New Jersey Devils net-minder Martin Brodeur has little left to prove in the NHL, other than to break some long-standing records.
The Hall of Fame goalie suffered an elbow injury that will keep him off the ice and likely in a sling for the next three to four months. His return isn't expected until near the end of the regular season.
The injury means Brodeur will remain seven wins shy of tying former Montreal Canadiens goalie Patrick Roy on the all-time wins list, and only five shutouts short of tying Terry Sawchuk's record for the most shutouts.
While the news is certainly not welcome to the Devils, or to any fan of the game, Brodeur's early departure makes room for current Habs goal Carey Price to take the reigns of NHL goalie supremacy.
Price took the necessary steps to do just that during the summer when he shed almost 30 pounds of extra weight.
Whether or not the extra pounds played a part in the Habs' second round exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the newer, slimmer Price has racked up some impressive numbers to date (2.17 goals-against average, save percentage at .928). He's also earned himself a little more respect in the dressing room.
He's built up his mental toughness, which should help considerably as the season moves full steam ahead. By the time the Canadiens got around to battling the Philadelphia Flyers in the conference semis, Price was burnt out. After two years of nothing but hockey, it's understandable.
He has persevered, however, learning to recover quickly from disappointment and criticism in a very harsh hockey market. You can give some credit to coach Guy Carbonneau for getting Price back on track.
When Carbonneau chose to put Jaroslav Halak in net for that one playoff game against the Flyers, it sent a clear message to Price: Get it done or step aside.
Fortunately for the team, the coaches, and the city, Price is getting it done and has become a key piece of the Canadiens' centennial push for its 25th Stanley Cup.
He has also been recognized by having his name on the fan balloting for the All-Star Game, which will be held in Montreal this season. It's a first for him and all the more poignant now that Brodeur is out of the mix.
Brodeur, during his 15-year tenure in the NHL, proved himself a worthy successor to Roy when Roy hung up the pads. He is arguably the best goalie still playing the game. But at 36 years old, age is catching up with Brodeur and only time will tell if he'll be able to completely mend from this injury.
In the meantime, there is Carey Price and his rising star. He has done little to convince the hockey pundits that he isn't a worthy successor to Brodeur, and with the hockey gods shining down on the 21 year old, a possible Hall of Fame career could certainly be in the cards.
But for now, Canadiens fans would be happy just to see Price hoisting a Stanley Cup at the Bell Centre.
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2 months ago
yeah whatever PRICE IS OVERRATED the sooner u realize that the better.......broduer is still the best goaltender in the NHL and soon to be the best ever.......and im not a NJ devils fan i live on the west coast..price will never accomplish what brodeur has....and when he retires the best goaltender will fall to ROBERTO LUONGO .....also i can name a number of goalies who are WAY better in skill and talent......LUNQUIST.....MILLER....FLUERY....LUONGO....TURCO.....NABAKOV....KIPPRASOFF....
BACKSTROM......JS GIGUERE...these goalies are the cream of the crop when it comes to ELITE goaltenders in the NHL .....just because the HABS BARELY MADE IT TO THE 2ND round...doesnt mean there gonna win the cup alotta other teams made the 2nd round TOO!..........and who cares if its the HABS 100 anniversary it doesnt mean there the greatest team ever......and dont give me that OHH THE HABS HAVE LOTS OF YOUNG TALENT crap......SO DOES ALOT OF OTHER TEAMS......pittsberg has way more quality players then the habs do.....San jose...does also......New york rangers are better then the habs right now.......buffalo has a better team......detroit has a better team......THE WEST WILL MOST LIKELY WIN THE CUP AGAIN........i dont hate the habs okay....but i just dont like how every body is over rating them!......when there are a couple of teams out there that have a way better chance at the cup then the HABS
2 months ago
I'd take you more seriously if you could spell words like Pittsburgh... and didn't say things like "So does a lot of other teams"... but keep up the good work on the constructive critisism.
from 2 months ago
Yeah, a little spell check woulda' helped him out.
2 months ago
Tim, I like the point that u make here. the context is quite interesting, Price is a great goalie, and at this young age, he looks promising.
but we need time (more time! a lot more time!) to figure out what Price is made of. as u say, Brodeur doesnt have to do more to prove that he is one of the greatest goalies ever, and those are giant shoes to fit in for young Price.
great read,
2 months ago
I agree with Miah. Price does look promising, but it's waaaay too early to start Brodeur comparisons. When Marty first entered the league, he may have been very good, but no one was comparing him to Roy until he started putting up the big numbers. Let's hold off a little on the Price-Brodeur comparisons until Price is a little more seasoned.
