"If you had told me I was going to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs and get a 10-game suspension, try to get back into the good books and battle... It's been catch-up all year, I haven't been myself. I'm not happy with the way things have gone.

"But, to be a professional, you have to go out there and work hard and try to find a way around it. It's easy to complain about it. I've got to find a way to get back to work and do what I'm asked. Whatever role that is that Randy (Carlyle) wants me to go out and play, I have to do that. That's the bottom line. .Am I happy with the way things have gone? No.

"There's no way I'm happy. A 10-game suspension and you're behind the eight-ball. I'm a big believer in first impressions and mine was sitting in the press box while everyone gets 10 games in. Then you're trying to catch up. The first 10 games of the season is really when the season gets going. It's been a very tough year, but that's part of sports."

-David Clarkson of the Toronto Maple Leafs. More on Clarkson and the Devils too from Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger.