Scott Niedermayer

At 50 years old, Scott Niedermayer has this physical status:

Scott Niedermayer (born August 31, 1973) is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman and current special assignment coach of the Anaheim Ducks.

He played 18 seasons and over 1,000 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks.

Niedermayer is a four-time Stanley Cup champion and played in five NHL All-Star Games.

He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2003–04 as the NHL's top defenceman and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2007 as the most valuable player of the playoffs.

In 2017, Niedermayer was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.As a junior, Niedermayer was a member of a Kamloops Blazers team that won two Western Hockey League championships and was voted the most valuable player of the 1992 Memorial Cup, leading the Blazers to the Canadian Hockey League championship.

The third overall selection at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by New Jersey, Niedermayer played the majority of his professional career with the Devils before moving to Anaheim in 2005. Internationally, Niedermayer played with Team Canada on several occasions.

He is a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won the Stanley Cup as well as a World Championship (2004) and Olympic gold medals (2002, 2010).

Niedermayer also played for the Memorial Cup champions, and championship teams at the 1991 World Junior Championships and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, making him and Corey Perry the only players in history to have ever won each of the six major North American and international competitions available to players. Regarded as one of the greatest defencemen in NHL history, Niedermayer has earned numerous accolades throughout his career.

He was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2013.

The New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Ducks, and Kamloops Blazers have all retired his uniform number.

Early life

Niedermayer was born in Edmonton, Alberta, but spent the first three years of his life in Cassiar, British Columbia before his family settled in Cranbrook, British Columbia. His father, Bob, was a doctor in Cassiar and then Cranbrook, and his mother Carol was a teacher. He has a younger brother, Rob.

Scott and his brother were inseparable when they were younger and often played hockey together. While their father was often their team doctor, their mother taught them to skate. She enrolled them in figure skating to aid their skills development and taught power skating classes in Cranbrook in exchange for ice time for her sons. An offensive defenceman, Scott led his Cranbrook midget team in scoring with 55 goals and 92 points in 1988–89.

Personal life

Niedermayer and his wife Lisa have four sons. The family resides in Penticton, British Columbia, but often returns to Cranbrook, where they spent the off-seasons while he was playing. Scott and Lisa are active in the community. They serve as honorary co-chairs of the Walk for Kids, a charity event that supports the Ronald McDonald House of Orange County, while Scott and his brother Rob operate a hockey school in Cranbrook and established a fund that offers grants to community associations. An active environmentalist, Scott has also joined with WWF-Canada to speak out in favour of efforts to maintain British Columbia's natural wilderness.

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Playing career

Niedermayer played three seasons of junior hockey with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1989 to 1992. He played 69 points in 64 games in his first season, 1989-1990, and was instrumental in the Blazers' triumph as WHL champions. The Blazers qualified to the 1990 Memorial Cup as Canada's best-ranked team, but they were dissatisfied with the tournament after losing all three games. Niedermayer's 1990-1991 was a recipient of many awards. He earned a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team after scoring 26 goals and 82 points in 57 games. In addition,, he was named the winner of the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy as the WHL's top scholastic player of the year, as well as the Canadian Hockey League Scholastic Player of the Year award.

Niedermayer, a top prospect for the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, was chosen in the first round, third overall, by the New Jersey Devils. He started his career in New Jersey in 1991–92 as the team wanted him to see the NHL before returning to Kamloops. Niedermayer made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers on October 16, 1991, after sitting out the Devils first five games. He appeared in four games with the Devils, recording one assist, before being sent back to junior. Though he appeared in only 35 games in the 1991-92 WHL season, Niedermayer's 39 points were enough to earn him his second berth on the West All-Star team. The Blazers won their second WHL title in three years in 1992 after losing in the Western Conference Final the previous season. Niedermayer earned third place in playoff scoring with 23 points. He scored seven points in five games to lead the Blazers to the national championship at the 1992 Memorial Cup. He was named recipient of the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player of the Memorial Cup.

In 1992–93, Niedermayer played for the Devils full time. In a 6–1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on November 8, 1992, he scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Brian Hayward. Niedermayer played in 80 games, scoring 11 goals and 40 points, and was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team on defense. Niedermayer dominated the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers in 1993–94, scoring 4 points in 20 playoff games as the Devils advanced to the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers, a series in seven games. For the first time in franchise history, the Devils made another long playoff run in the 1994–95 season. Niedermayer scored 11 points in 20 playoff games, including a key goal in game two of the Final as the Devils captured the Stanley Cup with a four-game sweep of the Detroit Red Wings.

Niedermayer's 1993-1996 campaign was a 33-point victory, but the Devils became the first defending champion in 26 years to miss the playoffs. Niedermayer's best statistical season in New Jersey came in 1997–98 with a 14-goal, 57-point campaign, after a 35-point season in 1996–97. He appeared in his first NHL All-Star Game, scoring a goal, and was selected to the NHL's Second All-Star team at the end of the season. Niedermayer, who played in New Jersey's stifling defensive system that suppresses offense, demanded a significant raise after finishing second in league scoring amongst defensemen. He turned down a $3.25 million base salary and, since he was unable to come to terms before the 1998–99 season, began the year as a holdout. He joined the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League as the season progressed. Niedermayer and the Devils have since missing the first month of the NHL season, and the terms of which have yet to be announced. He appeared in 71 games with the Devils this season, totaling 46 points.

