Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Opening Night "Mare" and Time for Marty to Pass the Torch

October 4, 2009, 11:12 PM ET [ Comments]
Sam Woo
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Still away on business..... keep rolling those guest blogs in...

Time for Marty to Pass the Torch

By Mike Luciano


It's hard to stay among the elite, let alone get there and be considered the elite's best year in and out. Looking past the glamour and title, it's evident you can't do it forever and regardless of what you or other people think and say, you have to acknowledge when it's time to start slowing down so you can still keep up, which is the hardest thing to do. Please note that last night's (10/3/2009) Devils 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers bares no relevance to this write up, although Martin Brodeur and the current state of his career remain the focus. The 37-year old hopes are dead set on becoming Team Canada's starting goaltender in the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Colombia, which he knows is probably the last time he'll represent his country. Not only am I against this happening, but don't think Brodeur should even partake in this year's Olympics at all if he wants to consider how it'll impact the few chances he has left of getting his name etched on the Stanley Cup a fourth time, despite the high likeliness that this may be his last chance to participate.

Overwhelming odds are Brodeur will start for Team Canada, not because of his current state and skill, which is what it'll seem like, since we all know he'll land the position with his title, ego, and potential influence of Jacques Lemaire's involvement in Team Canada's coaching staff. I don't think Brodeur should have any involvement in this year's Olympics because he's a bad goaltender on full decline (which he isn't yet), I think there are currently more options amongst goaltenders with more skill and suitability to fulfil Team Canada's goaltending needs, not to mention the reoccurring concern that Marty shouldn't be playing nearly as much as he does at this point in his career, making the Olympics an unnecessary feature to play in.

Despite the past three or four late season burnouts, Brodeur still plays a workload, whose consequences are suffered during the playoffs. After March 1st in the past four seasons, Brodeur's recorded a 2.47 GAA and 44-32 record. In 2005-2006, Marty's last Olympic appearance, he posted a 15-8 record after the regular season resumed in March with a 2.50 GAA. The following year, he went 9-8 from March onward with a 2.58 GAA, posting the same record in 2008 with a 2.17 GAA (although remember this was a year when the Devils scored sparingly and were forced to play optimal defensive hockey as a result). Last year's excuse was his return from injury, where he went 11-8 after March with a 2.63 GAA. These are average goaltending statistics, which reflected Brodeur's play at this time of year. He's remained in this state going into the playoffs each year, resulting in the Devil's inability to advance beyond the second round and played more than 73 games each season. Not only does this send a message that an average goaltender cannot help a team win a Stanley Cup, but it further confirms Brodeur's age is progressively catching up to him in one of the worst possible ways.

If Brodeur can't maintain his normal workload anymore, which he'll probably still have this year anyway, how will his play at season's end be affected with two or three weeks of intensely compacted Olympic hockey? In 2002, Brodeur's Gold Medal year, he played 19 games after the Olympics and went 14-5 with a 1.89 GAA. Marty was only thirty then, and won a Stanley Cup the year after. Notice the difference in stats? If the trend continues, Brodeur is fated for an approximate 13-8 record and 3.11 GAA in this season's final 21 games. It's certain Brodeur's a true competitor and always wants to take his play and contributive opportunities to the max, since he probably sees the Olympics as another chance to increase his assortment of awards, championships, and achievements in his legendary career instead of a time to gain some much needed rest, especially if he's in for another harsh workload at his age.

If he uses his title and ego to gain Team Canada's starting goaltending position, it'd be another example of Marty benefiting his image instead of the team he's on. While I consider Brodeur the best regular season goaltender and arguably one of the greatest to play the game, the biggest threat to Brodeur's titles and role on Team Canada is Vancouver's Roberto Luongo, who is a common choice amongst fans, analysts, and bloggers for Team Canada's starter. Luongo played in Marty's shadow in 2006, where he went 1-1 with a 1.51 GAA, while Brodeur was 2-2 with a 2.01 GAA. Aside from my personal belief Luongo is arguably the current best in the game, he's seven years younger than Brodeur and has a chance to represent his country in the city he plays in, one of the rarest opportunities any player, especially a goaltender can encounter. If it comes down to a matter of choice, Brodeur would be plain conceited to deprive Luongo of the role and opportunity he's facing.

