DevilinLA Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) There has been much speculation of Scott Niedermayer's #27 going up to the rafters this season on 12/16/11. TG has some interesting info on it per investigating a Twitter source posting a Neids Retirement Night for 12/16 vs. the Dallas Stars. The tweet was later removed in the evening - but Neids did confirm the connection to the Twitter source - but not the scheduled retirement ceremony. TG Link Seems like speculation - Nothing Official yet - but where there's smoke.... Thoughts? Per TG: Al Dhalla of Super Agent Inc., a Toronto-based sports marketing company, posted Saturday on his Twitter account that Friday, Dec. 16 will be “Scott Niedermayer Night in New Jersey.” The Devils host the Dallas Stars that night. Reached on the phone this evening, Niedermayer acknowledged that he has had a working relationship with Dhalla (Dhalla also advertised on Twitter the availability of autographed Niedermayer memorabilia), but was uncomfortable talking about his jersey number being retired and said, to his knowledge, nothing had been finalized. Edited August 30, 2011 by DevilinLA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilinLA Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 After thinking about it.... I wonder if the Ducks race to beat NJ to the punch.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satans Hockey Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Oh this should be fun. I'll start the debate off for the 1000x... He doesn't deserve it. Edited August 30, 2011 by Satans Hockey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilinLA Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 I must say I agree - number retire warrants a commitment to the franchise - and going out in the NJ jersey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xunolix Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I respect your opinion, but I believe that helping us win 3 cups and then taking a paycut to help his brother win one is enough to overshadow the fact that he didn't stay with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilsfan118 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Eh, I'm torn on Nieds. Left NJ, but took a paycut to play with his brother...left the organization, but showed class by playing with his brother...ehhhh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quinn01 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 He deserves it. Good for him. Hopefully itll be a special night and people dont act like barbarians and dont appreciate what exactly he did for the franchise. I think it escapes peoples minds after someone has been out of the roster for so long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsfan26 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I say this thread goes 9 pages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLL765 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 If he left in any other way than how he left to play with his brother, I'd say no. The fact that he did so because he wanted to play with his brother just won't let me be upset or hold it against him for leaving that way. He was integral to this organization while he was here and had a big impact, so I think he deserves it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Good, hopefully it's true. He deserves it. Good for him. Hopefully itll be a special night and people dont act like barbarians and dont appreciate what exactly he did for the franchise. I think it escapes peoples minds after someone has been out of the roster for so long. Anyone who DOESN'T think Nieds deserves his number retired SHOULDN'T show up. Really simple. I respect your opinion, but I believe that helping us win 3 cups and then taking a paycut to help his brother win one is enough to overshadow the fact that he didn't stay with us. Damn straight. And I'm sick of the attitude to the contrary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I hope they reconsider the day, with four likely sellout or at least very high attendance games right after that, I don't think we're going to have a fifth in that time frame - especially with how divided the fanbase is on Nieds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vadvlfan Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I'm thrilled his number is possibly getting retired. Hopefully I can make the 7 hr trek to be there. Hopefully the people that don't feel he deserves it will stay home, because their boo's will embarress the devil fans that come to cheer him. No Nieds, no cup. Two people (that will be in attendance) will agree with this, #4 and #30 and welcome the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSkirt Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 even though the Devs did the same before #4 was in the HHOF...I feel they should have waited with #4 & should also wait for # 27 I think #4 was the exception because of the lockout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrthemike Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Obviously well deserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdevil26 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Still undecided on Niedermayer. If he finished his career with the Devils I'd be all for it... but just the way he left was so abrupt. Lou preaches loyalty and that is the exact opposite of what he did to the Devils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLL765 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Still undecided on Niedermayer. If he finished his career with the Devils I'd be all for it... but just the way he left was so abrupt. Lou preaches loyalty and that is the exact opposite of what he did to the Devils. I realize that loyalty and putting the team first is huge with Lou, but he left to play with his brother, so what about loyalty to family? I'm sure even Lou can't be upset over the way he left. I just cannot make myself even the slightest bit annoyed over his departure. He wanted to play with his brother and he finally got to and then led Anaheim to a Stanley Cup a few years later, so it's a great story and you can't be mad about it. If you still hold it against Niedermayer, then I don't know what to say to you, but he really didn't do anything to "betray" the team or anything, so I don't understand what else there is against him that would make him not worthy of having his number retired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisg19 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Great, great player! With that being said, no way should his jersey be hanging from the rafters. It does not matter why he left, just that he left. That right there eliminates him from contention for that honor. Is he a great player, does he deserve to be in the HHOF, was it a great gesture to take a paycut to play with his brother, the answer to all those questions is yes. I still believe however that the jersey ceremony is an honor you bestow on the greats who are dedicated to THIS team. Daneyko, Stevens, Elias, Broduer, etc. Heres a question for you. How many players wore #4 after Stevens left? Daneykos #3? They didn't retire those jerseys the day the players retired, yet no one got their numbers for the next season. How about Yzerman, Sakic, or Borque? same deal there. Yet Neidemeyer's number has been worn by Tallackson, and Mottau, since Neids departure. If the whole purpose of retiring a jersey number is that no one else could ever wear the number because of Neids' stellar play, why keep reusing it?, and lets be honest it is not like they brought in a future hall of famer to wear that number. They gave it to ordinary players. Doesn't seem like management thought so much of the number that it should be put away until