Why the Devils owe the Leafs..

Is he the one who got away?

Who knows, but the New Jersey Devils are happy. Scott Clemmensen looked to many to be a career AHLer, not because of his goaltending chops but because of who he had to play behind - Martin Brodeur. But after four years of being the starter on the Devils' AHL farm club- the Albany River Rats - and backing up Brodeur for two seasons (2005-07), Clemmensen set out and signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate - the Toronto Marlies.

In Clemmensen's past four years in the AHL, he was a combined 36-81-21. The River Rats had never made the playoffs with the American goalie, despite Clemmensen having a save percentage of at least .902 each season.

But after arriving in Toronto, something must have started to click for the at-the-time 29-year-old 'tender from Iowa. Clemmensen spent most of his season in the AHL with the Marlies that year, posting a positive 23-13-2 and a career high in GAA (2.44) and a .910 save percentage while playing in tandem with the Maple Leafs goalie heir apparent: Justin Pogge. Clemmensen also managed to get in on three games with the big club, going 1-1 in two starts for the Maple Leafs.


As the Calder Cup playoffs opened, there appeared to be some issues between the Marlies coaching staff and Pogge, and Clemmensen played 17 of the Marlies 19 playoffs games. They lost in 5 games in the third round to the eventual champion Chicago Wolves.

In the media circus that the Toronto Maple Leafs' organization was last summer (thank you Mats Sundin), it seems that Clemmensen managed to simply slip the minds of the decision-makers in Toronto as he quietly returned to the Devils organization.

When Brodeur went down with his injury in the fall, most thought this was it for the Devils playoff chances because they would have to rely first on the notoriously inconsistent Kevin Weekes and secondly the now 31-year-old Clemmensen. But after Weekes struggled early, Clemmensen got his shot to run with. And run with it he has, going 22-9-1 with a 2.29 GAA and .920 save percentage (both career highs)- against NHL talent showing his former and current employers a new side to his game.

So why the change?
The experience with the Toronto Marlies was Clemmensen's first taste of playoffs in professional hockey (aside from an earlier seven minute stint for the Devils), and looking at what has happened to him since, its obvious the Marlies choice to play Clemmensen has saved the Devils playoff chances- they are currently first in their division and third in the eastern conference.

Clemmensen is obviously the one who got away from the Leafs.