Scott Niedermayer might not retire

Touring with the Stanley Cup through the Canadian Rockies on Tuesday, Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer affirmed that he was considering returning for another season.

“I still don’t know,” said Niedermayer, when asked if he would come back to Anaheim and, with his brother Rob, attempt to defend the Cup.

The perennial All-Star defenseman, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during last season’s playoffs, said he has wavered all summer about whether to return for a 16th NHL season. He said that he had leaned toward retirement when the Ducks signed Detroit veteran Mathieu Schneider, who plays the same position.

But now, as the Ducks get closer to the opening of training camp on Sept. 10, Niedermayer says he has begun to think about playing again. He has two years and $13.5 million left on his Ducks contract.

“He’s getting cold feet,” joked his wife, Lisa, as the two stood in a parking lot in Cranbrook, Canada, where they grew up.

Asked about the Ducks’ opening series of the upcoming regular season -- consecutive games against the Kings in London on Sept. 29-30 -- Niedermayer was more certain. He made it clear that the trip was too far and that he does not plan to go. “Let’s put it this way,” said the four-time Stanley Cup winner, “there’s a bigger chance that I will play this season than go to London.”

-- Kurt Streeter

With the start of training camp less than two weeks away, the Kings added more Stanley Cup experience to their coaching staff, naming Dave Lewis as assistant coach. As a head coach, Lewis led the Detroit Red Wings to the Stanley Cup title in 2002.

A former NHL defenseman who served as captain for the Kings from 1981 to ‘83, Lewis last season coached Boston to a 35-41-6 record.

“I have some roots in L.A., I played out there during my career and my daughter was born in California,” said Lewis, who also was an assistant with the Red Wings when they won the Cup in 1997 and 1998.

-- Lonnie White

The Kings signed goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin to a one-year contract and also signed restricted free-agent defenseman Richard Petiot to a one-year deal.