Also, Brodeur is 36, not 38.
from 2 months ago
You're right, my bad on the age. I'll remedy that immediately. Also, check my response down below to yours, Miah's and Ronny's comments.
2 months ago
The dude is 21-years old. I appreciate the sentiment, but you're clearly letting the fan boy part of you lead you to some pretty lofty conclusions. I'm sure a lot of people had Jose Theodore, Jim Carrey, Brian Boucher, and dozens of other young hot goalies pegged to fill hall-of-famer shoes, but that hardly turned out to be the case.
Guys like Brodeur and Roy come along as often as Gretzky and Lemeuix. They're special players, and sorry, but at 21 years old, Price has a lot to prove.
Feel free to crow in 3 or 4 more years if I'm wrong though. But it seems a bit early for this kind of article. Brodeur will be the best in the game until he retires. And not only will he break every goaltending record, he'll put them out of reach for any other goalie for a decade or two.
Yes, he's that good.
from 2 months ago
I'll respond to all three of you at the same time.
Agreed, he's young and it's true, it's very early in his career. However, there seems to be this unnatural calm that surrounds Price. Some called in non-chalance and even laziness, particularly after some bad starts during the playoffs. I disagree with that. It's a calm, an ability to assess and react to the situation at hand. Maybe he was too calm for a playoff scenario but that's part of the learning process.
Another goalie with the same kind of presence is Ken Dryden. Before you jump on me for comparing Price to Dryden, I just think there's something with this kid. I've met Dryden before, when he was making a bid for the leadership of the political party he currently is a member of. I've heard interviews with Price. Both have the same kind of aura and presence.
Ronny, I agree, Brodeur is the best there is at the moment and Price still has plenty to prove. However, do you think Gainey would have taken a shot on Price if he didn't think Price has what it takes to be the best there is?
2 months ago
Tim,
You can say that about any high round draft pick. Mike Richards is a great player for the Flyers. He deserves to be there. But that hardly makes him the next Wayne Gretsky (or even the next Jeremy Roenick).
Smell what I'm cookin'?
from 2 months ago
Like I said, I ain't disagreeing with ya'. I smell what you're cooking and I'm glad I've given people some food for thought.
from 2 months ago
Even if they don't like the taste. Heh heh.
2 months ago
Seems way premature for this kind of talk. In Marty's first two seasons as a starter he won a Calder, went to game 7 of the Eastern Conference Championships and then won a Stanley Cup. From there he went on to win at least 30 every season until now. Let's see Price at least have one 30 win season and one cup before we start the comparisons?
Price is no doubt talented but to compare a goalie with 30 career wins to Brodeur is a reach to put it mildly. Brodeur is 36 and without question on the back end of his career, but lets not forget that he won a Vezina last year, has won 40 games every year since the lockout and his contract doesn't end until he is 40. To assume that A) Marty is done compiling eye popping stats and B) Price will ever win 4 Vezinas, 3 Cups, 500 plus games, etc. would be like assuming Crosby is going to one day be up there with Gretzky. Possible, maybe? Something that should even be a discussion right now? No.
2 months ago
Although as I said, and as most said, the comparison is a bit early, I ll give you one thing I sure agree with u on: the way he is, his personality, and calm, this wave of confidence which is almost alarming sometimes surrounding him is quite something, especially when u put the age in the context.
2 months ago
If you take away Brodeur from the Devils and Price from the Canadiens, which team suffers more?
The Devils. The point is Montreal relies less on Price than New jersey relied on Brodeur, we have more depth. Not to take away from Carey but Halak does a great job.
But I'm sure that Price will become as important to the Habs one day, as Brodeur is to the Devils!
from 2 months ago
Yes, you're right. Montreal has enough depth that if Price is riding the pine, Halak can certainly pick up any slack.
2 months ago
kipper is playing shit,,dallas is in the cellar,,,lundquist is god..brodeur is the shit..luongo is pro..backstrom is great..fleury is good at best...not a game changer..but definitely solid...Jiggy..has pronger, beauchemin and niederymayer in front of him..and hes gigantic...nabby is good too..but Price is top 5 fo sho..at least top 7..look at the stats brooo
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