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Devils’ Damien Brunner Clears Unconditional Waivers, Contract Terminated

By Vinnie Criscenzo

Nov 10, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Damien Brunner (12) during the third period of Boston
Nov 10, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Damien Brunner (12) during the third period of Boston /
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Now former New Jersey Devils forward Damien Brunner has officially cleared unconditional waivers and his contract with the team has been terminated.

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It looks like Damien Brunner is officially headed back to Switzerland.

New Jersey Devils forward Damien Brunner was placed on unconditional waivers yesterday in an attempt to mutually terminate his contract with the team. If cleared, the remainder of his two year, $5 million contract the 28 year-old Swiss forward signed in 2013 would be wiped out and Brunner would be free to sign elsewhere.

In this case, it seems Brunner has already signed with the team he played for in his native Switzerland before making the jump to the NHL, HC Lugano.

Brunner was placed on regular waivers on Dec. 5th by general manager Lou Lamoriello in an attempt for another NHL team to pick him up and give Brunner an opportunity to play elsewhere in the NHL. Before that, Lamoriello was looking for possible suitors to trade the Swiss forward. When no team was willing to bite on a trade or even claim him off waivers, Lamoriello and Brunner mutually agreed that it was best for both parties to terminate his contract, leading to Brunner being placed on unconditional waivers yesterday.

Brunner has been unable to recreate his form that he showed in his first NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings in the lockout shortened 2012-13 season. That season, Brunner scored 26 points in 44 regular season games, along with five goals and nine points in 14 playoff games with Detroit. Since signing with the Devils just before the 2013-14 season begun however, Brunner registered only 13 goals and 32 points in 77 games for the Devils. He has been in and out of the Devils lineup, healthy scratched over a dozen times and benched multiple times during games by head coach Pete Deboer, seemingly never gaining his trust.

Brunner will head back to his native Switzerland and play with HC Lugano for, at least, the remainder of the season. The Devils will move on without Brunner and his $2.5 million cap hit.

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