Clemmensen isn't ruling out return to Devils, but...

Devils goaltender Scott Clemmensen said today that, barring something unforeseen, he plans to become an unrestricted free agent at noon on Wednesday and to field offers from other teams.

"More than likely, yes, unless there is an offer I simply can't refuse," he told me from his summer home in Saratoga.

Clemmensen said that he expects to talk to general manager Lou Lamoriello before he becomes a free agent. He said the two have tried to have a sitdown since the season ended, but their timing and travels have prevented it.

"We've been meaning to get together to talk about things," said Clemmensen, who had to skip his end-of-season sitdown with Lamoriello when he was called off to join Team USA at the World Championships in Switzerland. "I expect we will talk. It just hasn't happened, yet."

Clemmensen, who will turn 32 on July 23, said a return to the Devils is still a possibility. It sounds like the odds are against it, though.

"I haven't ruled out going back ot the Devils," he said. "It's just going to depend on a lot of things."

Clemmensen said his top priority is playing time.

After serving mostly as a little-used NHL backup or playing in the minors for most of his first seven seasons as a professional, Clemmensen finally got his chance to play regularly after Martin Brodeur tore a biceps tendon in his left arm on Nov. 1.

It initially looked like Kevin Weekes would handle the bulk of the Devils' goaltending duties while Brodeur recovered, but Clemmensen, who was in the minors before Brodeur was injured, emerged as the temprorary No. 1 and helped save their season. In 40 NHL games. Clemmensen went 25-13-1 witha  2.39 goals-against average and .917. He became only the second goaltender in team history (behind Brodeur) to win 25 games in one season.

Before 2008-09, Clemmensen had never played more than 13 NHL games in one season.

"I've been in the game for eight seasons and I felt like I was able to get my foot in the door over the first seven, but (last season) for the first time I felt like I got my whole body in the door," he said.

With Brodeur healthy and expected to resume at least most of his usual heavy workload in 2009-10, however, there might not be much of an opportunity for Clemmensen to play if he re-signs with the Devils.

Now, that Clemmenen has had a taste, he'd like an opportunity to at least compete for a No. 1 goaltender job somewhere -- if such an opportunity is available.

"That's what I'm hoping for," he said. "It's so hard to break into this league. As a goaltender, there are only so many jobs. I don't really know what's out there and what other teams are thinking in terms of opportunities, but, like I said, I haven't ruled out going back to the Devils."

Clemmensen admited that having the security of having a one-way contract after only getting a two-way contract from the Devils last season is also important. If there isn't a No. 1 job that he can compete for elsewhere, getting the security of a one-way deal from the Devils might be appealing to him.

"Playing time in the NHl is priority No.1," he said. "Obviously, there are other things that we are looking for as far as security and as far as what type of contract is beneficial to me."

If Clemmensen does opt to leave, that would likely improve the chances of Weekes, who is also slated to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, coming back ot the Devils.

***

Clemmensen on Brent Sutter's defection to Calgary: "When you are making a decision based on family, it's kind of hard to know it. You can't argue with it."

On whether he was surprised Sutter signed with the Flames so quickly after leaving the Devils: "Not necessarily. He's a good coach and had an opportunity to be close to home and, obviously, he had a relationship with the GM there."

***

I am not in Montreal, but will be covering the NHL Entry Draft tonight and Saturday from home. I will be posting the Devils' picks as quickly as possible after they are made. I should have quotes tonight from the Devils' first-round pick and Lamoriello and I'll have more Saturday for Rounds 2 through 7.

I'll also be keeping track of where Kyle Palmieri of Montvale is drafted because of his New Jersey link and the interest in him here because of that.

Comments

[nnjrules]

Clemmer is a good guy, but no thanks. Unless its 500k deal I don't want him back. Rather have weekes who wouldn't whine about ice time. I mean after sutter not being 100% sure on wanting to be in nj, why would I want a player on the team to settle for a role and be a grump. Thanks for the good year though

[Andrew]

sign clemmer!!!

[Philly Devil]

Love CLemm, but he is NOT a #1 goalie. He is though someone that can split time, but this is Marty's team. I lvoe Clemm but the facts are this: He is not good at all playing the puck, his glvoe hand is average at best, most nights below average and a team must score 3-4 a night (consistantly) to give hima chance to win. MB is NOT tired, he is NOT old...and anyone who thinks that is foolish. We need better D men and MUCH..MUCH better power play. I've followed Clemm since his BC days and he is a goalie that can do well splitting time, but MB is still healthy and young enough to play 72 games a year. Maybe reduce him to 65 but that is it.

[Tom]

Interesting that he has spoken with Lou a few times. I hope he stays and gets to play 20-25 games.

TG or anyone who can help. If I don't have Versus where is the best spot to follow the draft live? TSN?

[njhillbilly]

I realy don't see Clemmer getting a chance to compete for a number one somewhere just based on available openings and the list of other free agent goaltenders.

He may get a better opportunity somewhere else to get more time as a backup, but the chances of him returning to Jersey are higher than people think.

I would rather have Clemmer back than Weekes.

[A Local Fan]

Who cares!!!! TG get us some good information. The Devils need a coach and the draft is coming which means there will be about 10 trades tonight. GIVE US SOMETHING GOOD!

I love you TG, you're the man.

[TG]

TSN is carrying the draft tonight in Canada. Versus in the U.S. Tomorrow it's on the NHL Network.

I think you can watch the draft live on NHL.com on line, but I'm not positive about that.

[RickyM2]

its nuts, that he seems to be the only one who got to talk to Lou. You can bet the farm, he'll be back and get an opportunity to play more behind Marty (at league minimum, since Lou likes to get back up goalies from the Bargain Basement) BUT... It's one thing playing behind Weekes and getting good TOI, but the pressure to play against Marty has to be scarey on several fronts. One bad game and he'll rot for a month.
That being said, there may be more pressure on Marty to perform too. I'd like to see Clemmensen put a fire up Marty's butt. Cause if Marty goes out one bad game and CLemmer steps up... We might see the innerchild of Marty emerge better than the last 3 years. He's sort of like an advanced threat to Marty. Weekes was too passive, almost like he didnt want to step on Martys feet so he wont lose his job..

[jerseytom]

Nice thoughts Ricky, I basically feel the same way about it. I thought that after Marty broke that record he got a little too passive. I think the best way to get Marty to his peak would be some competition for his job.

I don't believe it is a slap in the face to make him compete for the starting job if someone else wants it more...That's life. I'd be happy to have the greatest goaltender in the world continuing to play for my team, as long as he continues to play like the greatest goaltender in the world.

It's great that he's got tons of wins, 3 cups, Olympic medals, etc. But that doesn't really change the here and now.

[Will in Maine]

"It initially looked like Kevin Weekes would handle the bulk of the Devils' goaltending duties while Brodeur recovered, but Clemmensen, who was in the minors before Brodeur was injured, emerged as the temprorary No. 1 and helped save their season. In 40 NHL games. Clemmensen went 25-13-1 witha 2.39 goals-against average and .917. He became only the second goaltender in team history (behind Brodeur) to win 25 games in one season."

This quote says it all and Ricky has a good point too. I would like to see Clemmer back next year and put the fire under Marty, however I won't be upset if he chooses to go somewhere else. I really don't think he is a #1 though... If both Weekes and Clemmer go I would like to see Lou take a run at Craig Anderson but he might be too expensive..

[Maxwell]

I wish we could trade Clemmer in some capacity to LA for Michal Handzus.

[Maxwell]

Frazee will be Marty's successor. That kid is going to be good, I think.

[JerryG]

We need a coach who will tell Marty when he is not going to start, instead of the other way around.

[MadDog]

I can't possibly believe that the Devils will draft for a specific position. They have always done best in the draft when selecting for value and character.

