Rob Niedermayer

Robert Wade Niedermayer Jr. (born December 28, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 17 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons for the Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres.

He is the younger brother of former NHL defenceman Scott Niedermayer (the two were teammates for four seasons). Born in Cassiar, British Columbia, he and his brother Scott grew up in Cranbrook.

Playing career Niedermayer was drafted fifth overall by the Florida Panthers in the 1993 NHL entry draft. At the time, he was playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He began his NHL career immediately following his draft, without playing a game in the minors. During the 1995–96 season, he set career highs in goals, assists and points in the regular season. In the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Panthers went on an improbable playoff drive to the Stanley Cup Final before being swept in four games by the Colorado Avalanche. 1998-99 was his best season, putting up 18 goals and 33 assists for 51 points; however, Niedermayer was hurt by concussions in the next years and was never able to achieve the same level of scoring ability again. His NHL role soon turned into a defensive forward.

On July 23, 2001, Niedermayer was traded to the Calgary Flames (alongside a draft pick) in exchange for Valeri Bure and Jason Wiemer. At the 2003 NHL trade deadline, he was sent to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. That same year, he helped the Anaheim Ducks make an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final, his second such run. But again, Niedermayer's team lost, although this time it was in seven games to his brother's team, the New Jersey Devils. He and Scott became the first set of brothers to play against each other in the Stanley Cup Final since Ken and Terry Reardon did it in 1946.

He and his brother Scott (by this point captain of the Ducks, with Rob as an alternate) won the Stanley Cup together as members of the Anaheim Ducks after defeating the Ottawa Senators four games to one in 2007, becoming the first brothers to win the Stanley Cup together since Duane and Brent Sutter accomplished the feat twice with the New York Islanders in 1982 and 1983.

After becoming a free agent following the 2011 season, Niedermayer signed with HC Lugano of the Swiss National League A.

Personal On July 16, 2006, Niedermayer married longtime girlfriend Jessica Bentall, daughter of Barney Bentall, whom he had been dating since March 2001. Together, they have three daughters.

Niedermayer was a minority owner of major junior club the Kootenay Ice in the WHL for 18 years before selling his stake (along with brother Scott) to the Chynoweth family after the 2015–16 season.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1990–91 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 71 24 26 50 8 12 3 7 10 2 1991–92 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 71 32 46 78 77 4 2 3 5 2 1992–93 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 52 43 34 77 67 — — — — — 1993–94 Florida Panthers NHL 65 9 17 26 51 — — — — — 1994–95 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 13 9 15 24 14 — — — — — 1994–95 Florida Panthers NHL 48 4 6 10 36 — — — — — 1995–96 Florida Panthers NHL 82 26 35 61 107 22 5 3 8 12 1996–97 Florida Panthers NHL 60 14 24 38 54 5 2 1 3 6 1997–98 Florida Panthers NHL 33 8 7 15 41 — — — — — 1998–99 Florida Panthers NHL 82 18 33 51 50 — — — — — 1999–2000 Florida Panthers NHL 81 10 23 33 46 — — — — — 2000–01 Florida Panthers NHL 67 12 20 32 50 4 1 0 1 6 2001–02 Calgary Flames NHL 57 6 14 20 49 — — — — — 2002–03 Calgary Flames NHL 54 8 10 18 42 — — — — — 2002–03 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 12 2 2 4 15 21 3 7 10 18 2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 55 12 16 28 34 — — — — — 2004–05 Ferencvárosi TC HUN 5 2 1 3 14 — — — — — 2005–06 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 76 15 24 39 89 16 1 3 4 10 2006–07 Anaheim Ducks NHL 82 5 11 16 77 21 5 5 10 39 2007–08 Anaheim Ducks NHL 78 8 8 16 54 2 0 0 0 0 2008–09 Anaheim Ducks NHL 79 14 7 21 42 13 0 3 3 12 2009–10 New Jersey Devils NHL 71 10 12 22 45 5 0 0 0 6 2010–11 Buffalo Sabres NHL 71 5 14 19 22 7 1 3 4 2 2011–12 HC Lugano NLA 14 2 4 6 12 — — — — — NHL totals 1,153 186 283 469 904 116 18 25 43 111

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1993 Canada WJC 7 0 2 2 2 1999 Canada WC 4th 10 2 1 3 8 2004 Canada WC 9 2 4 6 22 Junior totals 7 0 2 2 2 Senior totals 19 4 5 9 30

Awards and honours Award Year WHL East First All-Star Team 1993 NHL Stanley Cup champion (Anaheim Ducks) 2007

Transactions June 26, 1993 – drafted by the Florida Panthers in the first round, fifth overall in the 1993 NHL entry draft June 23, 2001 – traded to the Calgary Flames with a 2001 second round draft pick (Andrei Medvedev) for Valeri Bure and Jason Wiemer March 11, 2003 – traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for Jean-François Damphousse and Mike Commodore September 25, 2009 – signed by the New Jersey Devils as an unrestricted free agent July 7, 2010 – signed by the Buffalo Sabres as an unrestricted free agent