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Martin Brodeur Final (?) Game Thread


devilsrule33

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From the quotes today, it really seems that Marty just doesn't want to retire. I almost get the feeling that the team or the role might not matter as much as he made it out to be earlier. Maybe, there is a limit to that, but he's not ready to stop playing hockey. He loves the game that much.

 

It used to be that he wanted to play 82 games because of that love. Now he might be trying to talk himself into 20...

 

Playing amateur psychologist is a dangerous game with these guys (especially with a guy like Marty, with English being his second language, and his articulation skills probably not being that great), but I almost get the impression he's now becoming much more open-minded about how he's used next season.  I think he's probably both seen and read various people's takes on him...he admitted in his bio that he's constantly watching sports programming and reading newspapers, as he feels it's extremely important to stay informed of what's going on around the league at all times...like you say, this man absolutely LOVES the sport of hockey...that comes across loud and clear in his book.  And I think some of the open-mindedness is coming from the simple fact that he's beginning to realize that there's not going to be much demand for his services in the off-season, even with his name-brand...Fischler said it perfectly, in that the kind of options available to Marty that involve more playing time will be something along the lines of playing for the Islanders and splitting time with Nabokov.  In that kind of a situation, if Marty gets hot, maybe he gets close to 50 games, but if he struggles, it's probably 30, tops, and on a team and in front of a fanbase where he hasn't built up two decades' worth of goodwill.  He won't be beloved and embraced anywhere else unless he plays well (as in, MUCH better than the past two seasons)...if he goes elsewhere and he struggles, then he'll just be seen as a washed-up former legend who enjoyed all of his best accomplishments somewhere else.  As we've seen, though many Devils fans feel strongly that he should just hang 'em up, that he has absolutely nothing left to achieve, there's a large contingent of pure Marty fanboys who will welcome him back with open arms and won't care if his play declines further next season (sad but true).  Overall, he'll get far more of a pass here than anywhere else, especially if he doesn't say one word about playing the following season, what teams he might play for, or how much playing time he's getting.   

 

So though I don't think he should come back, and really REALLY hope he retires, if he insists on playing, I think his one and only option should be to re-sign with the Devils, and fully accept being a 20ish game backup (tops), with the full understanding that he is the #2, not #1A or part of a two-headed #1 monster, and that Cory slumping would not change that, that there's no looking for a crack in the door to kick open if Cory has a few bad games. 

 

I fully admit that not only am I not behind the above, I fear that PDB (though I think his coming back is the right move) can't be trusted with Marty still on the team, and that the potential for this scenario to blow up next season definitely exists.  Like I said, I hope it's retirement, end of a phenomenal story. 

Edited by Colorado Rockies 1976
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Honestly Pete's not the one I worry about vis-a-vis playing Marty next season, but I don't want to get benoors on my *** again with the debate on how involved Lou's gotten with the goaltending this year - at least post-Olympic break.  Other than the first few weeks coming out of the break (after Marty's meeting with Lou) where they were suddenly splitting out of the blue then Marty was briefly starting again, it was Cory's team by and large from mid-January on.

 

I do think it was Marty's last game as a Devil though, he's just not going out any better way than the way he did yesterday.  Especially since everyone including him knows it has to be Cory's team going forward.  Plus Marty had a slip at the beginning of his interview with Deb where he said his last game here without a qualifier.  Later on he said maybe, but I think with all his comments lately he knows it's it for him here.  Whether he plays again depends on what kind of offers he gets elsewhere imo, any talk of coming back here is just lip service atm.

Edited by NJDevs4978
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GOAT.

 

He frustrated myself and others here since the trade deadline because while still under contract for a team fighting for the playoffs, he was talking about the who's & where's of next year.

But that is all in the past now.

I get it, and Brooks stated it best, that #30 is simply in the throes of seeing the flicker, which was once the bright flame of his career, struggle to stay lit.

 

 

Thank you for 2 decades of excellence !

:hail:

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By the way, if there is anyone here who is upset that Marty got the call instead of Cory, please turn in your jerseys. You aren't a real Devils fan. 

 

Only one "fan" on here that I know of who didn't think he deserved it.

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What a great time yesterday at the game. Before, during and after. Excellent send off for Brodeur and Chico. 

 

One thing that I noticed which was nice to see was the few Boston players that hadn't gotten off the ice yet when Marty was taking center ice, they had joined in with the Devils players with tapping their sticks on the ice as applause for our #30. Respect. 

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What a great time yesterday at the game. Before, during and after. Excellent send off for Brodeur and Chico.

One thing that I noticed which was nice to see was the few Boston players that hadn't gotten off the ice yet when Marty was taking center ice, they had joined in with the Devils players with tapping their sticks on the ice as applause for our #30. Respect.

I noticed that too- there were like 4 or 5 Bruins who stayed on the ice and tapped their sticks for Marty. Not sure which guys they were, but it was a nice gesture of respect.

 

Edited by MadDog2020
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Anyone else catch Marty saying in the post-game interview that it was his last game as a Devil? 

 

His statement in response to his teammates honoring him was "I just wanted to play my last game here and have some success". He said later in the interview that it "might" be his last game there. 

 

So it sounds to me like he has no expectation of being back next year. Whether that means he is going to retire or he just doesn't expect to be offered a contract, I do not know. 

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Anyone else catch Marty saying in the post-game interview that it was his last game as a Devil?

His statement in response to his teammates honoring him was "I just wanted to play my last game here and have some success". He said later in the interview that it "might" be his last game there.

So it sounds to me like he has no expectation of being back next year. Whether that means he is going to retire or he just doesn't expect to be offered a contract, I do not know.

Yeah I heard it... Don't know if he meant 'last' as in 'last game of the season' or 'last game as a Devil'.
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Marty is finished as a Devil. There's no uncertainty. He's not coming back here as a backup as Schneider will not accept that for another year and I don't blame him.

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First star shouldve been Gionta just so i could see a riot lol

 

:lol:

 

Zidlicky must have been pissed, two goals, and the second star to a goalie with 2 against and only 16 saves. Couldn't have happened another night? :)

 

Yes, I'm sure he must have been devastated.

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