Scott Niedermayer Set to Hang Up His Skates?

TSN reported on June 19th that Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer is strongly considering retirement.

The future Hall-of-Famer has seemingly done it all as a hockey player: he has won the World Junior championship, an Olympic Gold Medal, the World Cup, the World Championships, the Memorial Cup, and the Stanley Cup.

Four Stanley Cups, to be exact, the latest of which he shared with his brother Rob. 

 "You don't really dream of passing (the Cup) to your brother. I never have," Scott said. "To be able to do that is definitely a highlight of my career." 

Scott came to Anaheim to win a championship with his brother...and managed to pick up a postseason MVP trophy along the way. I for one can't think of a better way to end a career. 

Niedermayer has the skills to play well into his 40s. He's the best skater the NHL has seen in some time, with his smooth and effortless strides, he has always been a treat to watch.

Still, he said he has nothing more to prove, and he's right.

One downside for Anaheim, apart from losing a star, is that Scott's retirement would cost the team $6.75 million against the salary cap in the next two seasons. But the Ducks are a classy organization, and have said that they'll support whatever decision Niedermayer ultimately makes.

Scott will always be remembered for the leadership he brought to the Devils and the Ducks. When Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson shot a puck at him after the buzzer during this year's Stanley Cup Finals, Niedermayer could have gone back to the dressing room and preached revenge to his teammates. Instead, he told them to focus on the scoreboard and forget the incident ever happened.

That's true leadership in the face of adversity. The NHL will be poorer in its absence.