Ducks star is active again after brief stint as retiree

Jae C. Hong, Associated Press - Ap

Scott Niedermayer, playing against the Penguins in November 2006, walked away from the NHL as a Stanley Cup winner at age 34 at the end of the season, but retirement didn’t agree with him.

Going out on top seemed right at the time, but playoff MVP Scott Niedermayer of Anaheim found he preferred ice time over leisure time.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: December 16, 2007 - 11:35 PM

ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Even Rob Niedermayer thought his older brother, Scott, was done tormenting Western Conference opponents such as the Wild.

Niedermayer, 16 months younger than his future Hall of Fame sibling, said he had a hunch his brother would retire as the two celebrated their Stanley Cup championship together in June.

Then, when Scott was spotted eating cake at Rob's wedding in July, "I thought, 'Yeah, he's done,' " Rob Niedermayer said, laughing. "I felt he had enough. But I sort of left him alone about it. I knew he was getting bombarded from all sides, so I didn't want to ask him all the time."

Last August, Scott Niedermayer really was planning to retire. That is, until Ducks General Manager Brian Burke said, "Take your time."

"Maybe that was a good strategy on his part," Scott Niedermayer said Thursday.

That's because the 2007 playoff MVP, who led NHL defensemen with 15 goals and 69 points last season, officially returned to the Ducks last week.

Still, the Wild might luck out. Niedermayer won't be able to debut tonight unless Burke cuts almost $1 million in salary for next season by 4 p.m.

"I felt comfortable enough with the decision [to retire last summer]," Niedermayer said. "Not the people that came up to me in Canada. About 10 people a day didn't think it was a good idea.

"But I thought about [retirement] during the season, that if we were fortunate enough to win, maybe that would be enough NHL hockey for me."

But then Niedermayer discovered something very quickly. Retirement didn't agree with the 34-year-old.

"It's been an interesting learning experience, feeling you're retired and starting to understand what it would be like," Niedermayer said. "I thought having free time wasn't going to be a problem. But there was part of me that, near the end there, felt like I should be doing at least something constructive.

"I didn't think I'd feel that way for a long time. I thought I'd be all right just hanging out and relaxing."

Niedermayer is one of the most distinguished star defensemen in the NHL. He skates effortlessly, doesn't get fatigued playing 30 minutes a night and dominates a game offensively and defensively like few others.

Most feel Niedermayer's return will automatically make the Ducks, clinging to eighth in the West, a Cup contender again.

But Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said, "I think it's unfair. We know we have a special player, but we also recognize he's [missed two months]."

Added Rob Niedermayer, "Getting a player of Scott's caliber back is a boost for everyone in here. It's a big spark, but one person's not going to turn everything around for us. The group's got to decide to play better."

Scott Niedermayer has been skating for a month, although Thursday was his first practice with all his teammates. Still, when Burke gives Carlyle the go-ahead, Niedermayer, with monitored ice time, will play.

"Scott Niedermayer could go away from the game for four or five years and put the skates back on and he would look like he's ready," Carlyle said.

In the meantime, Niedermayer looks rejuvenated and doesn't plan to retire again for a while.

"I'll know what it's like next time," he said. "Right now, I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing as well as I can and helping the team. [The goal] is still the same thing."

A Stanley Cup, which should terrify 29 other teams.

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