Is this Brodeur's farewell season? With just one year left in a two-year contract, the signs from the hockey gods point to Brodeur's retirement at the end of this coming season, but he will want to prove he has at least one more season in him. While not the netminder he used to be, Brodeur had serviceable numbers last season with a 2.22 goals-against average, and a 13-9-7 record in 29 games, missing significant time due to injury. He's healthy heading into training camp and is still slated to be the team's No. 1 netminder even with newly-acquired Cory Schneider on the roster. The Devils have 22 sets of back-to-back games this season and we can expect that Brodeur will sit out at least 22 of those 44 contests. A far lower number of starts from the 75-78 he logged during the prime of his career is to be expected. Brodeur can be a pick to balance out your goaltending roster, but he's not going to be your anchor. If he or the Devils struggle this season, they might turn to Cory Schneider earlier than anticipated.
Questions abounded heading into October of last year as to whether the 2011-12 season would be Martin Brodeur’s last in the NHL. In June of 2012, after Brodeur had led the Devils within two games of the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup, there was little question Marty would once more be back in New Jersey. Brodeur inked a two-year contract with the Devils in July and enters the season as the team’s 40-year-old starting netminder. He is no longer the elite talent he was several years ago and logic would suggest that he will share more time with Johan Hedberg than he has in previous seasons. Marty finished the season much stronger than he began it, posting a goals-against average of 1.86 in the season’s final three months with all three of his shutouts coming over that span. You could do worse than adding Brodeur as one of your netminders, but don’t draft him at the expense of a younger player with more upside.
Those that spent a high first-round pick on Martin Brodeur experienced a legendary case of buyer's remorse in the winter months of 2010. Brodeur was at the helm during the Devils' catastrophic season and posted nothing like the consistently strong numbers to which owners had grown accustom. Thanks to a strong second half, Brodeur, now 39, finished with 23 wins and six shutouts, but plenty of owners had jumped ship on his services beforehand. The signs point to New Jersey returning to form this season and Brodeur will be in goal just about every night. Those that buy the team's rebound will be able to get the veteran a few rounds later than usual, but don't wait too long to snag Marty.
Entering the final two years of his contract, there's little reason to believe that Brodeur will not be one of the league's top netminders. One of the safest picks on the board, Brodeur's essentially a given for 40 wins and playing in 75 games along with a goals-against average and save percentage that should be among the league leaders.
Putting last season’s catastrophic playoff exit behind him and shaking off the nightmares of Eric Staal racing down the left wing, all signs point to Brodeur having another monster year. Fully recovered from surgery to repair a torn biceps, Brodeur played well upon his return to the Devils in late February, and due to his reduced workload, Brodeur will be more rested than ever. Odds are Brodeur will play in close to 70 or more games, and with it being an Olympic year, Marty likely will see some action in Vancouver. Brodeur remains one of the safest picks on the board and should be among the league leaders in the primary goaltending categories.
Putting last season’s catastrophic playoff exit behind him and shaking off the nightmares of Eric Staal racing down the left wing, all signs point to Brodeur having a monster year. Fully recovered from surgery to repair a torn biceps, Brodeur played well upon his return to the Devils in late February and due to his reduced workload, Brodeur will be more rested than ever. Odds are Brodeur will play in close to 70 or more games, and with it being an Olympic year, Marty likely will see some action in Vancouver. Brodeur remains one of the safest picks on the board and should be among the league leaders in the primary goaltending categories.
Brodeur produced another Vezina Trophy-winning campaign with 44 wins and a 2.17 goals-against average. He played poorly in the the Devils' early post-season exit to the Rangers, but there is little reason to think that he will not be one of the league's most productive goaltenders again. He's a lock to play around 75 games and has gotten better over the past three seasons. He's a model of health and will be one of, if not, the first goaltender off the board. Brodeur is a rather safe pick, to say the least.
A two-time Vezina Trophy winner and three-time Stanley Cup champion, Brodeur will likely be the first goaltender off the board in any draft and a likely candidate for the top overall pick. He has had nine consecutive seasons with over 30 wins and has hit 40 in four of those seasons and 37 or more eight times. His goals-against average (GAA) and save percentage are regularly among the league leaders and he plays in around 70-plus games every season.
He’s still the top goalie available and can be the backbone of your team as well. His career GAA is 2.17 and he has 403 wins.
