SCOTT STEVENS 4 Defenseman Height 6' 2" Weight 215 Shoots Left Born Apr 1, 1964
KITCHENER, ON, CAN Defenseman Scott Stevens, the captain of the New Jersey Devils, ended months of speculation Tuesday, announcing he was hanging up his skates after 22 NHL seasons. Stevens was known for his punishing hits and off-ice leadership. Stevens made it official Tuesday, announcing he was ending a stellar career that saw him win three Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy. The clock now begins ticking on Stevens' induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. "I've been dragging my feet on this, trying to see if you change your mind," Stevens said via conference call. "I feel relieved. "I'll make it official today," he said calmly. "It's time to move on. I have a couple kids in high school and it's time to focus on them. I'm looking forward to spending time watching their activities." Stevens said missing the second half of the 2003-03 season with a concussion and then being away from the rink through the canceled 2003-04 season made the decision somewhat easier. "I haven't had that urge to put the equipment back on," said Stevens, one of the most intense and dedicated players of his era. "This is something that has been progressing and now we're here. "The game is more mental than physical," Stevens said. "You have to want to do it in your head and at this point, I just feel it's time to move on. "I've always liked my privacy," he said. "I'll just go on my way."


Stevens was emphatic that he is fully recovered from the concussion, and wasn't concerned about suffering another if he returned to play. Rather it was the chance to experience things that hadn't been possible during his playing days that swayed his decision to hang up his skates. "I feel excellent," Stevens said. "I'm in good shape. I had a taste of going to my daughter's school and I enjoyed that. My son is starting high school this year, so it's time to focus on them. "It (not playing in 2004-05) gave me a taste of what it's like to be retired," he said. "I kept busy doing other things I haven't been able to do for the last 22 years." After those experiences, Stevens said he felt that it might be more difficult to approach the game with the same kind of tenacity and dedication that made him an elite player. "I always put 100 percent into hockey and I sacrificed a lot of things," he said. "That's hard, but it made me the player I am. And that was one of the best players ever. He was drafted fifth overall by Washington in the 1982 Entry Draft and spent eight seasons with the Capitals before signing with the St. Louis Blues as a free agent prior to the 1990-91 season. After that season, Stevens was awarded to the Devils as compensation for the Blues' signing of forward Brendan Shanahan.


At first reluctant to make another move, Stevens found his time in New Jersey as the defining tenure of his career. He was team captain and a stellar presence on the New Jersey backline. His 13 seasons as a Devil produced Stanley Cup championships in 1995, 2000 and 2003, as well as the 2000 Conn Smythe Trophy. Ironically, Stevens never won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman, a quirky anomaly for a player of his stature. His final career totals are 1,635 regular-season games (the most ever by a defenseman - 196 goals, 712 assists, 2,785 penalty minutes and an incredible plus-377. In Stanley Cup competition, Stevens appeared in 233 games, scoring 26 goals and 92 assists with 402 penalty minutes and a career postseason mark of plus-39. "It's been a great relationship," Stevens said of his association with the Devils. "We won three Stanley Cups and we were always competitive.

Stevens will remain with the Devils in an undisclosed capacity. He indicated he has yet to sit down with Lamoriello to define a role, but indicated he would be available to assist New Jersey coach Larry Robinson at times this season if needed. "Lou is open minded, we'll see what happens down the road," he said. "He's been an integral part of all the success we've had," Lamoriello said of the 13-time all-star. "He's been a leader on and off the ice as a hockey player and a person. He feels he's accomplished a lot of things and now wants to devote a lot of time to his family." The New Jersey captain, a fearless defenseman who ranks as one of the top players ever at his position, suffered the injury on Jan. 7, 2004 in a game against Pittsburgh. Originally, Stevens appeared to be suffering from the flu, but the symptoms didn't improve and he was diagnosed with a concussion and then missed the remaining 44 games of the 2003-04 season. There had been speculation that Stevens would return for the second round of the 2004 playoffs, but New Jersey was ousted by Philadelphia in the first round. "Obviously, it's a shock right now to hear," center Scott Gomez told the Associated Press. "You knew that day would come. We all thought Scotty would be back. Right now I'm a little bit shocked because he announced something, but at the same time he didn't play the second half of the year."


Stevens' decision not to play this season comes on the heels of the departure of Scott Niedermayer as a free agent. Niedermayer, the 2004 Norris Trophy winner, signed on with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Like Stevens, he was a member of all three New Jersey championship teams. In the wake of Niedermayer's departure, Lamoriello quickly re-signed Brian Rafalski and also signed Dan McGillis and Vladimir Malakhov. With Stevens also out, the New Jersey defense will be in the midst of a significant transition this season. Joining Rafalski, McGillis and Malakhov are Richard Matvichuk, Paul Martin, Colin White, David Hale and Sean Brown. "The Devils always find a way to win," Stevens predicted of the team's fortunes this season. "That will continue."

We have one off Scott's hometown boys, Kitchener's Omega AD's third album, Turn It Up.



Song for the day - "The Hiding Chair" - OMEGA AD