Just a few quick hits….
Brodeur declined the invitation to play for Team Canada at the World Championship next month.
According to him, mainly because the first round series against rival Rangers left him without desire to play right now. He also mentioned he is tired and exhausted.
Brodeur also referred to the series as a “circus” mainly because of his and Avery’s confrontation which resulted in Avery calling Marty a “fatso” for not shaking his hand in the post game tradition. Avery again, classy as always. And Brodeur takes heat for not wanting to shake his hand? Give me a break.
READ BETWEEN THE LINES – Brodeur is mentally, and perhaps physically, fatigued. He wants to rest. We need to have a backup that can play 20 games a season.
Congrats Brodeur for being named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy yet again along with Nabokov and Lundquist. Certainly three worthy candidates and the nomination alone means Marty is still one of the best. Congrats.
Zach Parise and Paul Martin will partake in the Championship as they were added to the Team USA squad.
Patrik Elias is likely to be invited to the Czech Republic roster and an outside chance Sergei Brylin could receive an invite as well.
Karel Rachunek will not return to the Devils next year. Rumor has it that Karel was not inserted into the lineup towards the end of the season because he angered management for speaking to Russian teams during the season. He claims they contacted his agent, former NHLer Petr Svoboda, and said he has no interest in returning. I liked Rachunek but don’t think he will be a big loss.
Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate
This Day in Hockey History…
1997 - Rookie Jamie Langenbrunner scored the winning goal at 5:31 of the third period as Dallas won 4-3, at Edmonton in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals
Food For Thought...
I attended Game six of the Flyers and Capitals. The first hockey action since my Devils went golfing.
The two big things I took from the game were (as I mentioned in Steve Hindle's blog);
1- The Flyers home crowd was AWESOME! Home ice made a difference, at least in the beginning of the game. 95% of the arena was orange as fans proudly wore orange t-shirts handed out at the door. I loved it. FlyBoys fans... great stuff!
PS - I have decided to "adopt" the Flyers as my second team since everyone around me are Flyers fans. LOL
2- Ovechkin is EXPLOSIVE!
If I had to build a franshise tomorrow I would have a hard time choosing between Ovechkin and Crosby.
WHO WOULD YOU PICK FIRST OVERALL TO BUILD A FRANCHISE AROUND?
Id love to hear your 2 or 3 bulletpoints why.
New Jersey Devils Blogger • 
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