The New Jersey Devils on Tuesday signed forward Damien Brunner to a multiyear contract. Brunner's agent, Neil Sheehy, wrote on his Twitter account that the contract is two years for a total of $5 million.
Brunner was invited to Devils training camp on a professional tryout and had two assists playing on a line with Patrik Elias and Jacob Josefson in the Devils' preseason win against the New York Islanders last Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
"He came to camp without a contract and showed us what he can do," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said.
The challenge for Lamoriello now is to pare the roster to 13 or 14 forwards, which he called "a good problem" to have.
Brunner won't have to worry. He'll have a role in New Jersey for at least the next few years.
"I'm real happy we were able to make the deal a little earlier than Oct. 1. Now it's a little bit easier for me to focus on the start of the season," Brunner said. "I'm really excited about being a Devil. Now [I can] stick around.
"I think you have to be confident, otherwise it makes no sense. There is no point in coming over to try. I believed I could come over, prove myself and get a contract. That's what happened and I'm very happy about it. I think both sides are happy about it."
Born in Oberlunkhofen, Switzerland, Brunner, 27, played 12 seasons in his home country before signing a one-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings in 2012. Following another stint with EV Zug during the lockout, Brunner finished with 12 goals and 14 assists in 44 games for the Red Wings, and added five goals and four assists in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"I think they pretty much knew what they get with me," Brunner said. "It was about them seeing how I react when I came to this organization."
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