+1
The New Jersey Devils will say goodbye to one of their longest-tenured players.
General manager Lou Lamoriello announced that defenseman Colin White and recently acquired right-winger Trent Hunter will be placed on waivers. The organization will buy out both players if no team picks them up.
New Jersey earned a 48-hour buyout window after re-signing Zach Parise to a one-year, $6 million contract Friday. That began today and will end tomorrow.
Cutting both White and Hunter will open up more cap space for the Devils. Hunter has two years remaining on his contract, carrying a $2 million annual cap hit. White has one year and $3 million left on his deal. If the players are bought out, the Devils will pay two-thirds of the total contract for twice the years. White would be paid $1 million over the next two years, and Hunter would receive $666,667 for the next four years.
For Lamoriello, the decision to buyout White wasn't easy.
"He's been a pure Devil," Lamoriello told Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record. "It's unfortunate, but there comes a point when young players have to get a chance. With long-term contracts in this league, this is not unusual, but it is unfortunate."
White finished his Devils career with 20 goals and 105 assists in 743 regular season games. Originally a second-round pick, 46th overall, in 1996, he battled through a serious eye injury suffered during training camp in 2007 and missed the first 20 games of that season. Last year, White battled lower body problems near the end of the season.
Lamoriello offered several reasons for the decision. He couldn't deny that it was a budget decision, but also cited the rise of several young prospects and the return of Bryce Salvador as other reasons. Salvador, who missed all of last season after sustaining a concussion, is working out but has yet to participate in any contact drills.
This move has been in the works since the end of last season.
"Colin and I sat down at the end of the season and after the discussion we decided just to go and get a bit of a change," Lamoriello told Gulitti.
The Devils' general manager believes the move will help White.
"This will be good for Colin," Lamoriello said to Gulitti. "Now, as an unrestricted free agent, he can pick where he wants to go."
White Signs With San Jose
Colin White found a new home quickly.
The former New Jersey Devils defenseman, bought out yesterday, signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the San Jose Sharks. He'll continue to wear number five.
In ten years with the Devils, White recorded 20 goals and 105 assists in 743 regular season games. The team's second round pick, 46th overall, in the 1996 draft, was a member of the 2000 and 2003 Stanley Cup champion teams. He was the longest-tenured defenseman on the team.
White held no bad feelings toward the organization.
"I have too many (good) memories," White told Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record. "Obviously, the Cups and getting drafted and just the teammates I played with, the trainers, the coaches, equipment guys. It was a big family there. I think that's the toughest part. Just having so many friends there, being there so long you get accustomed to going there. But, I'll keep in touch with all those guys and now it's just a different experience that I'm looking forward to."
White also fought through a career-threatening eye injury. During training camp in 2007, a puck struck the defenseman in the right eye. He missed 20 games during the 2007-08 regular season to recover. He complimented the Devils on the way they handled the situation.
"That was difficult, but they supported me," White told Gulitti. "It wasn't rushed or anything like that. It was just when I felt comfortable when I came back. I had their support and that made it a lot easier. They supported me throughout my years and time and time again. I have nothing but praise for the way I was treated there."
Devils' general manager Lou Lamoriello admitted the buyout of White was partly a budget move. White will return to the Prudential Center on October 21. The return will be a new experience.
"Definitely it will be," White said. "But it will be a chance for me to see my kids and have them come to the game and stuff like that. So, it will be an exciting time."
Aug 03 7:38p by AJ Manderichio