Scott Niedermayer (born August 31, 1973) is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman and current special assignment coach of the Anaheim Ducks.

The third overall selection at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by New Jersey, Niedermayer played the majority of his professional career with the Devils before moving to Anaheim in 2005.

[10] The Blazers advanced to the 1990 Memorial Cup as the top ranked team in Canada, but disappointed in the tournament by losing all three games.

[12] After losing in the Western Conference Final the previous season, the Blazers rebounded to win their second WHL championship in three years in 1992.

[9][22] The Devils made another long playoff run in the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.

[12] After finishing second in league scoring amongst defencemen, despite playing in New Jersey's stifling defensive system that suppresses offence,[27] Niedermayer demanded a significant raise.

He rejected an offer that would have paid him a base salary of $3.25 million and, unable to come to terms before the start of the 1998–99 season, began the year as a holdout.

[27] After missing the first month of the NHL season, Niedermayer and the Devils finally agreed to a multi-year contract, the terms of which were not released.

[31] While celebrating his day with the Cup, Niedermayer took the trophy to Fisher Peak, overlooking his hometown of Cranbrook and was famously pictured hoisting it over his head.

The series was a family affair, as Scott's brother Rob was a member of the opposing Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

When asked, their mother admitted she was hoping Rob's Mighty Ducks would win as Scott already had two championships to his name.

[5][39] Scott dashed his brother and mother's hopes, recording two assists in the deciding seventh game to lead the Devils to a 3–0 victory, and win his third Stanley Cup.

[40] Niedermayer cemented his reputation as an elite NHL defenceman in 2003–04, earning praise from both teammates and opponents for his play throughout the season.

[50] Joined on Anaheim's blueline by Chris Pronger, Niedermayer helped the Ducks set franchise records in 2006–07 for most wins (48) and points (110).

[12] He added 11 points in the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs,[9] and was named recipient of the Conn Smythe Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player of the post-season after leading Anaheim to the franchise's first championship in a five-game series victory over the Ottawa Senators in the final.

[56] Remaining undecided on his future as the 2007–08 season began, he failed to report to the team and was suspended by the Ducks as a formality.

[57] Pronger replaced him as captain,[56] and Niedermayer remained undecided until early December when he finally chose to return.

[9] He announced his retirement as a player on June 22, 2010, but remained with the Ducks organization as a consultant to general manager Bob Murray.

He appeared in six games, and helped Canada defeat the United States, 5–2 in the final as the country won its first Olympic gold medal in hockey in 50 years.

[69] He was set to make his second Olympic appearance in 2006, however a knee injury suffered during NHL play that required surgery forced him to withdraw from the tournament.

[72] An offensively-minded defenceman, Niedermayer was best known for his skating ability and drew comparison's to the game's offensive greats from the time he broke into the NHL.

[73] He was compared to Paul Coffey for his ability to take the puck from his own goal line and convert a defensive situation into an offensive rush.

[74] He often chafed at playing within the Devils' defence-oriented system, feeling it restricted his offensive creativity, but also admitted that he learned to place greater emphasis on his defence and develop his overall game.

[75] By the end of his career however, and following his Norris Trophy win in 2004, Niedermayer was regarded as one of the top offensive defencemen of his generation and as one of the game's greatest winners.

They serve as honorary co-chairs of the Walk for Kids, a charity event that supports the Ronald McDonald House of Orange County,[83] while Scott and his brother Rob operate a hockey school in Cranbrook and established a fund that offers grants to community associations.

[84] An active environmentalist, Scott has also joined with WWF-Canada to speak out in favour of efforts to maintain British Columbia's natural wilderness.