Scott Niedermayer on Selanne & Kariya: “They Had Everything”
- Updated: November 16, 2017
When he retired in 2010, he left a legacy as one of the greatest blueliners to ever to play the game. He is regarded as arguably the most decorated player in all of hockey, winning at every level. From gold medals at the multiple levels to a Memorial Cup and four Stanley Cups to winning the Conn Smythe, it’s hard to imagine that Scott Niedermayer looks back on his playing career with many regrets, if any at all.
After playing an integral role in transforming the once-hapless New Jersey Devils into a championship winner, Niedermayer moved on to the west coast where, in 2007, he led the Anaheim Ducks to their first Stanley Cup. One of his teammates that season was new Hall-of-Famer Teemu Selanne. On Monday evening just prior to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony, my colleague Jeff Duarte and I caught up with Mr. Niedermayer where he took some time to share with us his thoughts on Selanne and Paul Kariya’s respective inductions.
“In their prime when they were playing together, they had everything,” Niedermayer said of Selanne and Kariya. “I was on the east coast during that time but we were well aware of what those two were capable of.”
Even as a spectator, Niedermayer had plenty of exposures to both Hall-of-Famers. “We’d watch the highlights every night and they were there,” the four-time all-star continued. “Then, when we played them, we got a first-hand experience of what it was like. “They both played the game at such a high rate of speed and really fed each other. They both thought the game in the same way. If one had the puck, the other knew where to go and he knew where to look to find them. That made it really hard as a defenseman to play against them. That’s for sure. I’m glad I only had to do maybe a couple times a year.”
While all of this year’s inductees are deserving, there has been some debate over Kariya’s case. Despite being a point-per-game player, injuries did slow the University of Maine alum’s NHL career down. In this writer’s opinion, at least, Kariya’s entrance into hockey’s Holiest shrine is deserved, even if it is overdue. Niedermayer certainly didn’t show any signs that Kariya was undeserving of the honour.
“It’s always a tough debate,” Niedermayer added. “You’re going to leave some good guys out and some guys will get in. Obviously, there’s going to be room for discussion and disagreement on those types of situations but I think it’s really great that [Kariya and Selanne got inducted] together because of just the friendship and the success they had together, their dynamic and even the success they had as individual players. Paul’s accomplishments were cut short a little bit by injuries but are still very, very impressive. I’m happy and excited for both of them.”
Unlike Selanne, Scott Niedermayer was never teammates with Paul Kariya in the NHL. The Hall-of-Fame blueliner nonetheless has no reservations in giving Kariya his due. After all, if Niedermayer ever doubted Kariya’s character or even his heart, that all changed during the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, who made an unexpected playoff run that spring, were led by Kariya who had registered four goals and five assists in 14 games entering the Finals against Niedermayer’s New Jersey Devils.
After being shut out in each of the first two games of the series, Kariya and the Mighty Ducks fought back. In Game 6 of the series, though, Kariya showcased his resilience as, just moments after being the recipient of a devastating Scott Stevens hit, the Anaheim captain returned to the ice to blast a decisive goal past netminder — and fellow Hall-of-Famer — Martin Brodeur. While Kariya and the Mighty Ducks lost the series, it did take Niedermayer and the Devils all seven games to win, and Kariya’s resolve did not go ignored by any of his opponents, especially the 2004 Norris Trophy winner.
After establishing himself as one of the game’s greatest defensemen, Scott Niedermayer got his call into the Hall, being inducted into the Holy shrine in 2013. Now, four years later, he welcomes Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya alongside him as the recipients of hockey’s greatest honour.
As if a Hall of Fame induction wasn’t enough, being endorsed by arguably the game’s most decorated player just elevates the statuses of both Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya.
Like they even needed it.
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