You forgot one more key difference between Thomas and Lidstrom. Lidstrom played for excellent teams who might have very well won the cup anyway even if he hadn't been there, whereas Thomas damn near won one all by himself on a team full of nobodies.
You're comparing one season of Thomas to an entire career of Lidstrom.
Also, Lidstrom played for 20 seasons in the NHL, Thomas has only played 8. There's a pretty big difference there. I'm sure many more fans remember a time without Thomas than do a time without Lidstrom.
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