That is until Friday night. For the first time, Niedermayer played there dressed in colors other than Devils red and black, and boy did he hear about it from the fans that used to adore him.
Getting an assist in Anaheim's 2-1 win didn't help matters much for Niedermayer, either.
"He wasn't sure what to expect," Pronger said, through a broad and proud smile. "I gave him a few pointers on how to accept some of the boos, and I thought he did pretty good."
There was a mixture of cheers and boos when Niedermayer was announced in the Ducks' starting lineup. The negative energy increased each time he touched the puck and was at its loudest after he set up the first of Ryan Carter's two goals.
"It was a good break for Prongs. I'm glad to chip in like that when I can," Niedermayer said of absorbing the boos. "In some ways you take that as a bit of a compliment. Obviously they didn't want you to leave, so in that respect it was good."
It was all good this week for the Ducks, who shook off the disappointment of six straight losses and rattled off three consecutive wins during a sweep of the New York area trio of teams.
First it was New York's Islanders and Rangers. Then the Devils fell at the end of the Ducks' four-day stay in the metropolitan area. They have two games left on a club-record, nine-game trip beginning Sunday in Detroit against the Red Wings, the team Anaheim eliminated in the Western Conference finals en route to last year's Stanley Cup title.
In other NHL games Friday, it was: Carolina 2, Washington 1; Boston 3, Buffalo 2 in a shootout; and San Jose 2, Columbus 1 in overtime.
Completing the three-game sweep was most important for Anaheim, Niedermayer said, but the personal connection to this contest made it unique.
His home in New Jersey was always the Meadowlands. The new Prudential Center where the Devils now play doesn't hold that emotional connection, but it likely will house Niedermayer's No. 27 in its rafters someday when his career is over.
He faced the Devils once before in Anaheim since he joined the Ducks in 2005, but that was nothing compared to Friday.
"There, it was just sort of a team and that was it," he said, "but here there were people in the stands that I knew. Here in New Jersey it was different. I was here for a long time.
"It wasn't another game. I didn't sleep that well. Usually I'm able to nap pretty easily, and I didn't. I was excited. It was a special night for sure."
Carter had only four assists in his first 27 NHL games. After a bunch of near misses, goals No. 1 and 2 came minutes apart.
"It's only a matter of time when you play," he said. "I've had chances ... and there always seemed like something was in the way. Sooner or later if you just keep shooting, it's got to go in. It's frustrating it took this long but at the same time I'm happy it's over."
Jonas Hiller made the goals stand up, stopping 34 shots and allowing only Jay Pandolfo's second-period tally that brought New Jersey within 2-1.
Martin Brodeur made 22 saves in the loss.
