Suspension Looming For Niedermayer?

Matt Bodenschatz | National Hockey League

Sep 8, 01:17 PM | Hype this story!

With less than a week until training camps across the NHL are slated to begin, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer has yet to make a retirement decision.

Niedermayer has taken an extremely self-serving approach when mulling over retirement. The 2007 Conn Smythe winner admits to realizing that the longer he drags out his decision, the more he is tampering with the Ducks.

“I wish I had a decision right now,” Niedermayer said to CBC Sports. “My preference would be to know right now and to start and be ready to go with the rest of the guys. It’s not looking like that might happen, so we go to Plan B and the second best option, which is to come to a decision as quickly as possible.

“I don’t want to drag this out any longer than I have to. The team has enough to worry about.”

Yet he continues to take his time.

However, it looks as if the Ducks may have had enough. After Niedermayer announced he would skip training camp, word has circulated that the defenseman may be suspended without pay until he makes a decision.

Obviously, though, the suspension would be a formality to create salary cap relief. If Niedermayer were to decide to return, his suspension would be lifted immediately.

Turgeon Done
Meanwhile, former Colorado Avalanche forward Pierre Turgeon has decided to hang up his skates after 19 seasons, 515 goals and 1,327 points.

“At one point we did decide, as far as retiring, but we wanted to take all summer really to think about it and just to make sure,” he said to CBC Sports. “And at the end of the summer it was the same answer.”

The former first overall draft pick (1987, Buffalo Sabres) has quietly gone about business over the past few years. His game regressed as he aged, but he always made himself a valuable commodity to his teams.

Leetch To Watch Over Rangers
Number two has been associated with the legendary defenseman Brian Leetch for many years. Now, the New York Rangers have made sure this never will change.

The Rangers will retire Leetch’s “2” January 24, 2008.

He will become the fifth Ranger to have such an honor. The others include goaltender Mike Richter (35) and forward Mark Messier (11).

In 19 seasons, Leetch played in 1,205 games, recording 247 goals and 1,028 points.

Comments

  1. DaBich

    Sep 11, 02:09 PM

    Leetch. What does one say? he was always THERE. A fixture in New York. Hockey will miss him. He deserves this honor. Congrats Leetch!

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Sep 11, 03:47 PM

    Indeed. He was a very good hockey player who played on some great (and poor) Rangers teams. It’s just a shame that his career had to end like it did — hopping from team to team and then, basically, being forced out after teams failed to sign him.

  3. DaBich

    Sep 12, 11:19 AM

    I will never forgive the Rangers for doing that to him, Matt. They should be ashamed of themselves.

  4. Matt Bodenschatz

    Sep 12, 11:27 AM

    Add that to the list of reasons to hate the Rnagers — as if being a division rival wasn’t enough!

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