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Shanahan leaves the New Jersey Devils

New Jersey Devils Mike Mottau covers his mouth while Brendan Shanahan walks off the ice with blood on his face in the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on April 15, 2009. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo)
New Jersey Devils Mike Mottau covers his mouth while Brendan Shanahan walks off the ice with blood on his face in the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on April 15, 2009. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo) | License Photo

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Veteran left wing Brendan Shanahan left the NHL's New Jersey Devils Thursday due to his lack of production and diminished role on the team.

The 21-year veteran, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, '98 and 2002, said the emergence of younger players in the pre-season -- Niclas Bergfors, Matt Halischuk and Ilkka Pikkarainen – factored in his decision the day the NHL's 2009-10 season was set to begin.

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"When I signed this past summer, (general manager) Lou Lamoriello, (coach) Jacques Lemaire, and I agreed that if we were unable to find a suitable fit in which I would be able to compete and contribute, I would simply step aside," Shanahan said in a statement.

He has not said that he is retiring.

Shanahan ranks 11th all-time in goals (656) and 23rd all-time in points (1,354) in 1,524 career games.

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