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The New Jersey Devils are moving quickly to find their replacement for Ilya Kovalchuk who on Thursday surprised many people around the NHL with his retirement

That replacement?

How about a poor man’s Kovalchuk in Damien Brunner who denied a two and three year contract from the Red Wings because they didn’t offer the salary he’s asking for at $3.5 million dollars per year.

According to Nicola Berger of the Swiss newspaper Neue Luzerner Zeitung, the Devils look to be hot after Brunner who was brought over from the Swiss League by the Wings last season.

https://twitter.com/BergerNeueLZ/status/355961681630863361

Many questions have to be asked as to why the Red Wings don’t pay the man what he wants since they have the cap space to do so. A lot of this however you’d have to think deals with Brunner only having a half season of NHL hockey under his belt with a plus/minus of -6 and only 26 points. This is also despite Brunner leading the Red Wings in 14 playoff games with five goals. Still though Detroit seems primed to move on without Brunner instead going with younger internal options.