The Anaheim Ducks have signed defenceman Mathieu Schneider to a two-year deal paying him $5.5 million and $5.75 million, prompting speculation that Scott Niedermayer is likely to retire.

"Scott Niedermayer has informed me that he is leaning toward retirement," said Ducks GM Brian Burke in a team statement Sunday.

"Typical of his character and leadership, he made the call this morning in order to allow us to make alternative plans in the event he does not return. Although he has not retired and would be welcomed back, we felt adding another top NHL defenseman was critical to defending our championship. Mathieu Schneider fits into that category and will be a great addition to our team."

Schneider played his last four seasons in Detroit and appeared in 68 games last season, recording 11 goals, 41 assists and 66 penalty minutes.

The veteran blueliner has played in 1,132 regular-season games over his 17-year career for six different teams. The two-time All-Star has recorded 200 goals and 463 assists in his career, while collecting 1,115 penalty minutes.

He was originally drafted in the third round, 44th overall, in 1987 entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens.

After spending seven seasons in Montreal (and helping lead the team to a Stanley Cup in 1993), he was traded to the New York Islanders along with Kirk Muller and Craig Darby for Pierre Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov in 1995.

In 1995-96, he was packaged with Wendel Clark and D.J. Smith to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Darby Hendrickson, Sean Haggerty and Kenny Jonsson. After three seasons in Toronto, Schneider was dealt to the New York Rangers for Alexander Karpovtsev and 4th round pick in the 1999 entry draft.

In 2000, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Los Angeles Kings, where he played for almost three seasons. He was traded to the Red Wings in 2003 for Sean Avery, Maxim Kuznetsov, a 2003 first-round draft pick and a 2004 second-round draft pick.

Schneider has represented the United States at the World Hockey Championship in 1996 and played for Team USA at the Olympics in 1998 and 2006.