Why Martin Brodeur Should Be Traded

New Jersey Devils President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello is in denial about the state of his own team. Sure, he knows they have a league-worst record at 10-28-2 (good for 22 points, next lowest team is the Islanders with 30 points). But firing a rookie head coach, trading away your captain (Jamie Langebrunner to the Stars this past week), and having a huge signing blow up in your face usually means you're rebuilding. Lamoriello sees it another way:

"I despise the word 'rebuilding,"' Lamoriello said in a conference call. "We have to look at the reasons why we're in this position. Maybe it's talent. Maybe it's chemistry. We have to be very careful and look at the big picture."

Before I go any further, lets point out that the Devils haven't missed the playoffs since the 1995-96 season (a year after winning their first Stanley Cup); have won two Stanley Cups since then, an additional conference championship, and nine Atlantic Division championships. That is quite the run. But all good things must come to an end, and a rebuilding phase for this franchise has finally come. 


Martin Brodeur is arguably the best goalie to ever play the game. He's spent 19 seasons with the Devils, won three Stanley Cups, two gold medals, four Vezina trophies, five Jennings trophies, the Calder, ten All-Star Game appearances, and has only missed the playoffs once since becoming the Devils cornerstone. He owns the league records for wins, shutouts, appearances, and numerous franchise records. While age has caught up with Brodeur and he's not the goalie he once was, on a good team he would still be able to backstop a deep playoff run. New Jersey won't be making the playoffs this season. He has no value to this team for this season and won't over the next few seasons. When asked in a conference call if there were any thoughts of trading the franchise goalie, Lamoriello answered with "No" and then moved on

To teams like the Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, or San Jose Sharks, he could be priceless.

The worst option for Brodeur would be Ottawa. While their goalie situation of Pascal Leclaire-Brian Elliott, an upgrade is needed. They are currently in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and 9 points out of 8th, but there is still half the season remaining and he would make them a playoff contender. It would be ironic to see Brodeur go here considering the playoff battles the Devils and Sens have had over the years.

A better destination would be San Jose. The Sharks have been one of the league's top teams over the past five seasons but could never get over the hump. While netminder Evgeni Nabokov wasn't bad, he was never capable of taking the team to the next level. Brodeur would certainly be a better option that Antero Niittymaki or Antti Niemi and the Sharks lack a veteran with championship experience. Marty comes with loads of that. San Jose is in 6th place in the West and six points out of the Pacific Division lead. 

The best option would be the Washington Capitals. They are the closest to winning the Stanley Cup of the three teams mentioned.  The Caps are in 5th place in the East with 52 points and are a single point out of the Southeast lead. The young goalie duo of Semyon Varlamov (pictured above) and Michal Neuvirth have both had their moments this season (Varlamov has come on as of late. Brodeur knows the teams in the East, and the Capitals would get the benefit of being Cup-capable this season and for the long run with one of their younger options.

What about from the Devils perspective? While Marty's stats aren't great this season (5-18-1, 3.15 GAA, .882 save percentage), he has still posted three shutouts and hasn't had the top quality of defensemen in front of him this season (New Jersey has been banged up on the blueline). Lamoriello would fetch quite the ransom in return to get the Devils back on track quicker. I recognize that Brodeur is the franchise's best player ever and they will probably never have a player again that is as great and as popular as he is, but keeping him around isn't helping either side. If Ray Bourque can leave Boston to win a Stanley Cup, why can't Brodeur go somewhere else to help a  franchise win it all?

I know it's tough to trade someone that's been the heart and soul of this franchise for almost two decades, but sometimes decisions need to be made with your head, not your heart. Lou Lamoriello has never been a man to make decisions with his heart, now is not the time to start.

NHL Weekly TV Viewer Guide - Week of 1/3

Canadiens goaltender Carey Price displays his Vezina form twice this week

MONDAY - Blackhawks @ Kings - 9PM - Versus
This is a match-up of two of my favorite teams AND favorite teams to watch. Los Angeles is in 6th place with 45 points and the Blackhawks are in 10th with 43 points in a very tight Western Conference. The Kings are struggling and are in the midst of a three game losing streak after winning four in a row. Chicago has lost 3 in a row after their own four game winning streak. The Blackhawks have won all 3 meetings this year including a 2-1 win in LA back on the 19th. The Kings NEED this game for a psychological boost. These teams could meet in the playoffs and no one wants to be swept.

TUESDAY - Wild @ Devils - 7PM - Versus
Another marvelous job done by Versus in picking this game...not. Even at the beginning of the year, Tampa Bay @ Washington or Buffalo @ Colorado would have been better games to go with. The only salvageable storyline out of this game is that Jacques Lemaire is coaching against his old Wild team. Minnesota is coming off a wild 6-5 OT win over Phoenix while the Devils are coming off an ugly 6-3 loss at Carolina. New Jersey has lost 12 of their past 14 games. This will be their first and only meeting of the season.

