Scott Niedermayer: Why I'd Like to Punch Him in the Face

There are two things you need to know before I start this rant.

1. I am not a Ducks fan, in fact, I really can't stand the Ducks. Not so much the team itself, but their (generally) ill informed, insufferable fans (living in California, I run into them all the time and not punching them in the face is a constant struggle).

2. I think Scott Niedermayer is one of the best defensman to play the game in the last 20 years.

So, that said, here is why I would really like to punch Scott square in the face.

After promising to come to a quick decision on his playing future, after swearing he would not hold his team's progress up by waiting a ridiculously long time (again) to make this decision...he is doing just that.

After being defeated by the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the Western Conference semifinals, Niedermayer reportedly told Ducks GM Bob Murray that he would give him an answer on his playing future well before draft day.

Well, here we are, and good 'ol Scotty is still sitting on the pot, undecided.

Now, this may not be so infuriating if it were not for the fact that this is now the second time in three years he has taken his team down this road.

The first time was a disaster for the organization.

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2007, Niedermayer, still under contract, hemmed and hawed about retirement.

This guy actually held press conferences to say that, he had not made a decision.

Wanting to have some insurance in the event that he did retire, then GM Brian Burke signed defenseman Mathieu Schneider to a two-year contract.

Schneider was an able replacement who had just come off a great year in Detroit and made no secret of the fact that he though Anaheim had a great chance of repeating as champions and wanted to be a part of it.

The Ducks started training camp still uninformed as to Niedermayer's decision.

In fact, this idiocy lasted all the way into the regular season until he finally decided to return to the team in December.

But, by that time, the Ducks were totally handcuffed by the salary cap and, in order to accommodate Niedermayer's salary, were forced to move forward Andy McDonald to St. Louis.

This, was, to my mind an unforgivable display of selfishness on Niedermayer's part.

He knew his salary hitting the books would force such a decision, a decision that would not have been made if he had only made up his mind during the summer.

Instead, he forced the team to accommodate him and, as a result, bounced one of his teammates, who had just won the Cup with him (and surely had designs to win it again), off the team.

Now, back to Mathieu Schneider.

Though he battled injuries in his first season with the Ducks, he was still effective when on the ice and was looking forward to making a strong contribution in his second year with the team.

But, the Ducks' salary cap and Niedermayer's dent in it forced Anaheim to move Schneider to Atlanta of all places last season.

So, now a year removed from his hand-wringing, Niedermayer's "me first" attitude was still costing players a spot on the team. Again, had he made his decision when he should have, Schneider would never have been signed in the first place.

Now, the Ducks are deciding what to do with Chris Pronger. 

He is still one of the best defensman in the league and moving him could land the Ducks at least one solid roster player, a prospect, and a pick. Valuable assets for a team looking to retool a bit.

However, if they keep him, he would still give his team a chance to make the playoffs every year and go far once they do.

But, yet again, Scott Niedermayer holds the fate of one of his teammates in his hands.

This type of indecisiveness is certainly understandable given the fact that Niedermayer is likely weighing his love for the game against the fact he has absolutely nothing left to prove in the NHL.

However, his delay in making a decision means that the team cannot move forward until they know whether or not he's actually going to play and whether or not he will play for them.

Niedermayer is certainly aware of this, but feels comfortable putting his interests ahead of the team.

To add another vomit inducing wrinkle to this nauseating scenario, this is the team captain doing this!

Their leader, their example, their model player is exhibiting none of the virtues found almost exclusively in hockey: selflessness, brotherhood, and humility.

In hockey, I believe the best thing you can be is a good teammate. The minute you decide to put yourself before the team, being a good teammate is impossible.

If he decides to retire (soon), the Ducks may have enough time to make decisions about the direction of the team that could make an impact on next season.

If he decides to stay and remains the team's captain, the Ducks as well as Niedermayer will be making a mockery of everything that "C" stands for.

And that is why I would like to punch Scott Niedermayer in the face.