Devils Re-Sign Clarkson, Waive Veteran Pandolfo

 

Sometimes New Jersey does keep its own players, as opposed to trading back for them several years later. On Wednesday, General Manager Lou Lamoriello inked winger David Clarkson to an extension worth $8 million over three years. That will count as a $2.667 million annual cap hit and pays Clarkson actual salaries of $2 million next season and $3 million in both 2011-12 and 2012-13, according to Rich Chere of The Newark Star-Ledger. Clarkson was set to become a restricted free agent tomorrow. He earned $875,000 last season.

The 26-year old Toronto-native is one of the Devils' key hometown assets going forward. He is not a big-time point producer, but can net the puck. He posted 11 goals last season following a career-high 17-goal campaign two years ago. His true contribution to the team, however, is his size and agitating style. Sometimes it leads him to taking bad penalties, but Clarkson definitely keeps opposing players on their toes and off their games.

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While the Devils keep Clarkson on board for at least another three years, it appears they are prepared to bid adieu to a member of two of the team's three Stanley Cup Championship squads. On Wednesday, 35-year old winger Jay Pandolfo was placed on waivers, along with enforcer Andrew Peters, ending a relationship with the Devils that began as a second round pick back in 1993. He would first see playing time with New Jersey during the 1996-97 season and steadily grew into an important checking line winger.

But this was hardly unexpected. According to Rich Chere, the writing was on the wall for Pandolfo last year after a few disrepectful moves by the team.

The Star-Ledger first reported that during the playoffs this spring, Pandolfo was told by management that he could not dress in the Devils' main locker room. He was told to dress in the practice dressing room with the rest of the scratches, a decision that upset many of the popular winger's teammates.

Pandolfo was also informed after a morning skate that he would be in the Devils' lineup for a playoff game against the Flyers, but a member of the coaching staff later texted him during the day to say he would not play.

Pandolfo underwent shoulder surgery last year and was therefore a minimal presence for the team. He also needed to give the team permission to place him on waivers due to the injury, which was actually his avenue of preference, according to an interview with Chere.

"I talked to Lou and felt like the best thing for me was to be bought out and have a chance to sign and play for another team," he said. "I don't really want to be in the same situation I was in the last two years here."

Chances are he will not be claimed off waivers, as a price tag of $2.5 million is way too high for an aging third line winger with minimal offensive upside. He will instead be bought out by New Jersey, who will fork over about $1.67 million divided evenly over the next two years. At that point, it is up to Pandolfo to either pursue playing opportunities with another organization at a much cheaper price, or call it a career and likely take an off-ice position within the Devils organization.

But no matter where he ends up, Pandolfo will be remembered as a key piece to a defensive system in New Jersey for over 13 years. He fit the team's mold perfectly in going against some of the oppositions' top forwards, including causing particular frustration for Jaromir Jagr when he was with the New York Rangers.

Peters, 30, was to make $500,000 in 2011-12 and will be bought out at a price of $166,667 in each of the next two years if he goes unclaimed through the waivers process. Brought in last summer as the muscle to replace Michael Rupp, Peters played just 29 games and accumulated 93 penalty minutes.