Wednesday was the first day of the NHL's free agent signing period, and several former Albany River Rats took the opportunity to go elsewhere.
Center John Madden signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Goaltender Scott Clemmensen got a three-year deal from the Florida Panthers. It is the first time in his career that Clemmensen's contract is longer than one season.
Greece, NY native Brian Gionta agreed to a five-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens, who on Tuesday acquired his former Devils center Scott Gomez in a six-player trade with the New York Rangers.
Defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins signed big center Mike Rupp to a two-year contract.
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Madden, 36, played his entire NHL career with the New Jersey Devils: 712 games, 297 points (140g, 157a), 2000 and 2003 Stanley Cups and the 2001 Frank J. Selke Trophy as top defensive forward. He had 23 points (7g, 16a) and was minus-7 in 76 games last season. His deal is reportedly worth $2.75 million.
Clemmensen, a Saratoga Springs resident who turns 32 later this month, has 68 NHL games to his credit for Jersey and Toronto, 40 of them coming last season when he filled in for injured Martin Brodeur and led the Devs to first place. His reward was being dumped to AHL Lowell by Hall of Fame inductee Lou Lamoriello. Clem was 25-13-1, 2.39 and .917 with two shutouts in regular duty in 2008-09. The Panthers are paying him $3.6 million over three years.
All of Gionta's 473 NHL games came with New Jersey, where he scored a single-season record 48 goals in 82 games in 2005-06. He has 312 points (152g, 160a) and a 2003 Stanley Cup ring. Gionta, who turned 30 in January, got a five-year deal at $5 million per.
Rupp has played 335 NHL games, including 7 for Phoenix and 39 for Columbus. A 29-year-old native of Cleveland, the 6-5, 230-pound Rupp scored the Cup-clinching goal in 2003, just his fourth playoff game that spring. He has had nine points each of the past three seasons for New Jersey (6g,3a; 3g,6a twice) and was second to ex-Rat David Clarkson with 136 PIM in 2008-09. His deal is worth $1.65 million over 2 years.
“We are excited to have Mike as a part of our hockey club for the next two seasons,” Pens GM Ray Shero said in a press release. “He brings a physical presence along with leadership and experience as a Stanley Cup Champion.”
"This is organization is pointed in the right direction," Rupp said. "In my mind, this team is going to be right there every year competing for a championship."
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Elsewhere, the Nashville Predators re-signed Masterton Trophy-winning forward Steve Sullivan to a two-year contract; East Greenbush native and defenseman Matt Lashoff was tendered a qualifying offer by Tampa Bay; ex-Adirondack Red Wings forward Mike Knuble got a two-year deal from the Washington Capitals; former Union College standout T.J. Fox was not tendered a qualifying offer by San Jose; and ex-RPI star Brad Tapper formally announced his retirement.
