Brodeur Likely Not to Play Again for New Jersey Devils
Another NHL regular season has concluded. However, this could be unlike the end of any NHL season for the New Jersey Devils over the past two decades.
It will likely be the last time hockey fans will see Martin Brodeur the longtime goaltender for the New Jersey Devils wear a Devils uniform again.
Brodeur, who is 41, will be a definite Hall of Famer on the first ballot, but wants to play more and was not happy with his amount of playing time this past season.
Brodeur did not make an effort to hide his frustration. The goaltender said it was obvious he was not playing much when asked about giving up his starting position to Cory Schneider his heir apparent.
Brodeur called the situation difficult for him and Schneider and the coaching staff as they had two No. 1 goalies and things just did not work out. If it had worked out, said Brodeur the team would be in the playoffs, which they are not.
Brodeur added that when you have one goalie that is far better than any others on the team are, he needs to have the bulk of the playing time. Brodeur assured reporters that Schneider would get that going forward.
Brodeur did not look or sound like an NHL player getting ready for retirement, but one that is approaching free agency with the intention of finding opportunities somewhere else.
Brodeur played in just 39 games this season. That included the season’s final game on Sunday against Boston, where he saved 16 shots and won 3-2. When looking for a new team, Brodeur said playing time would be his biggest priority when deciding where to play.
Brodeur said it was not impossible for him to return next season with the Devils, but he has not discussed anything with Lou Lamoriello the team’s general manager about his future.
Brodeur tends to believe team coaches and management might not try to convince him into returning next season.
The longtime goaltender said the Northeast was not the only place he would be willing to play. Brodeur joked that he might prefer to play somewhere that the sun is out for over four months each year.
Brodeur looks forward to seeing his options on July 1. After he briefly looked into free agency two seasons ago, Brodeur eventually re-signed with the Devils, but was given an ego boost during the experience.
He hopes the same happens when he looks for a new team. He said the attention and interest teams give someone makes the player feel so good, since he has experienced it.
The longtime net minder for the Devils said he would be open to a backup role but only with certain circumstances involved.
He said if he signed as a team’s backup goaltender then it would only be for a team that was a Stanley Cup contender, not a team that barely qualifies for the postseason.
It seems retirement has not even entered the equation for Brodeur. The veteran will enjoy watching the playoffs and then this summer start looking for a new home to hang his skates in the NHL next season.
