Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Scott Niedermayer became an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
Niedermayer retired from the NHL on June 22, 2010 and remained with the Ducks as a hockey operations consultant. He will join Bruce Boudreau's coaching staff immediately.
"I'm very excited to expand my role with the Ducks and take on a new challenge," said Niedermayer. "I'm grateful to Bob Murray, Bruce Boudreau and the Ducks organization for giving me this opportunity and can't wait to get started."
The 39-year-old Niedermayer spent the final five seasons of his career with the Ducks after 12 full seasons and part of another with the New Jersey Devils. He won three Stanley Cup titles with New Jersey and led the Ducks to the championship in the spring of 2007 while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Selected by the Devils with the third overall pick of the 1991 draft, behind Eric Lindros and Pat Falloon, Niedermayer made his NHL debut during the '91-92 season at age 18 and became a mainstay of the New Jersey blue line the following year. He helped the Devils to Stanley Cup titles in 1995, 2000 and 2003 and played one more season in New Jersey, winning his only Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman in 2004, before moving on to Anaheim.
"As a player, Scott was one of the great leaders and winners of all time, making him a tremendous addition to our coaching staff," said Ducks executive vice president/general manager Bob Murray. "His knowledge of the game and relationship with the players will be a great benefit for us. And he's even a better person than a hockey player."
In addition to his Cup triumphs, Niedermayer also won Olympic gold medals with Canada at the 2002 and 2010 Games and has been a part of title teams at the World Championship, World Cup, Memorial Cup and World Juniors -- making him the only player in history with all six championships.
Niedermayer was selected to the All-Star Game six times, missing one contest because of injury, and was a First-Team NHL All-Star in 2004, 2006 and 2007 with a Second-Team selection in 1998.
In 1,263 regular-season games, Niedermayer scored 172 goals and added 568 assists for 740 points. He added 25 goals and 73 assists for 98 points in 202 playoff games.
