Topic: Scott Niedermayer

Scott Niedermayer (born August 31, 1973) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman and team captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Niedermayer is known for his skating stride, and knack for leading or joining the offensive rush. Though he was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Niedermayer grew up in Cranbrook, British Columbia. He is the older brother of New Jersey Devils forward Rob Niedermayer and cousin of Edmonton Oilers defenceman Jason Strudwick. As of 2010, Niedermayer is the only player to win every major North American and international championship in his career; he has won the Memorial Cup, World Junior Championship gold, IIHF World Championship gold, two Olympic gold medals, four Stanley Cups and the World Cup.

Niedermayer was drafted in the first round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils with the third overall selection from the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was considered one of the most promising and offensively talented defenceman ever drafted out of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The Devils drafted Niedermayer using the first round draft pick they had previously acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Tom Kurvers on October 16, 1989.

After playing an initial four games with the Devils in the 1991–92 season, Niedermayer recorded 11 goals and 40 points in his rookie campaign in 1992–93, enough to be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. He improved to 46 points in his second NHL season in 1993–94 and embarked on a lengthy playoff run with the Devils to the semifinals, where they were defeated by eventual Stanley Cup champions, the New York Rangers in seven games. Niedermayer and the Devils followed their near berth in the Stanley Cup Finals with another playoff run the following season in 1995. Facing the Detroit Red Wings in the Finals, the Devils swept the series to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history and Niedermayer's first of his career.