On Tuesday when Scott Niedermayer retired from the NHL after 18 seasons on the blue line, Hockey lost one of the greatest defensemen to ever play the game. In the game, Niedermayer is one of the most accomplished defensemen, winning awards and trophies from junior hockey all the way to the Olympic level. After winning the Gold Medal with Canada during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver; Niedermayer felt it was the right time to go out on top.

Hockey betting blog star, Niedermayer got off to red hot start to his career. Niedermayer tallied 40 points as a 19 year old, during his rookie campaign with the New Jersey Devils in the 1992/93 season. He would go on to amass 172 goals and 568 assists during his career. As perhaps one of the most decorated players in history, he leaves the game. Niedermayer won the Norris Trophy (league’s best defenseman), four Stanley Cup Trophy’s (1995, 2000, 2003 with the Devils and 2007 with Anaheim), two Olympic Gold Medals with Canada, a Memorial Cup in junior hockey, and the Gold Medal at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Until the final five years of his career, Niedermayer played for the Devils, at which point he joined the Anaheim Ducks to play alongside his brother Rob. However, Niedermayer has agreed to remain on staff with the Ducks as a consultant to general manager Bob Murray and won’t be walking away from the game entirely.