Ducks officially suspend Niedermayer

Canadian Press

9/11/2007 4:48:17 PM

ANAHEIM, Calif. (CP) - The Anaheim Ducks officially suspended Scott Niedermayer on Tuesday, a formality that was expected on the first day of camp with the star defenceman a no-show.

"Yes, he was suspended today," Ducks GM Brian Burke said during an NHL media conference call. "I spoke with Scott to tell him he was being suspended, which Scotty expected."

The move means Niedermayer's US$6.75-million won't count against Anaheim's salary cap while he continues to mull over his playing future. The Ducks stand at around $49 million under the $50.3-million salary cap - counting Niedermayer's salary.

Niedermayer, who turned 34 on Aug. 31, has yet to decide whether or not he will retire. Nor has 37-year-old winger Teemu Selanne, an unrestricted free agent who led the Ducks with 48 goals last season.

"I met with Teemu this morning," said Burke. "But no change. No direction from either player as to what their plans are."


Niedermayer won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last spring while earning his fourth Stanley Cup ring. Niedermayer, New Jersey's first choice and third overall in the 1991 entry draft, has racked up 608 points (140 goals, 468 assists) in 1,053 career regular-season games - including a career-high 69 points (15-54) in 79 games last season.

The saga continues...

Neidermayer shouldn't retire, but Selanne should.

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Niedermayer, Suspended.


Those are two words I never thought I'd see in a sentence together (aside from the Peter Worrell incident).