Devils will retire Niedermayer’s number

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils will raise defenseman Scott Niedermayer’s No. 27 to the rafters on Dec. 16.

Niedermayer, who won three Stanley Cup championships across 12 seasons in New Jersey, will be the third player to have such an honor, and they all played the same position. New Jersey retired defenseman Ken Daneyko’s No. 3 and former captain Scott Stevens’ No. 4.

An Edmonton native, Niedermayer will have his ceremony prior to a game vs. the Dallas Stars. Niedermayer and the Devils defeated the Stars in 2000 to win the franchise’s second Stanley Cup.

Niedermayer retired in June 2010 after 17 NHL seasons, and finished his career with the Anaheim Ducks. He won his fourth and final Cup with the Ducks in 2007.

“You don’t really think about it, but then when you do get that call and you do have the time to think about it, it means a lot,” Niedermayer said. “I was in New Jersey for a long time and had a lot of great things happen to me there.

“It’s a special honor, for sure.”