WEDNESDAY - WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS - FINAL - 7PM - NHL NETWORK (winner of Sweden-Russia vs. winner of USA-Canada)

THURSDAY - Penguins @ Canadiens - 7:30PM - NHL Network
This will be the Penguins first national TV appearance since the Winter Classic. It happens to be the team that eliminated both them and the Capitals from the playoffs last year. Pittsburgh will get a tune-up the night before at home against Tampa Bay before heading north of the border. The Canadiens have cooled off as of late. Before losing in overtime to Atlanta last night, the Habs had lost 8 of 11. The Canadiens won their only prior meeting 3-2 back in the beginning of the season.

FRIDAY - NO GAME

SATURDAY - Bruins @ Canadiens - 7PM - NHL Network
The Bruins will get the Maple Leafs in Toronto and the Wild at home before heading up to the Bell Centre. This will be their 3rd meeting of the season (2nd in Montreal) and the Canadiens have won both matches so far. The best two goalies in the East and top 2 Vezina candidates should both be in the net for Montreal (Carey Price) and Boston (Tim Thomas). The Canadiens have dominated the Northeast with a 9-3 record while the Bruins are 4-4-2.

SUNDAY - NO GAME

Winter Classic a Slippery Success

Once again, the Winter Classic was everything it was hyped up to be. Neither superstar (Ovechkin or Crosby) showed up big on the stat sheet, but the game definitely had a playoff vibe. Whether you sat through the rain at Heinz Field or watched at home, it was an enjoyable experience for many reasons...

Hockey Under The Lights: The NHL should make this a New Years Night game from now on. During the day is nice, but there's less college football to compete against at night. Also, how sweet did outdoor hockey under the lights look. The move was made due to weather, but this should be a permanent fixture at every subsequent Winter Classic.

Semyon Varlamov: One item that didn't get a lot of attention going in to the game was the Capitals goaltending situation. This has been a continuing theme for the Capitals all year. Both candidates are young (Both Varlamov and Neuvirth are 22) and both have had their peaks and valleys this season. Varlamov made 32 saves (many of them were tough) and played very well on a big stage. Semyon has given Caps coach Bruce Boudreau every reason to give him the chance to be the #1 guy this year.

Physical Play: The ice conditions didn't water down the physicality between these two hated rivals. The fight between the Pens Mike Rupp and Caps John Erskine (a great heavyweight bought) in the 1st period was a microcasm of the beating and banging that went on all game. The David Steckel hit on Sidney Crosby at the end of the 2nd period wasn't dirty. Crosby happened to be in Steckel's way. Crosby's comments on the hit after the game ""He got my head, for sure," Crosby said. "But I can't comment on it. I don't even know. Maybe it was so far behind the play the officials didn't see it." Stop being such a cry baby and look at the tape before you automatically assume that someone ran you.

Weather/Ice Conditions: No one expected rain and high 40s to be the forecast in early January in Pittsburgh, but that was the hand that was dealt. Both teams adapted to the conditions well. You could see some tentativeness with the puck in the 1st period on both sides of the ice, but the puck control and passing became better as time went on.

Eric Fehr: Good karma for Fehr. In the 3rd installment of HBO's 24/7 series, we see that him and his wife adopted a family for Christmas shopping and bought all the presents for a family. No, that has nothing to do with what happens on the ice, but he worked hard all game and took advantage of the opportunities given to him.

Marc Andre-Fleury: 29 Saves isn't bad at all and two of the goals he gave up were tough shots. But Fehr's goal to make it 2-1, that is just an awful decision by The Flower to go behind the net and play the puck in those conditions. Fleury is a good puck-handler and that is a big part of his game, but he has to be more aware of adjusting to the ice conditions.

Overall, the 4th Winter Classic was just as great as the previous three. Where they should do it next year, who knows? Do the Rangers fans finally get the game they've been wanting forever (it would have to be at Citi Field, Yankee Stadium has the Pinstripe Bowl going on the week leading up to the game and the new Meadowlands Stadium would be home for a Devils game, this isn't the Jets or Giants we're talking about here)? Maybe the Avs host a mile-high match-up? The Wild hosting an outdoor game in Minnesota, the Blues going to new Busch Stadium, there are many ways the NHL could go. It will be interesting to see who gets the 5th installment of the Winter Classic on 1/1/12.


Other random notes...

The Tampa Bay Lightning acquiring goalie Dwayne Roloson was a VERY good move. Both Mike Smith and Dan Ellis have been mediocre, at best, this year and Rolly provides stability between the pipes. Fun fact - Roloson is two years older than head coach Guy Boucher. As for the Isles, they get young defenseman Ty Wishart which replaces the space left by the James Wisniewski trade.

Look out for the Calgary Flames...they've won four games in a row, have reached .500, and are now only five points out of 8th in a tight Western Conference.