Time has crept up politely on Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer, threading white through his hair without robbing him of the smooth, easy strides that make his skates seem natural extensions of his feet.
Niedermayer, who turned 36 in August, had the third-highest amount of ice time in the NHL last season at 2,207 minutes 49 seconds. His average of 26:55 per game ranked third, and he played more than anyone in the league while his team was short-handed, 377:35.
His poise and ability to read plays are undiminished, and his quiet confidence is so powerful that he is a prime candidate to be captain of the Canadian Olympic team at the Vancouver Games in February.
Though he may not show the years much, he feels them when he looks at his new defense partner, 19-year-old Luca Sbisa.
"He's closer in age to my kids than me," said a smiling Niedermayer, father of sons aged 10, 8, 5 and 1.
Playing with such a promising youngster is fun, he said last week as the Ducks prepared to open the season Saturday against San Jose at the Honda Center. "He seems like he's out there willing to learn," said Niedermayer, energized by his new role of teacher and mentor.
That became evident last winter after Ryan Whitney and James Wisniewski arrived in separate trades, jolting Niedermayer and the Ducks out of their doldrums and sparking a second-half surge that ended only in the seventh game of their second-round playoff series against Detroit.
"Any time there's a change, it's new, it's fresh," Niedermayer said. "I think I was probably no different than the entire team. We were sort of caught in a bit of a rut through most of last season and when those changes were made it got everybody's attention, mine included."
The off-season brought additional momentous changes on defense. Chris Pronger, a fearsome force and one of two players who averaged more ice time than Niedermayer last season, was traded to Philadelphia for Sbisa, winger Joffrey Lupul and draft picks. Bruiser Francois Beauchemin left as a free agent.
Niedermayer is the only defenseman left from the group that was so vital to the Ducks' 2007 Stanley Cup title. He's not sure how this season will unfold, but he was intrigued enough by the possibilities to sign a one-year contract in July soon after his previous four-year deal expired.
"I'm going to watch him all day long, watch how he prepares for games, how he does little things," Sbisa said. "I'm pretty confident I'll take a lot of things from him this season."
