på en första omröstning hall of fame karriär. Det var en ära att jaga du runt isen och aldrig fånga du #legend — Dustin Penner (@Dustinpenner25) May 31, 2012

Lidstrom was a guy every player caught themselves watching in awe mid game. Game's not supposed to be that easy. Was an honor playing vs him — Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) May 31, 2012

What an incredible day in Detroit. My idol as a hockey defenseman — Ryan Sproul (@Sproully93) May 31, 2012

Igor Larionov on Lidstrom: "[Hockey] is not just muscle and toughness, but smarts, & that's what he brought each/every night." Story coming. — Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) May 31, 2012

Congratulation to Nick Lidstrom on a legendary career.. He is the true definition of a role model and it was an honor to play against him — Kevin Shattenkirk (@shattdeuces) May 31, 2012

Not many athletes can retire while still being one of the best players in the game. Congrats to Nick Lidstrom on a great career. — Logan Couture (@Logancouture) May 30, 2012

Sad to see Nick Lidstrom retire. One of the games all time greats on and off the ice. A guy that everyone can learn from. — John Carlson (@JohnCarlson74) May 30, 2012

What a career for Lidstrom. Bobby Orr and him top 2 defenseman to play. #classact #morepatiencethanahospital — Michael Del Zotto (@MichaelDelZotto) May 30, 2012

Not much needs to be said about Nik Lidstrom, one of the best to ever play…often imitated, never even close to being duplicated #HOF — Matt Carle (@mattcarle25) May 31, 2012

Patrick Kane once told me about Lidstrom: "It will be a happy day for me when that guy retires." Happy day, Pat. — Sarah Kwak (@SI_sarahkwak) May 31, 2012

I met Nick Lidstrom at the NHL awards the first time.He treated me like I was up for a major award instead of him class all the way.Congrats — Kelly Chase (@Chasenpucks39) May 31, 2012

Detroit sports won't be the same without Lidstrom. It's been awesome growing up watching a class guy like him. #PerfectHuman — Jacob Trouba (@JacobTrouba) May 31, 2012

#Blackhawks' Patrick Sharp on Nicklas Lidstrom: "Every team would be drafting him first overall if they were picking an all-time team." — Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) May 31, 2012

Congrats to Nick Lidstrom on a outstanding career! He is an idol of mine and it was an honor to play against him. — Jeff Petry (@PetryJ) May 31, 2012

https://twitter.com/camfowler4/status/208176173195329536

Congrats to Nick Lidstrom on his retirement. What a career. Just an unreal person. Way to go Swede. — Boyd Devereaux (@wakingsound) May 31, 2012

Congrats to Nick Lidstrom on his legendary career. He made it look so easy ever night out there and believe me it's not.. #ClassAct — Shane O'Brien (@ShaneOBrien55) May 31, 2012

Crazy #5 is retiring. Growing up in Mich, he was my idol and getting to play against him at the Joe, it was hard not to be in awe on the ice — Ian Cole (@ICole28) May 31, 2012

What an amazing career for number 5! Growing up a Redwings fan it was a honor to have played a game vs one of the best to ever play! #HOFer — Luke Adam (@LukeJAdam) May 31, 2012

Nicklas Lidstrom player you could built winning franchise in any era #did it all better than anyone — Bobby Holik (@holikonhockey) May 31, 2012

https://twitter.com/Bogogo_44/status/208274174123311104

What a career by one of the worlds best Nick Lidstrom! Was just an honour to be a part of 2 red wings training camps with him! #HOFplayer — Trevor Parkes (@Tparkes19) May 31, 2012

Congrats to one of my heroes, one of the best to ever play the game! Enjoy your retirement. #NickLidstrom — Alexander Steen (@Steener20) May 31, 2012

https://twitter.com/ryaneclowe29/status/208314511403388929

What a career. Was an honour sharing the ice with Nicklas Lidstrom aka watching from the bench #HoF #congrats — Devante Smith-Pelly (@smithpelly23) May 31, 2012

Still remember my first game against #RedWings … @teddypurcell16 and I stared at Lidstrom all warm up..great career and a class act — Matt Moulson (@MMoulson) May 31, 2012

https://twitter.com/pattydwyer39/status/208218074296500227

https://twitter.com/dooda1414/status/208218338256625668

Hard to imagine watching the Red Wings without Lidstrom. Guy was my idol and still is as a player and person. #playedthegamethebestway — Steven Kampfer (@SteveKampfer47) May 30, 2012

https://twitter.com/NathanGerbe42/status/208009816357089281

Sad day for all hockey lovers with Lidstrom announcing his retirement. Amazing career by the big #5 He will be missed #legend #thebest — Carl Gunnarsson (@carl_gun) May 31, 2012

Seems like it will be a bit easier to play vs the wings next year. What a career he's had! One of the all time greats #5 — Viktor Stalberg (@VStalberg) May 31, 2012

The Red Wings won't feel like the Red Wings without #Lidstrom on the ice next season. That man was always in #BeastMode http://t.co/DgpO8ME3 — Craig Anderson (@CraigAnderson41) May 31, 2012

Congrats to Nick Lidstrom on a Hall of fame career. Intimidating without ever hitting you… #notimeorspace — Steve Sullivan (@Sullivan26) June 1, 2012

It was an honor to play against Lidstrom. He made the game look way to easy. #swedishsilk — Hal Gill (@Skillsy75) May 31, 2012

Nick Lidstrom. The definition of excellence! What a career. Wish him the best. #HallOfFameASAP — Eric Nystrom (@enystrom23) June 1, 2012

https://twitter.com/TKrug47/status/208357116040327169

Congrats to Lidstrom on a HOF career! He always carried himself with class and is the ultimate gentleman! #livinglegend — Jamal Mayers (@jamalmayers) June 1, 2012

https://twitter.com/ledpipe08/status/208344555425247233

Others offered up quotes to the media.

Steve Yzerman:

“Having played with him and watched him closely from his first game in the NHL — people know about it now, but we said it all along — you have to watch him closely to appreciate how good he is, what a great athlete he is, because he makes the position look so easy. He was just a … he is a special athlete.”

Dough Weight:

“God, I played in the West for 15 years. I would have had a lot more points if I didn’t have to play against that guy. … He’s a wonderful person and guy and leader, we’re gonna miss him. And the worst thing is he could probably be plus-25 by Christmas next year.”

Todd Bertuzzi:

“It’s a real honor to be around someone like that.”

“People buckle under pressure on the ice, but Nick never changed his demeanor. His composure rubbed off on everyone else and we were a better team for it.”