DUCKS: Anaheim defenseman Scott Niedermayer is looking forward to arriving at work on time next season.
Niedermayer informed Ducks GM Brian Burke on Thursday that he will fulfill the final year of his contract and skate with the team during the 2008-2009 season.
The 34-year-old Niedermayer missed the first two months of last season while contemplating retirement after the team won the Stanley Cup .
Although he returned to play in December, Niedermayer initially remained unsure as to his playing status for next season following the Ducks’ elimination in the opening round of the playoffs.
“I have a different perspective,” said Niedermayer, who will entering his 17th NHL season. “When I first started thinking about retiring last year when we won the Stanley Cup, I maybe didn’t appreciate some of things that would make it difficult to be away from a game that I have enjoyed playing for a long time.”
Niedermayer signed a four-year contract with the Ducks on August 4, 2005, largely to be able to skate with his brother, Rob, a forward on the team.
FLAMES: Calgary placed forward Marcus Nilson and defensemen Anders Eriksson and Rhett Warrener on waivers.
SALARY CAP: The league and the NHL Players’ Association announced that each team will have a maximum of $56.7 million to spend for the 2008-09 season — up $6.4 million from last season. The minimum salary was set at $40.7 million for each of the 30 teams. The most money a player can earn in a new contract next season is $11.34 million a year. In 2006-07, the salary cap was $44 million. Last year, it was $50.3 million.
MAPLE LEAFS: Toronto bought out Darcy Tucker’s contract. Sixteen months after signing Tucker to a four-year extension, buying out Tucker’s contract will cost the Maple Leafs $1 million a season for the next six seasons, saving them $3 million over the life of the contract.
Associated Press
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