169 replies to this topic

[thefiestygoat]

http://www.nj.com/de...?....xml&coll=1

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello confirmed the obvious when he told The Star-Ledger that Niedermayer's No. 27 would some day be retired to the rafters at the Rock alongside No. 4 (Scott Stevens), No. 3 (Ken Daneyko) and, eventually, No. 30 (Martin Brodeur).

I am still hurt by him leaving and I am surprised that Lou is still going to do this, albeit it sounds like it will happen after Brodeur's number goes up or a decent amount of time after Niedermayer retires. Congratulations to him, the memories he made here as a Devil were awesome and I am grateful for his service and contributions to 3 Cups.

Edited by thefiestygoat, 08 February 2008 - 01:05 AM.

[Satans Hockey]

Wow im shocked. I don't think he deserves it at all. I'm kinda hoping Lou is joking.

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

he deserves it. It will happen after much time has passed. You need to make sure his reception is not to boos, but instead to cheers for everything he did for this franchise.

Nieds and Brodeur are the only guarentees. Everyone else is mere speculation.

[thefiestygoat]

Wow im shocked. I don't think he deserves it at all. I'm kinda hoping Lou is joking.

I know what you mean. I figured after guys like Clarkson, Tallackson, and Mottau wore 27, that there would be no jersey retirement for Niedermayer. I saw this link originally on HF and thought the thread was going to be a fans opinion. Then I clicked the link and when I read Lou's comment it just felt surreal. It almost feels like it is a joke because I never thought Lou was going to do it and to my surprise the Star Ledger seemed to think that this was going to happen all along.

Its weird how I feel about Niedermayer. When I think about the memories and how special those teams were, I love the guy. Then I think about him leaving and raising the Cup as a Duck and I feel sad. All in all, I guess he deserves it. I'm just feeling very conflicted over his return to NJ and now this news, so sorry if my sentences don't make much sense. I just have really mixed emotions.

[Kulags]

Wow im shocked. I don't think he deserves it at all. I'm kinda hoping Lou is joking.

Come on, you know Lou doesn't make jokes.

[sammyk]

I wonder if the Avs will retire it first.

[devilsrule33]

Well this will make things all the more akward when he is booed tomorrow.

[Devs4LIFE]

"He's 34 years old. It's hard to just walk away," the Devils' captain said. "It's exactly what you'd expect from Nieder. Take some time. He'll be one of those guys who end up playing until he's 44 or 45."

Can we have him for the next decade then?

[DevilinLA]

Anybody got a list of notable players w/numbers retired in different buildings?
I'm sure Anaheim would raise it tommorrow if he said he's done after this year...

[DevilNurn]

Well this is something I wouldn't have expected Lou to tell us even if it's definite...well he deserves it, it just seems like not everyone thinks so.

[Elias26]

This actually makes me like Neids less. It makes him leaving hurt more.

[DaneykoIsGod]

Maybe Lou is saying this in hopes that it will lead to fewer boos tonight?

[NJDevs4978]

How was it 'obvious' when Lou currently HAS a starting defenseman wearing #27

I'm not sure how long Lou will be around if it's a decent amount of time after Nieds (and Marty) retire. It's classy of him to say something now to head off the booing though, probably more classy than he needed to be

But it does prove HE doesn't think Nieds is half the stuff he's been called here.

[hattrick]

It's well deserved. Congratulations to Nieds. But first Marty's #30 goes up and then sometime much later #27 follows. This won't happen for another 15 to 20 years.

[HellOnICE]

Exactly. Depending on whether we win more Cups in the next little while, I'd sasy eventually #26 will most likely join them, before #27 too...especially with another Cup...but if 26 stays for his contract, it'd be hard not to and he'd be the franchisee leadder in every forward category.

[BlueSkirt]

I always felt it would be retired, but by some GM after Lou quits.
And that may still yet happen.

"Sure, without question," Lamoriello said, "at the appropriate time because of what he brought to the organization while he was here. He represented this organization with the highest ability and class you can ask of anyone."

I read some wiggle room in there, as it may not be Lou but rather the organization (after Lou is gone )that does it.

[Chimaira_Devil_#9]

I don't like it, but there you go.

He deserves his number retired, just in Anaheim.

Its just strange with Mottau playing in the # that it will one day be retired, what if Mottau wins a cup ( ) then what???

[BlueSkirt]

I don't like it, but there you go.

He deserves his number retired, just in Anaheim.

Its just strange with Mottau playing in the # that it will one day be retired, what if Mottau wins a cup ( ) then what???

from your keyboard to God's LCD...

[Darwindog]

I hope some unexpectedly amazing dude gets #27 so it's REALLY awkward to retire it as Niedermayer's.

Honestly to me this means they hope Niedermayer returns in some capacity - it feels like a carrot -- if not for Niedermayer then the fans. I think he was a great player, but i wouldn't retire his number. It's stupid. You retire a guy like Dano -- then a guy like Nieds? All after NOT retiring so many influential guys?

Well luckily I'm a dog... these things aren't supposed to make sense to me.

Niedermayer made me feel like he was an indentured servant. Retiring his number is like saying you were indeed the wicked step mother taking advantage of his Cinderella

Edited by Darwindog, 08 February 2008 - 08:22 AM.

[redruM]

I'm really happy to hear this, it still pains me to see a guy w/ the name " Mottau" skating around in #27.

Neids was and still is the most talented skater to play for NJ... its too bad he will not finish his career in Nj...

I will be there when they raise his Number...