Bye-Bye Brylin?

According to the Newark Star Ledger, the Devils and Sergei Brylin have hit an impasse in contract talks. Brylin, who has been a member of the Devils since being drafted in the 2nd round in 1992, has a player option for next season but would like a multi-year extension for job security.

However, at 34, it will be a risky move to guarantee a lengthy contract to him, even though he is one of the two remaining players to have won 3 cups with the Devils [Martin Brodeur being the other].

During the 1994-95 season while the NHL was in their first major lockout, Brylin got is first work in America, playing with the Devils former affiliate, Albany River Rats, logging 63 games before playing the remaining 26 regular season games with the Devils. He played 12 of the Devils’ 20 playoff games before hoisting his and the team’s first Stanley Cup. Ever since that first season, Brylin has given the devils a reliable two-way forward, excelling more at the defensive aspect than offensive.

For the past 4 seasons, Brylin has not missed a single regular season game. Last season, Brylin saw his point total fall to over half is 06-07 total of 40. Scoring only 6 goals and having 10 assists, it is not difficult to understand why Brylin was relegated to the 4th line towards the endpoint of the 07-08 season. His place on the checking line was taken over by emerging forward David Clarkson.

Brylin, who is one of the smallest forwards on the Devils, listed at 5’10” he is taller than only Brian Gionta who stands at 5’7” - 5’9”, depending on which resource you look at. His heart can never be questioned as he continuously shadowed some of the league’s best alongside Jay Pandolfo and John Madden. Brylin also gave the Devils a quiet, yet focused leader. His experienced is rivaled only by Brodeur, as the two have seen the team’s rise to success and maintaining the pinnacle of their performance for nearly a decade, achieving 3 Stanley Cups in 4 appearances in the finals.

If Brylin elects to not exercise his player option for next season, I do not know if he would be able to find work elsewhere in the NHL.

I, for one, would be sad to see Brylin leave, as he has been with the team for almost as long as I have been following the Devils and hockey. I wish him nothing but the best, and hope for at least one more year.