Damien-Brunner-4-24-13.jpg

Damien Brunner had 12 goals in 44 games for the Detroit Red Wings during his first NHL season.

(AP File Photo)

Damien Brunner has signed a contract with the New Jersey Devils after rejecting the same offer from the Detroit Red Wings in July.

Brunner, who broke into the NHL with the Red Wings last season, agreed to a two-year contract that will pay him $5 million.

A source told MLive.com that the Red Wings offered Brunner the same deal but he rejected it to test the free-agent market.

After failing to sign with another team before training camp, Brunner agreed to join the Devils last week on a professional tryout.

Brunner, who played the previous five seasons in Switzerland before signing with Detroit, scored 10 goals in his first 19 NHL game before cooling off. He finished with 12 goals and 14 assists in 44 regular-season games and led the Red Wings in the playoffs with five goals in 14 games.

The Red Wings made Brunner, 27, two- and three-year contract offers before he decided to take a dip in the free-agent waters.