New Jersey Devils vs. Nashville Predators 2-12-10.

Jordin Tootoo battles former Devils forward Zach Parise in 2010. (Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)

(Hindash, Saed)

NEWARK — Jordin Tootoo was Nashville Predators teammates with Jason Arnott and Jim McKenzie, who both won Stanley Cups while playing for the Devils. Their praise for Lou Lamoriello and the Devils convinced Tootoo to jump at an offer to attend Devils camp as an unsigned tryout.

"There were a few (other offers), but obviously this is where I chose and this is where my mind's at," Tootoo said. "In speaking with a number of people around the league, this organization is a class act and I've actually had a few teammates who won the Cup here in New Jersey. I talked to them a number of times and they said nothing but good things about coming here."



Tootoo chose the Devils, but will they choose to sign him?

The right winger will be battling forwards such as Ruslan Fedotenko, Scott Gomez, Stefan Matteau, Cam Janssen and Reid Boucher for a roster spot and he figures it will be his grit that sets him apart.

"I play that part of the game where there is a lot of physical involvement. I'm a guy that's willing to go to war for my teammates," Tootoo suggested. "I just have to play my game, which is going out there and playing hard on the forecheck, making contact, turning pucks over, creating penalties, creating chances and making room for my line mates out there.



"As the years have gone on for me I've matured as a player and realized the game has evolved. Each year you have to change little things here and there to keep yourself in the league. For me it's about being disciplined and knowing when to pick and choose my spots."

His ideal spot would've been with the Detroit Red Wings, who signed him to a 3-year, $5.7 million contract on July 1, 2012. After two seasons, the Wings bought out the final year of his deal as one of their compliance buyouts.

“Their whole focus was go towards the younger kids,” Tootoo said. “Knowing that my opportunity to be in the lineup there gave me a very slim chance, I asked to get traded and if that didn’t happen to get bought out to give myself an opportunity elsewhere.”

He appreciated his two seasons in Detroit where he scored just nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 53 games with 83 penalty minutes. He isn’t sure what went wrong.

“If I knew I would tell you. I’ll tell you this: To play for an Original Six team was a great honor. I embraced every minute of it,” Tootoo said. “The past is the past. This is a new chapter for me that I’m locking forward to. I can’t thank the Red Wings organization enough for giving me the opportunity to play for them.”

He did not get any actual contract offers from NHL clubs but said he had tryouts offers.

“With all the options that were laid out this was the best opportunity for me,” he said. “For me it’s a challenge that I accept and I’m looking forward to making sure that I’m giving myself every opportunity to have a chance to make this team.”

He was teammates with Marek Zudlicky in Nashville and knows Travis Zajac.

“I used to live in Winnipeg,” Tootoo explained, “so I used to skate with him.”