The Rangers had too many forwards this spring, so they traded Lee Stempniak to the Winnipeg Jets for a left wing named Carl Klingberg, who spent the rest of the season in the minors before deciding to continue his career in Russia.
Stempniak, 32, a veteran of more than 700 N.H.L. games, became a free agent. He wanted to continue his career, too, and the best he could do was rustle up a tryout with the Devils. He hustled to make the team, and his overtime goal Sunday beat the Rangers, 2-1, at Madison Square Garden.