Vaya con dios Damien Brunner

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Godspeed through East Orange...

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/damien-brunner-placed-on-unconditional-waivers--return-to-europe-next-175815350.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[amato 3,210]

Got too greedy too fast.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

poor guy. Good luck to him!

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Well the guy is still fairly young (<30) so Deboer couldn't use him..

Best of luck to him hopefully he can get his career back on track soon. Signing with the devils was a mistake that team is terrible

[DSM 114]

Wow. Can't believe no team out there wanted to take a chance on him for the rest of this season.

I thought he might work well in Pittsburgh since they could toss him on Crosby's line while Dupuis and Kunitz are out. Like they did two years back with Jussi Jokinen.

I'm wondering if there are other off ice factors involved that made teams stay away. To me, Brunner has always had this "I'm awesome" type attitude and felt because he had some skills that he should be in the line up regardless of how little he was contributing. I'm guessing Brunner still doesn't think anything's wrong with his game, since he's giving up a decent chunk of change and an opportunity to still learn how to play in his own zone and without the puck...

Compare his situation to that of Cory Conacher. After a good showing in the lock out shortened year but regressing hard in Ottawa, he's had two opportunities to show he can be a productive player again.

That being said, I'm internally chuckling at all the people on here that called for Hollands head thinking he let the next Marian Hossa slip through his fingers...

[kipwinger 8,754]

Nestrasil picked up, Brunner left in the bin. What a wacky world we live in.

[DSM 114]

Nestrasil picked up, Brunner left in the bin. What a wacky world we live in.

Apples to oranges.

At only 23, there's a chance Nestrasil may still have some upside and he can still be retained as a restricted free agent at the end of the season if he works out. He's also got four inches and 20+ lbs. over Brunner, and has the versatility to line up at both center and wing. He also has an easily bury-able cap hit that is a fraction of Brunners.

On the other hand... At almost 29, Brunner pretty much is what he is. A small winger who hasn't been able to hang onto a top six role in what amounts to about two seasons of NHL experience, but doesn't have the tools to play in his own end and is basically useless in a bottom six role.He also carries an unfriendly cap hit for a player that may end up buried in the AHL. His documented issues with PDB likely also make GM'S apprehensive.

My guess here is that he has refused an assignment to the AHL, which is likely best for him at this point, if he wants to stick at the NHL level.

Edited December 11, 2014 by DSM

[themcityblues 249]

So wait, if his contract was less money he could very well have an NHL future with the Wings? Seemed like we were interested in developing him. If I understand this right, nobody wants him because his contract is too big? And if the Devils can terminate his contract Brunner won't even get his $5 mil? That seems messed up. Seems like Brunner should be able to play in the NHL as a $500k-er and not have a retarded loaded contract by the owners screw him over

Edited December 11, 2014 by themcityblues

[WingsallTheway 383]

So wait, if his contract was less money he could very well have an NHL future with the Wings? Seemed like we were interested in developing him. If I understand this right, nobody wants him because his contract is too big? And if the Devils can terminate his contract Brunner won't even get his $5 mil? That seems messed up. Seems like Brunner should be able to play in the NHL as a $500k-er and not have a retarded loaded contract by the owners screw him over

He won't play for 500k...its not every european players dream to play in the NHL.

He can get more money at home, why wouldnt he? He wouldnt even play for 2M or whatever we offered him to stay in detroit.

[evilmrt 636]

Well, he learned the hard way. He really should have been a little more loyal to the Wings, because I think he'd have done well here. He still might, but he burned a bridge or two on his way out of here.

Holland does love re-signing former Wings though....HMMMM....

[kipwinger 8,754]

Apples to oranges.

At only 23, there's a chance Nestrasil may still have some upside and he can still be retained as a restricted free agent at the end of the season if he works out. He's also got four inches and 20+ lbs. over Brunner, and has the versatility to line up at both center and wing. He also has an easily bury-able cap hit that is a fraction of Brunners.

On the other hand... At almost 29, Brunner pretty much is what he is. A small winger who hasn't been able to hang onto a top six role in what amounts to about two seasons of NHL experience, but doesn't have the tools to play in his own end and is basically useless in a bottom six role.He also carries an unfriendly cap hit for a player that may end up buried in the AHL. His documented issues with PDB likely also make GM'S apprehensive.

My guess here is that he has refused an assignment to the AHL, which is likely best for him at this point, if he wants to stick at the NHL level.

Next to the amount of words wasted on the waiving of Colton Orr and Frazer Maclaren, that's the most text I've ever seen spent on two players who matter as little as these two do.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Well, he learned the hard way. He really should have been a little more loyal to the Wings, because I think he'd have done well here. He still might, but he burned a bridge or two on his way out of here.

Holland does love re-signing former Wings though....HMMMM....

I would still welcome him back at the right price maybe Kindl for Brunner and Boulton?

[DickieDunn 2,571]

I don't see him as an improvement over any of the wings on a scoring line we have now. He van go back to Europe and be a star in an inferior league

[frankgrimes 1,836]

I don't see him as an improvement over any of the wings on a scoring line we have now. He van go back to Europe and be a star in an inferior league

The NLA is the third best league in Europe and Switzerland is a beautiful country. Clubs there are paying good money too

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Well, he learned the hard way. He really should have been a little more loyal to the Wings, because I think he'd have done well here. He still might, but he burned a bridge or two on his way out of here.

Holland does love re-signing former Wings though....HMMMM....

It all worked out for us , him being here would of meant one less spot when we had all those injuries and maybe jurco never would of be called up , or just played a few games as a wing

[DickieDunn 2,571]

The NLA is the third best league in Europe and Switzerland is a beautiful country. Clubs there are paying good money too

Still an inferior league

[DSM 114]

So wait, if his contract was less money he could very well have an NHL future with the Wings? Seemed like we were interested in developing him. If I understand this right, nobody wants him because his contract is too big? And if the Devils can terminate his contract Brunner won't even get his $5 mil? That seems messed up. Seems like Brunner should be able to play in the NHL as a $500k-er and not have a retarded loaded contract by the owners screw him over

Brunner isn't being "screwed over". The NHL PA protects players from just being terminated. For it to a happen, a player and his agent also have to agree to it.

If Brunner wanted to collect his full $5M, he could have. Since no other team wants him, he could hang around Jersey and do what Lou and PDB want him to, or go to Albany and collect the same check.

I think at this point it's safe to say Damien Brunner isn't an NHL player.

[kipwinger 8,754]

I don't see why he wouldn't go to the KHL. He'd eat dudes alive on the big ice with that skating and shot. Plus, he'd make boatloads of money.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

My everlasting memory of Brunner.

[kipwinger 8,754]

My everlasting memory of Brunner is that one between the legs inside-outside drag that he always used, and which never once worked at the NHL level. But man did that not deter him from trying it over and over and over.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Man, Sheehy really screwed Brunner over in all of this.

You know what, I really hate that p.o.s. as an agent. He's the same asshat that guided Suter through his "Imma going to Minnesota" phase.

He clearly doens't like dealing with Holland becasue Kenny won't (typically) overpay.

So now he's got one less client because Brunner's going back to Switzerland.

Edited December 12, 2014 by rick zombo

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

My everlasting memory of Brunner is that one between the legs inside-outside drag that he always used, and which never once worked at the NHL level. But man did that not deter him from trying it over and over and over.

It was nothing compared to Samuelsson's move, where he'd put the puck on his backhand, skate in a circle, and do nothing with it.

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

It was nothing compared to Samuelsson's move, where he'd put the puck on his backhand, skate in a circle, and do nothing with it.

Or Drapers "I'm on a breakaway but I'm going to shoot a slapper from the blue line and not skate in to try and deke the goalie move"

[DSM 114]

Man, Sheehy really screwed Brunner over in all of this.

You know what, I really hate that p.o.s. as an agent. He's the same asshat that guided Suter through his "Imma going to Minnesota" phase.

He clearly doens't like dealing with Holland becasue Kenny won't (typically) overpay.

So now he's got one less client because Brunner's going back to Switzerland.

Oh boy.

Just when I thought the Suter crap was put to bed... There was also that whole factor where Suter was dead set on going to the same team as another expensive UFA that summer. A player the Wings had no room or cap space for...

As for Brunner, he should be patting Sheehy on the back! His agent helps him secure a multi year, multi million dollar contract when he had a whopping 55 up and down games on his NHL resume. Instead of playing up to the contract, Brunner plays half assed in his own zone and without the puck, then whines about how he feels entitled to top six minutes.

In my opinion, Ken Holland gets a gold star for NOT giving Brunner/Sheehy what they wanted. Holland/Babcock probably already knew that what has now transpired in NJ was a possibility had Brunner gotten a multi year deal here. Looks like they were right. Brunner pretty much followed Fabian Brunnstroms foot prints back to Europe.

Lastly, this notion that Brunner would've been better had he stayed in Detroit is garbage. Anyone remember Ville Leino's first (and last) full season with the Wings?

[Guest DeGraa55]

Brunnner was his own worst enemy though. If he would been on detroit a third line he would still be in the nhl.

But his terrible attitude and lack of defense(a reason why the wings most likely didn't care if he stayed it not...specially since Tatar is doing what Brunnner did just better).