The captain's 'C' suits Devils' Pelley
AHL team brings back 29-year-old as a mentor to younger teammates
By Pete Dougherty
Published Friday, October 11, 2013
Albany
With age comes maturity and perspective, two qualities that help
Rod Pelley not only accept but also embrace where he is in his professional hockey career.
Pelley, 29, has played 211 career NHL games, but the
New Jersey Devils weren't looking for an NHL regular when they re-signed him as a free agent in July.
He is what is known in hockey circles as a depth player. If New Jersey incurs a few injuries, Pelley has the experience to fill in as a fourth-line center in the NHL.
What he brings to the organization is leadership and intelligence accured through seven pro seasons. Pelley was assigned to the Albany Devils to serve a role similar to that of
Jay Leach from last season, as a show-and-tell example of being a professional.
Like Leach, Pelley has been given the A-Devils' captaincy.
"As the years go over, you see where the guys are now, the (Reid) Bouchers, the (Mike) Sislos, (Joe) Whitneys, guys like that," said Pelley, rattling off the names of Albany teammates. "That was me five, six, seven years ago. I can see things progressing for myself. Coming back here on a two-way contract, you know what you're getting into."
Pelley, who spent the first 51/2 seasons of his career with the Devils, was part of a December 2011 trade that brought
Kurtis Foster and Timo Pielmeier to New Jersey. (Both are now playing in Europe.)
He finished 2011-12 with Anaheim, then was caught in free agency during the NHL lockout. Pelley landed an AHL deal with Norfolk last season, then got a two-way contract — his salary is $150,000 while in the AHL, $550,00 in the NHL — from the Devils.
"He exemplifies how we want these young kids to come through the organization," Albany coach
Rick Kowalsky said. "It's more about being professional, bringing the attitude, the energy, the overall character to the rink on and off the ice every day. Rod Pelley does that. It comes natural to him. He's a really good role model for the younger guys."
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