Todd Cordell: Devils To Retire Martin Brodeur's Number In February + Ken Appleby Signs

That's Connor McDavid night in New Jersey

That's Connor McDavid night in New Jersey
- oilersfanatic

So that's why they picked the game against Edmonton!

And here I thought they just wanted to honor a great goalie while play against the team most devoid of quality goal tending....

Still can't believe no team drafted Appleby. Good goalies are hard to come by. This guys helps his team win a Memorial Cup and no one drafts him.

Anthony was his backup, funny how that worked out. Too bad for Marty's kid though, just not good enough.

No..actually Jeremey was Appleby's backup.....

Should be retired by the league

Should be retired by the league
- shvingter88

#30 is way too common of a number.

Should be retired by the league
- shvingter88

Eh, he was really good, but not retired by the league good. I'd say Hasek and Roy were better. Brodeur's true greatness comes from how consistent he was for such a long period of time.

Eh, he was really good, but not retired by the league good. I'd say Hasek and Roy were better. Brodeur's true greatness comes from how consistent he was for such a long period of time.
- CaptCrankypants

Hasek for the season. Roy for the playoffs. Brodeur for the career. Each has their merits, but Brodeur for the long haul makes him the standout to me.

So that's why they picked the game against Edmonton!

And here I thought they just wanted to honor a great goalie while play against the team most devoid of quality goal tending....
- Queenie_5_hole

Kinda silly to waste 2 sure fire sell outs on a single evening. Who's the marketing genius in Jersey?

Eh, he was really good, but not retired by the league good. I'd say Hasek and Roy were better. Brodeur's true greatness comes from how consistent he was for such a long period of time.
- CaptCrankypants

I personally rate Brodeur higher than the other 2.....but no way is he ' League wide' material.

With all due respect to Lou and what he did for us, it feels so good to be out from under his rule. I love all things like the press changes, interacting with fans on the internet, signing young, fast, offensive players instead of expensive vets. I wish this happened sooner.

Its crazy how fast we went from "everything is poop" last year with the three-headed coach and the horrific roster... and now we have all this optimism with the roster overhaul and a commitment to the rebuild. Lou made us as a franchise, but because of that he was retained far too long.

With all due respect to Lou and what he did for us, it feels so good to be out from under his rule. I love all things like the press changes, interacting with fans on the internet, signing young, fast, offensive players instead of expensive vets. I wish this happened sooner.

Its crazy how fast we went from "everything is poop" last year with the three-headed coach and the horrific roster... and now we have all this optimism with the roster overhaul and a commitment to the rebuild. Lou made us as a franchise, but because of that he was retained far too long.
- Springsteen

The "rebuild" should of been addressed when Kovy and Clarkson left. Maybe we don't trade for Schnieder? I think Lou they were leaving and traded the 9th.

We got our 1st back at 30th, but what if we finished in the top 5, would they still make it 30th?

The "rebuild" should of been addressed when Kovy and Clarkson left. Maybe we don't trade for Schnieder? I think Lou they were leaving and traded the 9th.

We got our 1st back at 30th, but what if we finished in the top 5, would they still make it 30th?
- Devils9503

I wouldn't have bet on it. We were fortunate enough to get any sort of first round pick back and I highly doubt the NHL would have helped us out again just because we had a bad season. People love to say lou should have done something else but when you bring up the situation he was in there is rarely any legitimate ideas. There really wasn't a way to start the rebuild when you don't own your first pick and thus need your 2nd and 3rd rounders.

With all due respect to Lou and what he did for us, it feels so good to be out from under his rule. I love all things like the press changes, interacting with fans on the internet, signing young, fast, offensive players instead of expensive vets. I wish this happened sooner.

Its crazy how fast we went from "everything is poop" last year with the three-headed coach and the horrific roster... and now we have all this optimism with the roster overhaul and a commitment to the rebuild. Lou made us as a franchise, but because of that he was retained far too long.
- Springsteen

The three headed monster was essentially the start of this though. JJ was getting more ice time (and did very little with it), our young D were always playing, etc. The only real difference between this years roster and the end of last years is basically Boucher and Matteau who shouldn't have been playing full time last season and Tlusty and Stempniak who are just filler.

I wouldn't have bet on it. We were fortunate enough to get any sort of first round pick back and I highly doubt the NHL would have helped us out again just because we had a bad season. People love to say lou should have done something else but when you bring up the situation he was in there is rarely any legitimate ideas. There really wasn't a way to start the rebuild when you don't own your first pick and thus need your 2nd and 3rd rounders.
- rmdevil313

When you lose three of your best goal scorers for the two years, Parise, Kovy, and Clarkson, and have no offensive prospects in the wings it looks a little dire.

Keeping the 29th was also a big mistake. It's not in hindsight, that was gonna be the lowest we would of picked and we could of only gotten worse and we did.

When you lose three of your best goal scorers for the two years, Parise, Kovy, and Clarkson, and have no offensive prospects in the wings it looks a little dire.

Keeping the 29th was also a big mistake. It's not in hindsight, that was gonna be the lowest we would of picked and we could of only gotten worse and we did.
- Devils9503

Well if you had reason to believe you'd be in the playoffs for the next 3 seasons then it would be worth it for us to get the prospects we needed into our system sooner. The difference in the success rate of a 20th pick vs a 30th pick really isn't very much at all.

Well if you had reason to believe you'd be in the playoffs for the next 3 seasons then it would be worth it for us to get the prospects we needed into our system sooner. The difference in the success rate of a 20th pick vs a 30th pick really isn't very much at all.
- rmdevil313

I understand the getting prospects sooner, but when the possibility of being as good next year or beyond, was unlikely, especially when Parise wasn't signed long term and there was a strong chance of losing him, which would hurt the Devils chances of making the playoffs next year and onward.

Also, it wasn't like there were any players that we HAD to have at 29th.

I saw this about an hour after it was posted, went to ticketmaster, and it was already sold out.

I saw this about an hour after it was posted, went to ticketmaster, and it was already sold out.
- ElvisLemieux

you can thank the scalpers for that