Martin Brodeur Q and A

 

 

NHL

 

Earlier today Martin was named First Star for the week that ended yesterday after leading the Devils to three wins while posting a 0.65 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage. In Philadelphia last Friday, Marty backstopped the Devils to a 2-0 victory that was significant in a couple of ways. The shut-out was the 84th of his career, tying him for third place on the all-time shut-out list with hockey Hall of Famer Glenn Hall.
The win was his 16th of the season, pushing his career total to 462, one ahead of Florida's Ed Belfour and second on the all-time wins list. Patrick Roy is first with 551.
The Devils are tied with the New York Rangers for first place in the Atlantic Division with 36 points, and host the Eastern Conference-leading Buffalo Sabres tomorrow night at the Continental Airlines Arena.
Again, thanks to Marty for taking the time today and answer your questions. We'll open it up for questions.
Q. Years ago the best goalies were all from Québec. Now a lot of them seem like they're from Finland. Has there been a shift away from the Québec goalies? What are your feelings on the shootouts? One more headache for the goaltender. What is your feeling on that? It's tough enough playing goalie in the NHL with the 65 minutes, but now you have to go through the grief of the shootouts. What are your feelings on the shootouts?
MARTIN BRODEUR: Well, the first question, I think definitely a lot more European goalies are becoming great goalies out there. You mentioned Finland with Kiprusoff, Lehtonen. There's other goalies. Played a young guy in Boston that did a good job, Toivonen. I think the waves are different. Patrick Roy dominated so much in the late '80s, early '90s. I think you saw a lot of the goalies coming in from Québec. You saw Dominik Hasek dominating. You saw a lot more European goalies coming out of Europe. I think there's a lot of trends because of the success of the goalies that happens in the NHL. I don't know if it feeds off with young people believing what they can do. But definitely it's a great asset to our league to be able to go out around the world, pick up goalies. It's pretty cool. The other question, I think it's great. I don't think it's a drag for anybody. I think it's a big challenge for goalies to be part of shootouts. If you're a guy that likes competition, then this is it. I think you're going one-on-one against the best players on the other side. It's a little tough sometimes when you don't win or whatever. But I think for the fans, even for players, I think it's a challenge. I think a lot of the goalies that I've talked to welcome it a lot.
Q. On the shut-outs, how tough is it to get a shut-out in today's game? A lot of great goalies never came close to the amount you've had.
MARTIN BRODEUR: Well, definitely in the league it gets tough. Especially to kill so many penalties every game, it makes it hard. I think it's all about offense now. You see that guys are going to the net a lot more freely than they used to. You don't see these shut-outs with 12 or 13 shots that I had a few years ago (laughter). You don't see that too often any more.
I've been fortunate to play for a pretty well-disciplined team all of my career. I think that's one of the big reasons why I was able to rack up so many shut-outs.
Q. In your eyes, what do you find the most surprising things in the league as far as where teams are in the standings?
MARTIN BRODEUR: Well, there are not many surprises. I think everybody expected Buffalo to have a great season. You expect Anaheim to dominate. I think we're a little different. Definitely in our division, seeing the Flyers struggle that much. They're a good team, a lot of good players. You shake your head when you see they're at the bottom of our division. I think it's going to turn around for them. It takes a little time. But there's not much surprise out there. San Jose, you knew these guys were good. Ottawa could be a little bit of a surprise. Everybody thought they would dominate a lot more. So far I think it's been a decent season for the teams that are supposed to be there.
Q. In the second season of the crackdown on goalie equipment, the new rules, do you feel and do you see other goalies getting more acclimatized with how the world is now?
MARTIN BRODEUR: Oh, definitely. There was a period of adjustment for everybody. I think as far as our goalies are concerned, it's a lot different than the player. Missing a full year of playing hockey I think affected certain goalies. I think right now you can see everybody getting back in the groove of what we're used to playing. Definitely the equipment is one thing. But definitely the way that the game is played is a different one. I think that's where everybody's starting to get used to it a little more.
Q. There's a lot of stories going on about Dominik Hasek, Detroit, coming back at his age. Are you making any concessions to age? You're not as old. Have you changed anything? Are you looking after anything differently than you might have eight or 10 years ago?
MARTIN BRODEUR: Not yet. I'm sure it's going to come up soon. You always hear when you get older, you have to take care of yourself a little better, everything comes a little harder. You can feel it once in a while, that definitely it's important you take care of yourself. The rest factor also. When you do get older, I think if you don't want to get hurt too much in the back end of your career, I think it's important to stay in top shape and well-rested for the games you need to play.
Q. The best goalies still seem to be the older goalies. Any real young ones coming up? You still play in just about every game in New Jersey. At your age, do you ever put your hand up and say, Uncle?
MARTIN BRODEUR: They're the ones trying to get me out of the net (laughter). I think definitely there's some really, really good young goalies. You just look in Atlanta with Lehtonen. I think he's going to be the real deal definitely. This franchise, it looks like they're turning the corner and will be dominant for a few years. They have a lot of great, great players, and are well-coached. You look at Henrik Lundqvist in New York, a young guy that plays in a tough market. Definitely he's making his way up to be one of the top goalies also. I think the future of goalies is well on their way. That's counting also Ryan Miller. You look at Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh, another organization turning the corner to be a dominant team with probably the best hockey players. The future looks pretty bright. As far as me playing a lot of games, I grew up in this organization playing a lot of games. For me I don't see it to be different. I always try to compare myself to a hockey player. I know Scott Stevens at 36, 37 years old played 82 games every year and didn't ask for a day off. That's why I try, if I feel good, to be able to help my team out.
Q. You're obviously second in wins. You're tied with Glenn Hall for shut-outs. Is it tougher to get a shut-out now than it was back then? Do you compare what he did and what you have done?
MARTIN BRODEUR: Definitely I think it's a lot different than it used to be to have shut-outs. I was pretty fortunate, I got most of my shut-outs when the game was mostly defensive hockey, especially in New Jersey. I know now with the new style in the NHL, it going to get harder and harder to get close to the 103 mark of Terry Sawchuk, that's for sure.
Q. How have you kept yourself at the top of your game for so long?
MARTIN BRODEUR: Well, I don't know. I think it's just the enthusiasm I have for the game, the love of the game. I don't know if it takes me apart from anybody else. It makes me drive to be the goalie that I am, because I think I'm really fortunate to do what I do. Every year I just kind of shake my head, I can't believe I'm still here having fun and having success with the Devils. I think it's just a question of attitude. You just got to believe in yourself to a certain extent. I'm pretty fortunate that I do have an organization that's right behind me at all times. I think that's the way I go by my career so far.

Photo: Martin Brodeur © Guy Argenzio (HV)