[Noam N. Kogen]

Scott Clemmensen is a better goaltender than his detractors will admit. I would rather have him than Kevin Weekes (one of the two will be back while the other won't, we don't know which one will be back). My guess is that Clemmensen won't be a #1 anywhere else and will be back but will play more than he would have had Martin Brodeur not been hurt last season.

Some of you are forgetting that Clemmensen won some low scoring games, such as the 1-0 game at home vs. Boston in Mid February at the Prudential Center. He can win low scoring games and the Devils don't absolutely have to score four or five goals to win when he is in goal.

Devils definitely need to improve on defense and need to score some more goals and need a second line center. Brodeur should be playing no more than seventy games (Devils fans, do you know that the Devils have never won a Stanley Cup when Brodeur has played more than seventy-three games a season? It's true. Brodeur played seventy-two games in 1999-2000 and seventy-three games in 2002-2003 when the Devils won the Stanley Cup) per season. Brodeur was 31 when the Devils last won the Stanley Cup. Brodeur should not play back to back games during the regular season. That's why teams have a backup goaltender. Clemmensen was 3-0 vs. the Rangers last season, 2-1 vs. Boston, 2-0 vs. Philadelphia, and 2-2 vs. Pittsburgh last season. He's not strictly a backup goaltender. He's a good goaltender who needed a chance to prove himself, which was the case last season.

[Maximib]

I just don't see him getting a 1-way deal with the Devils. If he does, that means Weekes won't, and how's that going to work?

[Matt]

Anyone who thinks Weekes should stay over Clemmer is an idiot. We owed Clemmer this after leaving him on the bench for 4 years.

[Devlin]

Nothing against Clemmer and Weeksie, but they should both be let go. The Devils need to start grooming a replacement for Marty. Clemmer ain't it and Weeksie is an old man.

Clemmer is dead on about the lack of opportunities for goalies. There are many young net-minders in the AHL that belong starting for NHL teams, but nobody gives them a chance...and Clemmer isn't even close to being the best of the litter. Mediocre and washed-up goalies occupy half the NHL jobs. Year after year, teams are wasting and throwing away young talent left and right.

So, in my opinion, when it comes to goaltending, looking for a draft pick is a waste of time. It is a gamble with too long a wait.

The Devils' resources should be focused on the AHL and Europe. Devs need to make a trade or pick up a free agent. They need a solid unrecognized prospect. There are plenty of steals out there, but if you're not watching, you'll never know they exist.

Most teams don't know the difference between an all-star goalie and Swiss cheese.

Heck, simply ask the players in Lowell who the best goalies are. Who is the hardest to score on? I guarantee they'd give you the name of a goalie that can outplay most NHL starters. I could name five off the top of my head.

I watch an unhealthy amount of AHL hockey. The Devils should be paying dozens of goaltending scouts to do the same thing. Amazingly skilled goalies are just sitting around waiting for a call.

[David]

Weekes is maybe 2 years older than Clemmensen, that's about it. Here's the problem with Clemmer. The Devils, and for that matter, any NHL team should be looking for guys psyched to be a part of their organization. Clemmer is basically saying, "Well, if absolutely no one wants me, I'll re-sign here to keep a job." He is quietly and vaguely saying New Jersey would be a last resort for him. That's not something a team needs.

A lot can be said of Weekes, how he wasn't hot when Marty went down, but he did play a couple good games that could've greatly changed things however the team didn't help him out. It can also be said that Clemmer played a couple of really spotty games when he first got his chance, but the team did manage to bail him out and so Clemmer and Weekes play immediately following the injury to Marty was more or less right on par and identical, yet the team seemed to score more when Clemmer played and they happened to win.

They were both a victim of circumstance. If the Devils didn't absolutely sleep walk through the first 5 or 6 games post Marty, Weekes would've been the starter. Clemmer picked up some lucky wins and ran with it. Good for him.

But, an 8 year pro, having ONE good season, well, his track record still says he's Clemmer and that is probably a risk other teams that need a goalie aren't gonna wanna take on. It's probably why Lou couldn't move him at the deadline, even at his ridiculously low cap hit and good season.