The Binghamton Devils lost one of their few veteran presences as Bracken Kearns decided to take his talents to Austria. He will likely finish his career overseas after one season in the New Jersey Devils system.
Sometimes when a player decides to play overseas after spending time in the AHL, it’s terrible news. It usually means a prospect flamed out and will try to re-ignite their career in another country. If they do, they are usually a free agent if they return to North America. That’s not what happened with Bracken Kearns and the New Jersey Devils.
Kearns is unlike almost any player in the AHL, in that he’s still holding on to his hockey career at the age of 37. At this point, Kearns would likely never make the NHL again. Whether that was for the Devils or another team, he was a middle six forward that would play in the AHL until he eventually retires.
That’s why his decision to sign with Linz Black Wings of the Austrian League EHC is not surprising.
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Last year, Kearns made $225,000 to play for the Binghamton Devils. Being 37 years old, he’s running out of time to make as much money as humanly possible. If the Austrian league can offer more money, then he needed to take it. That’s not likely, but even if he’s not making the same salary it seems the European leagues have great benefits (free housing, transportation, etc.).
Kearns scored 14 goals with 29 assists playing in Binghamton last season. He’s going to be missed from a leadership standpoint, but his production will be replaced easily. The B-Devils have added Eric Tangradi, Michael McLeod, John Ramage, Kurtis Gabriel among others to the team that started last year.
Kearns likely tried to get one more shot in the AHL, but it’s hard for a 37 year old who’s barely hanging on to convince a team to use time and money on that player. Kearns had a nice, one-season stint in the Devils minor leagues, but it was time to move on.