December 6th

Miedermayer to Return

Defenceman Scott Niedermayer confirmed Wednesday that he is putting off retirement and rejoining the Anaheim (LA) Ducks. His return was announced prior to Anaheim's 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, prompting a rousing cheer from the crowd of 17,174 at the Honda Center.

Niedermayer has been pondering retirement since last spring, when he captained the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Playoff MVP. He has yet to play this season, is officially suspended, and relinquished $2.3 million in salary while pondering his future, and will skate without pay until activated by the Ducks.

The four-time Stanley Cup champion established career highs in goals (15), assists (54) and points (69) last season, his 15th in the NHL, and has posted 140 goals and 608 points in 1,053 NHL games since being drafted third overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1991.

Niedermayer has won every prominent hockey championship: the Memorial Cup with the Kamloops Blazers; the Stanley Cup with New Jersey and Anaheim; and world, world junior, Olympic and World Cup titles with Team Canada.

Also for the Ducks, forward Teemu Selanne is in a similar situtation, as he's been pondering retirement since the Stanley Cup finals and has yet to announce his decision.


Crawford ordered Moore attack?

CBC is reporting that Todd Bertuzzi's infamous on-ice attack on Steve Moore on March 8, 2004 may have been ordered by former Vancouver Canucks coach Marc Crawford. Moore, sadly as we all know, suffered a broken neck and a concussion, injuries that have all but certainly ended his career.

A statement of claim filed in Ontario court by Moore's lawyer and obtained by CBC alleges that Crawford pointed to Moore's name and number on a board in the Canucks dressing room during the second intermission of that game and said ". . . (Moore) must pay the price."

In an accompanying document, Moore's lawyer claims Crawford's statement was disclosed by Bertuzzi while under oath, and by Canucks GM Dave Nonis.

Nonis didn't confirm whether the comments were made between the second and third period.

Moore filed a lawsuit against Bertuzzi, the Vancouver Canucks and their parent company in Ontario in February. He was originally seeking $18 million in lost wages, aggravated damages and punitive damages, though there are plans to increase the reward to $38 million through a proposed amended claim.

The NHL gave Bertuzzi a 17-month suspension for the Moore hit. He gave up about US$502,000 in salary, and missed 13 regular-season games and the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2004. He also was prevented from playing hockey overseas during the lockout season.

Authorities charged Bertuzzi with assault. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation and community service.