New Jersey Devils consider retiring Scott Niedermayer's number
On 22 June of this year, after 18 seasons in the NHL, Scott Niedermayer announced his retirement from professional hockey. Niedermayer spent parts of 13 of those seasons with the New Jersey
Devils and now that he has officially retired, the Devils are considering retiring Niedermayer’s number.
New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello told New Jersey’s
Star-Ledger newspaper: “It’s a possibility. We’ll have some discussions about it. We’ll see. It’s something that should be considered.”
The Devils chose Niedermayer as the number three overall pick in the 1991 NHL entry draft. Niedermayer’s first full season with the Devils was the 1993 season. He played well enough that
season to be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Devils goalie Martin Brodeur endorsed retiring Niedermayer’s number, saying, “I think he’s somebody that was one of the icons of offensive defenceman that the Devils had. He was in the
era where he won the three Stanley Cups. Regardless of it happens or not, I think he’s definitely deserving of it.”
Following his rookie season, Niedermayer quickly developed into an elite level defenceman with the Devils. During his career with the Devils, Niedermayer participated in three All-Star
Games, received the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman and was named to the end of season All-Star team on two occasions.
Niedermayer was also a stalwart player for the Devils when they captured the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2003. When he left the Devils at the end of the 2004 season he was, and remains,
the Devils all-time leader in scoring by a defenceman with 476 points.
Niedermayer signed with the Anaheim Ducks as a free agent in 2005 and won another Stanley Cup with them in 2007.
If the Devils do retire Niedermayer’s number 27, he will join Scott Stevens and Ken Daneyko as the only Devils to have their numbers retired.
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