In honor of the Anaheim Ducks retiring Scott Niedermayer’s jersey, we’re taking a look back on the last NHL goal the hockey legend scored before hanging up his skates.
Scott Niedermayer had a lustrous NHL career, starting with the New Jersey Devils and eventually settling down in Orange County with the Anaheim Ducks. Breaking into the NHL at the age of 19, he made a name for himself as one of the best defensemen in the league over the course of his 18 season career.
As incredible as he was, father time is no respecter of persons, and there come’s a point in every hockey player’s career where they have to consider answering the hard questions. So, 1,263 regular season games, 740 points, 4 Stanley Cups, 15 playoff appearances, 4 All-Star games, a Norris Trophy, and one Conn Smythe Trophy later, at the age of 36, Scott Niedermayer decided to hang up his skates and retire from the NHL.
Since his retirement, Niedermayer has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and his jersey was retired by the New Jersey Devils. He has stayed connected with the Anaheim Ducks during his retirement, staying on board as a consultant as well as taking a position as a development coach in San Diego (which is honestly the perfect job for him.)
Tomorrow, we finally get to see the Anaheim Ducks retire his jersey. He will join only eight other players who have had their jersey retired by two separate franchises. The eight players included on that list are Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky, Ray Bourque, Mark Messier, Patrick Roy, Tim Horton, and Red Kelly.
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As we look forward to the impact Scott Niedermayer will continue to have in the NHL, we take a look back to his past. Whenever a player comes to terms with the fact that his career is over, it is always a bitter-sweet moment for both the player, their teammates, and their fans.
We always tend to remember a hockey player’s “firsts”, whether it be their first NHL goal, their first hat trick, or their first Stanley Cup. However, we seldom remember to relish their “lasts.” We forget about their last game, their last goal, and every other last associated with retirement.
Maybe it’s because we don’t want to dwell in the sadness that they will never grace the ice as an NHL player after those moments. Maybe it’s because the “lasts” don’t seem as significant as the “firsts.”
Niedermayer’s last goal is rarely remembered by any of his fans. It could be due to the fact that we did not realize that this would be his last NHL goal. However, his last goal is a good reminder of just how impactful he was to the Anaheim Ducks as a player and their captain.
Scott Niedermayer’s Final NHL Goal
The Anaheim Ducks were up by one goal in a 2-1 hockey game. The Colorado Avalanche, hungry to make a playoff run, were determined to pull ahead. After their first goal was waived off due to a high stick, the Av’s were determined to do anything to get it back and make this an even hockey game that would hopefully end in their favor.
Late in the second, Ducks gained control of the puck, and Teemu Selanne bolted up the ice. In an attempt to make a pass, the puck barely missed its intended target and Jason Blake stumbled just enough to lose sight of it completely.
Niedermayer swooped in, pulling the puck out of harm’s way and avoiding an unforeseen opening for the Avalanche to sneak in and regain control. A golden opportunity arose, with Saku Koivu open to his right. He seized the chance to pull further ahead and the puck connected beautifully with Koivu’s stick.
The veteran forward rocketed the puck in Craig Anderson‘s direction, hoping to beat him, but fell short, missing the net entirely. The puck skidded away from the net and towards Scott Niedermayer. In an attempt to redeem the play, with 30 seconds left in the middle period, he snatched up the rebound. As soon as it connected with his stick, he refrained from hesitating and drove the puck past Anderson with an incredible side shot from the lower left circle.
In the following final games of the season, Scott Niedermayer posted two more points. He ended the season leading all defenseman in points and tied Teemu Selanne overall as the fifth leading point producer during the 2009-10 season. Whether you agree or not, Niedermayer deserves to have his jersey retired tomorrow. I think we can all agree that we cannot wait to see what else he does to impact the hockey community in the coming years.
What are you looking forward to most during tomorrow’s jersey retirement ceremony? The speeches? The raising of the jersey? Seeing Anaheim Ducks alumni? Let us know by leaving a comment down below!