Gionta, Madden, Clemmensen, Rupp bolt as free agency starts

July 1, 6:40 PMNew Jersey Devils ExaminerJoe Rizzo

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         Mike Rupp is headed to Pittsburgh
              (AP Photo/Bill Kostrounor)

Right wing Brian Gionta, center John Madden, goaltender Scott Clemmensen and rugged forward Mike Rupp moved on from the Devils on the first day of free agency.

Gionta went to the Montreal Canadiens on a five-year deal worth $25 million, rejoining former Devils teammate Scott Gomez, who was acquired from the New York Rangers the day before the free-agent frenzy commenced.

Madden went to the Chicago Blackhawks on a one-year deal for $2.75 million.  He becomes the checking center and perhaps the final piece to Chicago's rapidly improving team, lead by youngsters Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

Clemmensen signed a three-year, $3.6 million deal with the Florida Panthers, where he should get a fair amount of time behind No. 1 goaltender Tomas Vokuon.  Florida's previous backup, Craig Anderson, left earlier in the day to sign with the Colorado Avalanche.  Anderson inked a two-year deal for the same money.

Rupp took two years and $1.65 million but stayed within the Atlantic Division, signing with the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Gionta, 30, Madden, 36, Clemmensen, 31, and the 29-year-old Rupp shined in Devils uniforms for different reasons at different times. 

Gionta, a 5'7" fire plug, broke the Devils' lineup for the first time in 2001-02 and became a regular by the following season, playing in 58 games during the regular season and all 24 en route to New Jersey's most recent Stanley Cup triumph.

But it was what he did in 2005-06 that left its mark, as Gionta scored a franchise-record 48 goals, adding 41 assists for 89 points, establishing career highs in all three categories.  Despite playing on the first two lines, he has since been unable to duplicate that success, although he reached the 20-goal plateau for the fifth straight time last season.

Madden went from undrafted free agent to Selke Trophy winner as the NHL's best defensive forward in 2000-01.  Always there to shut down the opponents' top line, Madden most often was teamed with Jay Pandolfo, sacrificing offense for the good of the team. 

A two-time 20-goal scorer, Madden set a career high in his Selke season with 23, then established his best points total in 2007-08 with 43, including 20 goals.  But he dipped to just seven goals and 23 points in 76 games last season. 

Madden was a member of the Devils' last two Stanley Cup championship teams.  He has 20 goals and 21 assists in 121 career playoff games.

Clemmensen gained tantamount respect this season by earning nearly half the team's wins while mainstay Martin Brodeur missed four months with an injured elbow that required surgery.  Clemmensen was 25-13-1 with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage, recording two shutouts.

When Brodeur returned, Clemmensen was relegated back to the minors despite  his stellar performance.  Kevin Weekes remained the backup because there were no options to send him down to Lowell.  When Weekes injured his knee, Clemmensen returned, only to reprise the usual role behind Brodeur, barely getting off the bench. 

Mostly as Brodeur's backup, the Des Moines, Iowa native had played in just 28 games -- three with the Toronto Maples Leafs in 2007-08 -- the previous five seasons combined before making the most of his 40 appearances with New Jersey last season. 

Rupp's place in Devils history was secured in 2003, when he netted the series-winning goal and set up both of the other tallies in a 3-0 win in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals against the then-Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.  He remained a fan favorite in his second tour through New Jersey because of his rugged play and willingness to drop the gloves.

In 72 games last season, Rupp posted three goals and six assists with 136 penalty minutes and was minus-2.  He had no points and was minus-2 with 14 PIM in a seven-game playoff defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes.

“We are excited to have Mike as a part of our hockey club for the next two seasons,” said Penguins general manager Ray Shero.  “He brings a physical presence along with leadership and experience as a Stanley Cup champion.”

Rupp, from Cleveland, has 27 goals, 26 assists and 412 penalty minutes with a minus-27 rating in 335 career games with New Jersey, Columbus and Phoenix.  The Cup-winning tally is his only playoff goal in 25 career games, and he is the only player whose first career playoff goal was a Cup-winner.