Martin Brodeur's enjoyed a complete and decorated career. He's established countless franchise and league records, won every possible championship and award, including a Gold Medal, and could retire today guaranteed to see his number raised to the Prudential Center rafters and face in the hall of fame. I'm sure Marty's age is driving him to salvage every chance to win, since he knows his windows of opportunities are closing but as I said earlier, you sometimes have to sacrifice to maximize you chances to be the last one standing. Playing in the Olympics is a privilege few will ever receive and is reserved for the best of the best, where quantity can't affect their level of play. As said, I don't think Marty's on a decline yet and think he's still got some good play left in him it's time for Brodeur to humbly step aside as the next generation of players attempts to repeat the success he enjoyed every four years, as he focuses on reclaiming hockey's greatest award, knowing he's already done what the new guys are trying to attempt.

On a few other notes, Jacques Lemaire said he isn't worried...yet about last night's poor performance, but said some concern might be raised if the team plays indifferently tomorrow night against the Rangers. It looks like there may be some changes in the lineup, particularly Jay Pandolfo likely to be replaced by a healthy Ikka PIkkarainen, who'll make his season debut. It doesn't seem Lemaire will change the defensive lineup, although one criticism I must make is I think Colin White and Mike Mottau are getting too much playing time, which the third pairing of Bryce Salvador and Cory Murphy should be getting.

I believed Niclas Bergfors was the best player for the Devils last night and Danius Zubrus and Brian Rolston made up the team's best line. Zubrus recorded two assists and Rolston scored one of his typical power play goals off a point shot Bergfors perfectly set him up for. Although Bergfors started to play with Parise and Zajac towards the end of last night's game, this is one line Lemaire shouldn't touch for now.

I also think rookie Matt Halischuk has no business playing on the fourth line and deserves a spot on the third line with David Clarkson and Rod Niedermayer. It's likely Ikka Pikkarainen will play with these two tomorrow night as Pandolfo did, but I think Halischuk has more promise than either of the two and should be given a better chance to show what he's got, especially if he's currently the likely one to be sent to the minors when Elias returns...of course, Lemaire definitely knows more about coaching than all of us combined, so I'll try not to challenge or question his decisions too much.

Opening Night "Mare"

By Robert Trezza


Ouch!

If I wanted to waste my money like I did last night I could have phoned Bernie Madoff. Ok, perhaps I am being a little harsh on the Devils, but like most Devils' fans I was hoping last not would remove the bad taste from my mouth that the 2009 playoffs left. It may sound strange, but it looked like the game really turned after the Flyers killed the 5-on-3 early in the first. On that PP Ray Emery looked like the scary house on the corner and the Devils looked like the scared neighborhood kids, they just wouldn't go there!

Almost effortlessly the Flyers only allowed one shot on their PK, one shot while basically sipping coffee in their end. It was very surprising to see especially since the Devils came out looking aggressive rolling five forwards on that PP. Besides an inept PP the Devils can look to their star goal tender Marty Brodeur, who did not exactly look like his stellar self last night allowing 5 goals on 26 shots.

The night was not a total loss, as the team kept playing hard throughout the night despite what the scoreboard read. Young Nick Bergfors was quite aggressive all night and even picked up a point. Free agent singing Rob Niedermayer looked like he won’t miss a step in red and black this year, holding his own against the Flyers’ big guns. Hopefully Sunday’s skate will have the Devil’s practicing their PP and coach Lemaire shouting, “Shoot the puck!”

For those looking for something good from the day after, no goalie rebounds better from a bad loss then Marty and we all know who is on the schedule next (New York Rangers).
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Sam Woo
» RAISING HELL: Will The Devils Over Take The Hurricanes In Standings?
» PODCAST: Devils Clinch, Now Phase Two
» RAISING HELL: Timo Scores Twice, Devils Get Point In Shootout Loss To Tampa
» RAISING HELL: Will The Devils Spring Forward This Week?
» RAISING HELL: Devils Squeak by Caps With Meier’s Shootout Game Winner