Martin Brodeur just recorded his 690th career victory on Monday, extending his NHL record for wins by a goaltender. Unlike all his other wins, however, this win was not for the New Jersey Devils. Instead, he helped the St. Louis Blues best the Florida Panthers on Monday by a score of 4-2, recording 32 saves in the victory.
Brian Elliott, who has compiled an 8-4-1 record for the Blues this season with a 1.82 goals-against average and .931 save percentage, left the team’s game against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 25 with a lower-body injury. The next day, St. Louis invited Brodeur to work out with the team, eventually inking the 42-year-old to a contract on Dec. 2.
He has looked sharp in his first three games for St. Louis. Despite losing the first game he started by allowing four goals on 24 shots against the Nashville Predators on Dec. 4, he made several superb saves. He stoned Predators’ forward Colin Wilson on a breakaway in the game’s first minute, and he robbed a James Neal slap shot later in the first period. After relieving Jake Allen and leading the Blues to a 6-4 victory over the Islanders on Saturday, he excelled against the Panthers, earning his second win of the season.
I was thrilled when I first saw the news that “Marty” was back in the league. I was also very curious because of the specifics of his contract. Brodeur signed a one-year, $700,000 contract, and receives a $10,000 bonus for each point he earns the Blues ($20,000 per win). The Blues see an incredibly high upside in the veteran to provide a contract with such high incentives.
Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long for a team to sign Brodeur. More specifically, I thought the Anaheim Ducks would have signed him much earlier this season. The Ducks faced injury troubles with their goaltenders early on, causing Dwayne Roloson (the team’s goalie coach) to dress as a backup in a game against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 2.
If the team had shown any interest in Brodeur, he more than likely would’ve flown to Anaheim for a tryout similar to St. Louis’s. At his not-so-ripe age of 42, Brodeur surely would have impressed. He also would have strongly influenced the Ducks’ young goalies Frederick Andersen (age 25) and John Gibson (21). Lastly, he would have enjoyed going to Anaheim, since the Ducks are always a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Aside from his age, there is no evidence to suggest Brodeur is declining. New Jersey cut ties with him after he posted a very respectable 19-14-6 record last season, with a respectable (but not great) .901 SV% and 2.51 GAA. Just two years before that in 2012, however, Brodeur led the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. Although his team eventually lost, he posted a noteworthy .917 SV% and 2.12 GAA en route to a 14-9 record in the 2012 postseason.
Brodeur has won three Stanley Cups and participated in 10 All-Star games. He has accumulated 14 30-win seasons (including an incredible 12 consecutive from 1995-96 through 2007-08) and eight 40-win seasons (including three consecutive between 2005-06 and 2007-08).
Since the 2005-06 season, a trapezoid appears behind each goaltender’s net. The goalie can only play the puck either in the trapezoid or in front of the goal line. Otherwise, he will be penalized two minutes for delay of game. The trapezoid rule is commonly referred to as the “Brodeur Rule,” since Brodeur was notorious for frequently leaving his crease and for his excellent puckhandling ability. In fact, Brodeur has amassed 45 assists in his career, fewer than only Tom Barrasso and Grant Fuhr.
Brodeur’s surreal number of records and his three Stanley Cup Championships make him one of the best goaltenders in history. He has earned his place in the company of Dominik Hasek, Patrick Roy, Ed Belfour and Jacques Plante.
Even though most fans thought that 2012 was his last chance at the Cup (myself included), he has a fighting chance with St. Louis (currently 18-8-2), a team that has yet to win Lord Stanley’s hardware since entering the league in 1967. Watching Brodeur lead the Blues to their first Stanley Cup victory would be a dream come true for many hockey fans.
I will never get used to seeing “Marty” play for any team other than New Jersey. After all, he has been the Devils’ starting goalie since before I was born. Although it will always be weird watching him play for a different team, I wish him the best of luck as he continues his reign as one of the greatest goalies hockey has ever seen.
