Devils Officially Terminate Contract Of Damien Brunner

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Damien Brunner's career with the Devils is over.

The 28-year-old right wing, who had seven points in 17 games for New Jersey this season, passed through unconditional waivers on Friday and then signed with HC Lugano in Switzerland. The Devils had sent Brunner down to AHL Albany on Sunday, but he chose not to report.

Brunner had $1.7 million remaining on his contract at the time of the mutual parting of the ways, money that will now come off the Devils' salary cap.

"He didn't report to Albany and when they don't report, you have the ability to do what we did, but there's nothing malicious in any way whatsoever and I have nothing negative to say about Damien," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello told the Fire & Ice blog. "Certainly, he did everything he could. It didn't work out, but it was his decision not to report, which is fine, and then we have rights that we can do and that's what we did."

Brunner registered 25 points, including 11 goals, in 60 games with the Devils last season, after putting up 26 in 44 games with the Detroit Red Wings during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

His agent, Neil Sheehy, said Brunner just wasn't a fit with the Devils.

"Things didn't work in New Jersey," Sheehy said. "For him, this wasn't about the money. He's a player who believes in himself and believes he can play and he wasn't going to let money stand in the way. He wasn't going to go to the AHL and just collect a paycheck."

The Devils entered play Friday in fifth place in the Metropolitan Division with a 11-14-5 record. They face the Stars in Dallas on Saturday, followed by a trip to Nassau Coliseum to take on the Islanders on Monday.

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