Ducks fine D Niedermayer $500,000

Apr 22, 2008 - 6:32 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer was fined $500,000 by the team for missing training camp - not by the league, as previously reported on Monday.

The Ducks, who signed defenseman Mathieu Schneider early in the season, needed salary cap relief and have issued the fine, according to a report Tuesday from TSN of Canada.

Pondering retirement after the Ducks won the Stanley Cup at the end of the 2006-07 campaign, Niedermayer decided to return to the Ducks, making his debut on December 15 this season.

The New York Post had reported that the fine has come from the NHL, which invoked an article in the collective bargaining agreement that states, "For each day a player does not report to training camp without his club's permission, his pay will be reduced by 1/275th of his annual salary."

But according to the report from TSN, the Ducks, who have the option to pay the full salary of a player while they take as much time to make a decision, have issued the fine after they were left without a choice due to the signing of Schneider.

Anaheim general manager Brian Burke had defended the delay on Niedermayer's decision at the time.

"(Niedermayer) earned the right to take time in making a decision, one that was clearly difficult for him," Burke said on December 5.

The 16-year veteran had eight goals and 17 assists this season for the Ducks, who were eliminated in the Western Conference playoffs by Dallas on Monday.

The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Niedermayer had a salary of $6.75 million this season.

The league, in concert with the NHL Players' Association, is negotiating to ensure that some or all of Niedermayer's fine doesn't have to be paid and is currently working on an amicable settlement.