The decision to remain with the Anaheim Ducks was much easier for Scott Niedermayer to make than the decision to play another NHL season.

Since announcing on Friday that he does have a lot of hockey left in him, Niedermayer wanted to get a deal done with the Ducks and he made it official Wednesday on the first day of the League's annual free agency sweepstakes as he signed a one-year, $6-million contract.

Eschewing interest from a number of other potential suitors, the 35-year-old Norris Trophy winner said he never seriously considered looking to play elsewhere. The framework for a deal, Niedermayer said, was already in place with Anaheim General Manager Bob Murray.

"That was just more the process," Niedermayer said, regarding signing after the start of free agency. "I think an agreement had been there for awhile. There was never any real consideration. I never really looked at that. Things were in place before that.

"It was just a matter of getting everything the right way. I wasn't fielding any calls from anybody."

Niedermayer officially became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, but he wasn't on the market for very long. The Ducks are happy to welcome back their captain, the 2007 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, whose 59 points last season ranked third among all NHL defensemen.

Including its first Stanley Cup title in '07, Anaheim has averaged 45 wins and 100 points in Niedermayer's four seasons with the club and has made the playoffs in each.

"Keeping Scott Niedermayer in an Anaheim Ducks jersey was paramount for our club," Murray said in a statement. "We're extremely pleased he's chosen to remain with us and look forward to another great season from a Hall of Fame-bound player."

Among other teams speculated to have interest were the Vancouver Canucks, who are near Niedermayer's home in Cranbrook, British Columbia. But one of the key reasons Niedermayer said remaining in Anaheim was paramount was that he wouldn't have to uproot his kids from the schools they're attending.

"Once the decision was made to come back, it really wasn't a difficult one to come back to Anaheim," he said. "We've enjoyed it there. The family is very comfortable there after being there for four years. I have good friends on the team. I feel excited just to be part of the club I feel we can be competitive and get ourselves into the playoffs again and see what happens."

Niedermayer's one-year deal includes unspecified bonuses that are tied to the team's performance. The veteran told NHL.com on Friday that he would seek a one-year contract after having pondered retirement for each of the last three summers.

Since Niedermayer announced that he would come back, the Ducks traded bedrock defenseman Chris Pronger to Philadelphia for a package that included winger Joffrey Lupul, who started his career in Anaheim, and defenseman Luca Sbisa. The Ducks also welcomed back Teemu Selanne for likely one final season.

Niedermayer understood that his decision would likely trigger some roster changes.

"Obviously, Chris is a great player," he said. "Losing him is not something you want to see happen. But you make the trade, you get a guy like Lupul back, who can add some scoring up front for us. It just changes the look of the team a bit. I'm very exciting and comfortable with our team."