Scott Niedermayer

Hey guys,

Just wondering whats up with Scott Niedermayer, he seems to be off to a slower than usual start offensively. He seems to be getting PP time, and I'm just wondering why he isn't putting up better numbers. I knows it's still early, but I just wanted your board's opinion on his play so far this why, and the possible reasons why he isn't putting up as many points as he is capable of.

I know he got a goal and an assist tonight against the Preds, that much more like the Nieds I'm used to seeing.

Thanks in advance.

He's had a little trouble figuring out the system and his linemates. The last 5 or so games I'd say he's been better each game, so that now you can finally see that he really is a great player.

It's still possible that his reputation is as puffed up as Brodeur's by the suffocating style of the old Devils, but based on his recent play I'd say that's not too likely. I think he'll get his share of points.

His offense is coming around, guys are starting to figure out where he makes passes. His defense has been oustanding, he's gotten better every game.

Scott's power play goal last night where he sneaks in from the weak side was a gem. Our seats are pretty close to the action and I've seen him attempt that play a number of times this year. (I've also seen him "plant" himself in the slot on a couple of occasions.) Unfortunately, nobody was able to feed him the puck at the appropriate time.

I'm a huge SN fan and I've been defending him on this board, as well as a couple of others, since the season began. IMHO, his "slow" start is attributable to a combination of factors: (1) Prior to this season, he played his entire 13-year NHL career with one team that---quite successfully---operated in a very structured system; (2) he was adjusting to a new team with a different style; (3) the Ducks themselves, as a team, looked a whole lot different this year than two years ago. In other words, SN wasn't the only one adjusting to a new team and a new system; (4) he didn't play organized hockey last year, so he probably was a little "rusty".

Like the vast majority of hockey fans, I'm not totally objective in my assessment of players. Unlike some fans, I'm quite willing to acknowledge my lack of objectivity. That said, I think SN is the best d-man in the NHL and, if I were starting a team from scratch, he'd be the first guy I tried to get on my team. (For the record, I had the same admiration for him when he was playing for the Devils.)

I'm glad to see that CFOB seems to be "coming around" in his assessment of Scott Niedermayer. I am thoroughly convinced that, by the end of the year, almost all Ducks fans will have come to recognize his superior talent as well as his leadership and the other intangibles he brings to the the table.

I've always liked him as well and since I live in NJ I've been saturated with friends' praises for the last 10+ years or so. One thing that he really brings that I think gets overlooked sometimes is a calmness to the backline that we've never really seen before. Carney has some of that but lacks the wheels to recover should something go awry in the zone. We got killed a bunch last year due to turnovers in our own end, Scotty seems to really help cut that down drastically this year. One of the best complements I can give him is that I'm no longer terrified when there is forechecking pressure in our zone and our defensemen are trying to find the handle or escape the pressure. Scotty is fantastic at just advancing the puck out of trouble cutting down on a lot of easy chances for the opposition and with his great skill, he also can turn that into offensive production the other way when he gets the impulse to rush. I really, really like his game.

I've always liked him as well and since I live in NJ I've been saturated with friends' praises for the last 10+ years or so. One thing that he really brings that I think gets overlooked sometimes is a calmness to the backline that we've never really seen before. Carney has some of that but lacks the wheels to recover should something go awry in the zone. We got killed a bunch last year due to turnovers in our own end, Scotty seems to really help cut that down drastically this year. One of the best complements I can give him is that I'm no longer terrified when there is forechecking pressure in our zone and our defensemen are trying to find the handle or escape the pressure. Scotty is fantastic at just advancing the puck out of trouble cutting down on a lot of easy chances for the opposition and with his great skill, he also can turn that into offensive production the other way when he gets the impulse to rush. I really, really like his game.

Excellent observation. BTW, what city (or town) do you live in? (I left Jersey many years ago.)

In the New Brunswick area near Rutgers University.

In the New Brunswick area near Rutgers University.

Rutgers and Johnson & Johnson, right? Ocean County for me. But it's been a while.

Rutgers and Johnson & Johnson, right? Ocean County for me. But it's been a while.

Yep Yep. Right by the train station, thus I am in sport of the Devils moving to Newark so I can take the train into 2 different cities now and see hockey but now with the unbalanced schedules I'm going to have to drive to Boston to see the Ducks this year which sucks as I always looked forward to going to all 3 games vs the NY/NJ area in previous years.