their franchise player retired either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squishyx Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I realize that loyalty and putting the team first is huge with Lou, but he left to play with his brother, so what about loyalty to family? I'm sure even Lou can't be upset over the way he left. I just cannot make myself even the slightest bit annoyed over his departure. He wanted to play with his brother and he finally got to and then led Anaheim to a Stanley Cup a few years later, so it's a great story and you can't be mad about it. If you still hold it against Niedermayer, then I don't know what to say to you, but he really didn't do anything to "betray" the team or anything, so I don't understand what else there is against him that would make him not worthy of having his number retired. I'm not mad that he left to go play with his brother, I respect it. I have no doubt in my mind that he has no regrets, hell a part of me feels like he even made the right call but decisions have consequences. By leaving the team I believe Nieds forfeit his chance to have his number hang in the rafters with #3, #4 and eventually #30. Retiring numbers should bee a rare occurrence reserved only for those who make a complete commitment to the team for as long as they are able and unfortunately you can't say that for #27. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 By the standard he should never have left to get his number retired Michael Jordan wouldn't have his number retired. Scott Stevens didn't play his whole career too but I guess it's okay if you come here in the middle of your career, you just can't leave in the middle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaneykoIsGod Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 By the standard he should never have left to get his number retired Michael Jordan wouldn't have his number retired. Scott Stevens didn't play his whole career too but I guess it's okay if you come here in the middle of your career, you just can't leave in the middle. Stevens didn't even report when he was first sent to Jersey. He wanted no part of this franchise, and wasn't shy about it either. But good things happened since then that washed the bad taste out of everyone's mouths, and all anyone remembers are the good times with him. Nieds? Leaving was his final act as a Devil, and some people have a hard time seeing past that. To each his own. I just hope the Nieds naysayers respectfully stay away from the Rock the night #27 goes up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyFan42 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Heres a question for you. How many players wore #4 after Stevens left? Daneykos #3? They didn't retire those jerseys the day the players retired, yet no one got their numbers for the next season. How about Yzerman, Sakic, or Borque? same deal there. Yet Neidemeyer's number has been worn by Tallackson, and Mottau, since Neids departure. If the whole purpose of retiring a jersey number is that no one else could ever wear the number because of Neids' stellar play, why keep reusing it?, and lets be honest it is not like they brought in a future hall of famer to wear that number. They gave it to ordinary players. Doesn't seem like management thought so much of the number that it should be put away until their franchise player retired either. The Bruins thought so highly of Phil Esposito that they never used #7 again after they traded him to the Rangers. Oh, wait, no they didn't, it stayed out of circulation for a couple years but then was used by three other players before the Bruins retired #7 in Espo's honor, most famously by Ray Bourque for the first 8 years of his career. Point being that not every retired number in the history of man was "unofficially" retired before being "officially" retired. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As for me, I'm somewhat conflicted. I'm not opposed to retiring #27 eventually, but it still seems too soon to me, if only because of the clear divisions over his legacy. I don't hold his leaving against him, but I understand why those who do feel that way. I'd prefer to wait a few more years, maybe see if he gets into the HOF first. I wouldn't mind an "unofficial" retirement in the meantime, though. For the sake of argument, let's say the Devils don't plan to retire #27. If the Ducks do it first, does that make us look bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squishyx Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 By the standard he should never have left to get his number retired Michael Jordan wouldn't have his number retired. Scott Stevens didn't play his whole career too but I guess it's okay if you come here in the middle of your career, you just can't leave in the middle. Jordan had his number retired before he came back, had spent 3 years away from the game, was in the twilight of his career and was basically playing for charity at that point on a team he owned. I consider the two situations vastly different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squishyx Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Stevens didn't even report when he was first sent to Jersey. He wanted no part of this franchise, and wasn't shy about it either. But good things happened since then that washed the bad taste out of everyone's mouths, and all anyone remembers are the good times with him. But you highlight the important difference; Once Stevens got here, he stayed and Nieds started here and left. You can't "fault" Stevens for not being excited to come to a team he didn't know anything about, but you can "fault" Nieds for being on this team, knowing what the Devils brought to the table, and then leaving it behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 The Bruins thought so highly of Phil Esposito that they never used #7 again after they traded him to the Rangers. Oh, wait, no they didn't, it stayed out of circulation for a couple years but then was used by three other players before the Bruins retired #7 in Espo's honor, most famously by Ray Bourque for the first 8 years of his career. Point being that not every retired number in the history of man was "unofficially" retired before being "officially" retired. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As for me, I'm somewhat conflicted. I'm not opposed to retiring #27 eventually, but it still seems too soon to me, if only because of the clear divisions over his legacy. I don't hold his leaving against him, but I understand why those who do feel that way. I'd prefer to wait a few more years, maybe see if he gets into the HOF first. I wouldn't mind an "unofficial" retirement in the meantime, though. For the sake of argument, let's say the Devils don't plan to retire #27. If the Ducks do it first, does that make us look bad? Rowdy, to answer your question- yes. Nieds played a lot longer here, and accomplished a lot more here. It would royally piss me off if the Ducks retired his number before the Devils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnderDogX Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I, like Rowdy, have conflicting ideas behind the retirement....but I do feel that if the debate is not on the merit of play but instead on his commitment to the team then it shouldn't be retired. Sure the fan base might be divided on retiring someone like Patty's #, for example, but that debate is based only on whether his actions and achievements warrant retirement. Those arguments aren't made on whether or not he had full commitment to the team...a retired jersey, IMHO, has to exhibit more than just how much did he help the team win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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