Anaheim Ducks 25th Anniversary: Thank You, Scott Niedermayer
To end their Silver Anniversary Celebration, the Anaheim Ducks honored Scott Niedermayer for his impact on the franchise by retiring his jersey.
Twenty-eight years ago, a bright-eyed Scott Niedermayer sat in the seats of the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. As the 1991 NHL Entry Draft began, he waited with anticipation for his name to be called. When he was drafted 3rd overall, no one could have predicted, in that moment, the significant impact he would have on the NHL during his 18 seasons with the New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks.
Entering the NHL full time, at the age of 19, an inspiring career was just beginning. He quickly made a name for himself as one of the best defensemen of his generation. Known for his smooth skating and offensive abilities as a defenseman, it wasn’t long before he aided the New Jersey Devils in winning the Stanley Cup.
Niedermayer is widely known throughout the hockey community as a dedicated and kind soul. His work ethic and commitment to his team and the game were unmatched by any other player in the league.
As Paul Kariya so graciously said during the retirement ceremony:
“[Niedermayer] is the definition of grace under pressure, and is unquesitionably the greatest champion of our generation.”
After 13 seasons with the New Jersey Devils, and three Stanley Cups later, Niedermayer decided it was time to move on. His reason for doing so was not typical. He was not looking for a bigger payday, nor did he need to move on to be the “star” of a franchise (he already had both in New Jersey.) The most motivating factor for Scott was the chance to win a Stanley Cup with his brother, Rob Niedermayer.
In 2003, Rob was traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim after almost two seasons with the Calgary Flames. His acquisition came at a time where the Ducks had the potential to make a run to the Stanley Cup. Rob’s stellar performance during the playoff’s helped propel the Ducks into the finals. However, they fell short of winning the Cup against the New Jersey Devils in Game 7.
After the devastating loss, the Mighty Ducks lost their way, missing the playoff’s the following season. Losing Paul Kariya to the Colorado Avalanche was a major blow and the team who had once been Stanley Cup contenders was now missing a huge piece to their Stanley Cup puzzle.
Then, in 2005, Rob Niedermayer became a free agent. Also a free agent, his older brother Scott. The Ducks were well on their way to becoming contenders again with the addition of young rookies like Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry but adding Scott Niedermayer to the mix would be an opportunity for the team to turn their hopes of winning into a reality. Passing up the chance to sign one of the best defensemen in the league would have been absolute lunacy.
On August 3, 2005, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim announced that they had signed the Niedermayer brothers to four-year contracts. After Steve Rucchin was traded to the New York Rangers, the Ducks needed a new Captain, and Scott Niedermayer, who had taken over the duties as Captain in New Jersey the season before, was the perfect candidate.
The Scott Niedermayer Dynasty Begins
After completely missing the playoff’s the season before, the Anaheim Ducks came back swinging in 2005. With Teemu Selanne‘s return to the Pond and Scott Niedermayer leading the charge, this team was, once again, a dangerous and lethal weapon on the ice.
The Ducks also decided to move on from Mike Babcock and hired Randy Carlyle in his stead. Although Carlyle’s most recent stint with the Anaheim Ducks earned him a lot of criticism from Ducks fans, he had a big hand in returning the Ducks to their winning ways during his first stint with the club.
At the age of 32, Niedermayer should have been well past his prime. However, he showed no signs of slowing down. He was third in points on the team, with 63 (13g, 50a), and under his leadership, the Ducks made their way back to the playoffs.
Fighting their way through the Conference Quarter-Finals, the Ducks defeated the Calgary Flames in Game 7. The path to the Stanley Cup was paved through Colorado, and Anaheim flew through that series without a hitch, sweeping the Avalanche in the Conference Semi-Finals.
However, their journey to the Stanley Cup ended abruptly after losing in the Conference Final, 4-1, to the Edmonton Oilers. Nevertheless, although their playoff journey ended prematurely, one truth was blatantly obvious. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim were contenders once again, in large part to the phenomenal leadership skills of their Captain, Scott Niedermayer.
Bringing the Stanley Cup to Anaheim
In the summer of 2006, defenseman Chris Pronger was traded to the Anaheim Ducks from the Edmonton Oilers. The player who had helped knock the Ducks out of the playoffs the season before was now a part of what would eventually be the winning puzzle.
With the addition of Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer received a new partner on the blueline. The two of them are often referred to as one of the best NHL defensive pairings of all time. A dangerous entity for the Anaheim Ducks, they were largely responsible for leading the Ducks to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The team who had finished 3rd in the Pacific Division the season before had not clinched the 1st place spot in the Pacific with 110 points. They defeated Minnesota in Game 5 during the Conference Quarter-Finals. They subdued the Vancouver in the Conference Semi-Finals, putting an end to the Canucks hopes of a Cup. Then, they vanquished their rivals, the Detroit Red Wings, in the Conference Quarter Finals.
For the second time in franchise history, and the first time since 2003, the Anaheim Ducks were headed to the Stanley Cup Finals. Their opponents this time, the Ottawa Senators, who were hungry for a win.
Winning the first two games of the series, things took a turn when the Ducks lost to the Senators in Game 3, losing 5-3. However, they did not let the loss discourage them and they came back and won in Game 4, sending the series in Game 5.
On June 6, 2007, the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals, scoring 6 goals. That day has become one of the most memorable in franchise history. The Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup is the first team to bring the Cup to California.
Scott Niedermayer was a huge reason the Ducks won the Cup. While he may not have led the team in playoff points, his fearless leadership, humble attitude, hard work, determination, and dedication set the tone for the rest of his team.
He had finally accomplished what he had come to Anaheim to do. The Niedermayer brothers won the Stanley Cup together being one of 10 pairs of brothers to win the Cup together in NHL history.
Thank You, Scott Niedermayer
Scott went on to play three more seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, wearing the “C” for a total of four seasons. He finally hung up his skates in 2010, and while he was no longer playing in the NHL, he didn’t leave it behind. He has been a big part of the Anaheim Ducks organization in the nine years since he retired.
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While I understand that he spent just five short seasons with the franchise, he is among one of the most impactful players in the Anaheim Ducks 25 year history. His accomplishments as a Duck speaks volumes. He brought the Stanley Cup to Anaheim, that in and of itself is an amazing feat. Up until last night, he led the Anaheim Ducks in assists among all defenseman. Despite only playing five seasons in Anaheim, he is seventh in points and assists franchise-wide. He is also third, franchise-wide, in assists-per-game.
However, his impact on the franchise runs deeper than a Stanley Cup and a bunch of fancy stats. Niedermeyer was fearless and his humble attitude commanded respect from his teammates. One thing every Stanley Cup team has in common is a good leader, and Scott went above and beyond. Not only was he the on-ice mediator, but he was a friend, mentor, and confidant off the ice. He earned the trust of his team, and in return, they became a more cohesive unit.
In all honesty, he deserves to have his jersey up in the rafters just as much as Teemu and Paul. In the years to come, other impactful players will have their time in the limelight, but last night was just confirmation that Scott Niedermayer’s jersey being the third jersey retired was fitting for the 25th anniversary.
On behalf of all of Ducks Nation, I want to extend my congratulations to Scott. He is so deserving of this esteemed honor. He truly is one of the best defensemen in NHL history and it was a privilege to have him play for our team. Thank you, Scotty, for everything you did and continue to do for the Anaheim Ducks organization. We can’t wait to see what you do next!
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Do you think Scott’s jersey deserved to be retired? Whose jersey do you think the Anaheim Ducks will retire next? Let us know by leaving a comment down below!