Niedermayer was involved in a violent altercation with the Florida Panthers' Peter Worell late in the 1999-2000 season. Niedermayer retaliated by knocking his stick at his opponent's head after being elbowed by Worell. Worell had a concussion and missed six games, while Niedermayer was suspended for ten games – nine in the regular season – and New Jersey's first playoff game. Niedermayer's consistent defensive play in the playoffs helped the Devils win their second Stanley Cup by defeating the Dallas Stars in six games in the 2000 Stanley Cup Final, despite coming back from his suspension. Niedermayer carried the trophy to Fisher Peak on his head, forgeting his hometown of Cranbrook and being pictured hoisting it over his head.

He was fired following the season, which culminated in another long fight with the Devils. Although he needed a salary comparable to the top ten paid defencemen in the league's average, the Devils gave him a $3.5 million base salary. He was still a holdout at the start of the 2000–01 season, and he missed almost two months of play before finally agreeing to a four-year, $16 million contract. Niedermayer, a footballer from 57 games, scored 35 points in 57 games and appeared in his second All-Star Game. Niedermayer was knocked unconscious by a sharp elbow from Toronto's Tie Domi late in game four of New Jersey's first round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Domi retaliate against him after a previous attack in the series, according to Niedermayer. Domi apologised for the occurrence by calling it a "stupid reaction," but the rest of the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs were suspended. In the 2001 Stanley Cup Final, New Jersey advanced to the Colorado Avalanche in seven games, but lost the series to the Colorado Avalanche.

Niedermayer missed several games early in the 2001-02 season due to back pain, and his 33 points on the season were his lowest in six seasons. In 2002–03, Niedermayer and the Devils defeated the Red Devils in their fourth Stanley Cup Final appearance. As Scott's brother Rob was a member of the opposing Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the series was a family affair. When asked, their mother said she was wishing Rob's Mighty Ducks would win because Scott already had two championships to their name. Scott shattered his brother and mother's hopes by giving the Devils a 3–0 win and his third Stanley Cup victory.

Niedermayer cemented his fame as an elite NHL defenseman in 2003–04, receiving acclaim from both teammates and opponents alike for his efforts throughout the season. Injuries to fellow defenseman Scott Stevens and Brian Rafalski resulted in Niedermayer averaging over 25 minutes per game, with some even exceeding 30, and he inherited the Devils' captaincy from Stevens. Niedermayer scored his second straight 50-point season, posting 14 goals and 40 assists. For the first time, he appeared in his third All-Star Game and was named a First Team All-Star. Niedermayer was named league top defenseman after finishing second in league scoring against the Devils in a plus-minus rating of +20 and leading the Devils to a new low 164 goals against.

Niedermayer was once more a restricted free agent after his previous employment was ended, and he had to go back and forth with the Devils for a lengthy time even after he changed agents. Niedermayer first offered a five-year, $45 million contract, but the decision was not made to arbitration. He was granted a one-year contract for the 2004-2005 season, and the $7 million compensation he received tied John LeClair's award in 2000, the highest ever awarded in arbitration. However, the deal was wiped out completely as a result of the 2005–05 NHL lockout.

Niedermayer, an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2005, was in high demand; 14 teams contacted his agent on the first day they were allowed to talk to him; Niedermayer was offered a five-year deal that would have paid him $7.8 million per season, the maximum under the new salary ceiling, but the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim decided against signing a four-year deal worth $6.75 million per season. He wanted to play and win a Stanley Cup with his brother on the shorter term and lower salary to compete and try to win a Stanley Cup. Scott was immediately named as the team's captain. Niedermayer scored 63 points and was named a First Team All-Star for the second time in his first season in Anaheim, 2005–06. The Ducks reached the Western Conference Final in the playoffs, but the Edmonton Oilers had them defeated.

Chris Pronger, who was on Anaheim's blueline, helped the Ducks smash franchise records in 2006–07, winning 48%) and points (110). Both were selected finalists for the Norris Trophy, but they were disqualified by Detroit's Nicklas Lidström. Niedermayer played his 1,000th game against the Edmonton Oilers on November 28, 2006. During the regular season, he set career highs of 15 goals, 54 assists, and 69 points, earning the distinction of being a First Team All-Star. In the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, he earned the Conn Smythe Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player of the season after leading Anaheim to their first championship over the Ottawa Senators in the final. Niedermayer, the team's captain, was the first player to win the Stanley Cup. Rob gave the trophy to his brother, who was in first place in the championship; it was Rob's first championship win. "You don't really dream of handing it to your brother," Scott said at the time. I've never had one. It's definitely a highlight of my career to do so.

The 34-year-old Niedermayer contemplated retirement after winning his fourth championship. He failed to register and was suspended by the Ducks as a formality, despite being undecided on his future as the 2007–08 season began. Pronger recalled him as captain, while Niedermayer remained undecided until he returned in early December. He appeared in only 48 games this season, scoring 25 points, but he was playing in his fourth All-Star Game.

After the Ducks were eliminated in the first round of the 2008 playoffs, he considered retirement but quickly decided against returning for the 2008–09 season. He revived captaincy of the Ducks and appeared in his fifth All-Star Game, scoring 59 points in 82 games. Niedermayer scored 48 points in 80 games during his final season, 2009–10. He announced his retirement as a player on June 22, 2010, but stayed with the Ducks organization as a coach to general manager Bob Murray. He returned to coaching in 2012-2013, as a special assignment coach with the Ducks.

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