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New Jersey Devils: Five Best Lou Lamoriello Re-Acquisitions

By Charlie Borges Jr.

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 09: Lou Lamoriello addresses the fans during the former New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur jersey retirement ceremony before the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Edmonton Oilers on 9, 2016 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 09: Lou Lamoriello addresses the fans during the former New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur jersey retirement ceremony before the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Edmonton Oilers on 9, 2016 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils
Scott Clemmensen #35 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

1. Scott Clemmensen

Scott Clemmensen is not on this list for the third time Lamoriello brought him back. In the 2014 offseason, Clemmensen was brought back by Lamoriello to become the new backup to Cory Schneider since Martin Brodeur had finally left the team. He played three games, starting one, and was horrible. He promptly retired, and Keith Kinkaid emerged as Schneider’s new backup. However, some people forget what Clemmensen did in the 2008-09 season.

The aforementioned Brodeur did something in the 2008-09 season that he had never done before in his career at that point. He got hurt. That left the Devils with backup Kevin Weekes as the new starter. During the 2008 offseason, the Devils brought Clemmensen back to be the third-string goalie, only expecting him to become the backup in dire circumstances. Clemmensen left the Devils organization in 2007 and was with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2007-08 season.

The dire circumstances came to be as Brodeur had to miss a huge chunk of the season with an arm injury. Kevin Weekes started a handful of games while having successful numbers. Clemmensen came in as a backup but took control of the net and did not let it go until Brodeur came back. Clemmensen started 39 games while going 25-13-1 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.39 GAA.

With Brodeur out, many in hockey counted the Devils out of the playoff picture. Clemmensen singlehandedly dragged the Devils to the postseason. After the season, he cashed in on his superb play by signing a lucrative contract with the Florida Panthers. While he did not replicate his success, Clemmensen deserved the contract he got. If it were not for Clemmensen, the Devils would not have continued their playoff streak.

What happened to the Devils in the 2008-09 playoffs is a different story for a different day.

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