Martin Brodeur is Devils hockey.
When you think of the Devils, Brodeur is the first person that comes to mind. He's won three Stanley Cups with the team, and has broken almost every record that exists playing goal in New Jersey.
That said, it's time for Lou Lamoriello and the Devils to turn the page on a great era, and start over.
With Cory Schneider between the pipes, the team is set in goal. He can start the majority of the 82-game schedule, and there aren't many better options given he's 2nd in save percentage - behind only Tuukka Rask - since joining the NHL.
They could sign a cheap backup (Scott Clemmensen/Tomas Greiss?), promote Keith Kinkaid, whatever. Either way, I think it's time for the Devils to move on.
Brodeur wants to be a starter. Cory Schneider wants to be the undisputed starter, is currently the superior goaltender, and the Devils are hoping they can keep him around to make him the goaltender of the future. He won't stay if he's not starting and happy, because he could start on many other teams.
If Brodeur stays around, the Devils will have the same issues in goal that caused problems last year.
I think Schneider has more than paid his dues at this point, and it's not fair to him to continually compete for a job his numbers show he's the best guy for.
DeBoer indirectly said it'd be best to have an undisputed No. 1 goaltender when on TSN radio a few days back.
DeBoer "I don't think it was the perfect situation for either guy obviously & maybe not for our team when I look back at it"
— Hope_Smoke (@Hope_Smoke) May 7, 2014It's tough to move on from a guy who's helped put the organization on the map, but sometimes change is for the best.
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