Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Sign Niedermayer Brothers to Four-Year Contracts
The 2004 Norris Trophy Winner & 3-Time Stanley Cup Champion Joins Rob In Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent defenseman Scott Niedermayer and restricted free agent center/right wing Rob Niedermayer on four-year contracts. Per club policy, no financial terms of the deals were disclosed.
“Scott Niedermayer is one of the top defensemen in the game today whose skating, puck-moving ability and leadership qualities make him a great addition to our team,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Burke. “Rob has already proven his worth to the organization with his physical style of play, speed and versatility. He was a critical component to the team during the 2003 Stanley Cup playoff run.”
A three-time Stanley Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Scott Niedermayer was awarded the 2004 James Norris Trophy (given to the league’s top defenseman). During the 2003-2004 regular season, he appeared in 81 games, finishing tied-for-second in the NHL among defensemen with 54 points (named a First Team NHL All-Star).
After being drafted by New Jersey in the first round (third overall) of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, Scott played 13 NHL seasons with the Devils. The highest scoring defenseman in Devils’ history, he has appeared in 892 career regular season games, earning 112-364=476 points with a +172 rating. The 6-1, 200-pound defenseman has also earned 17-47=64 points in 146 Stanley Cup Playoff games (winning the Cup in 1995, 2000 & 2003). He had 16 assists and 18 points in the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Devils knocked off the Mighty Ducks in seven games, leading all NHL players in assists and tying with teammate Jamie Langenbrunner in points. The Niedermayers were the first siblings to face each other in the Stanley Cup Finals since 1946 (Terry Reardon, Boston & Ken Reardon, Montreal).
Scott, 31 (8/31/73), has appeared in three NHL All-Star Games (1998, 2001 & 2004). In 2002, the Edmonton, Alberta native represented Canada at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, helping the country win the Gold Medal. The Niedermayers were teammates on Canada's gold medal squad at the 2003 IIHF world championship in Helsinki.
Rob Niedermayer, 30 (12/28/74), completed his 11th NHL season in 2003-2004, earning 12-16=28 points with 34 penalty minutes in 55 games for the Ducks. Following the season, he was selected to appear with Team Canada at the 2004 World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic. The 6-2, 205 pound forward helped the Canadian club to a gold medal, appearing in all nine tournament games and earning 2-4=6 points with 22 penalty minutes.
Drafted by Florida in the first round (5th overall) of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, the Cassiar, British Columbia native was acquired from Calgary in exchange for Mike Commodore and J.F. Damphousse on March 11, 2003. He has appeared in 696 career NHL games, earning 129-207=336 points with 575 penalty minutes.
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