"While fans and media members alike might have become at least a bit antsy when he remained an unrestricted free agent for some three hours Wednesday, Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer said there was never any thought of going anywhere else.

And shortly after noon, official word came that Niedermayer had signed a one-year contract worth $6 million, plus potential bonuses based on team performance.

"I think that was just more sort of the process," Niedermayer said, explaining the time frame of the deal in a conference call from his off-season home in British Columbia. "Sort of an agreement had been there for a while. There was never any real consideration about having today come. I wasn't fielding calls from anybody. I never even looked at that.

"Once the decision was made to come back (to the NHL), it wasn't really a difficult one to come back to Anaheim. We've enjoyed it there. The family is very comfortable there. I have good friends on the team. I feel excited just to be part of that club."

For a third consecutive off-season, Niedermayer's playing future had been engulfed in uncertainty. He sat out nearly half of the 2007-08 season while contemplating retirement, and then waited until late June last year and again this year, until Friday, before committing to a return.

"I just had to take some time," Niedermayer said. "The year is long. When it's over, you kind of need time to catch your breath. I think the last few years, having made that decision, I've probably enjoyed playing maybe more than I ever have, just realizing that it doesn't go on forever. Maybe now I understand even more how fortunate we are to compete in the NHL.""