Martin Brodeur: The Road to 600

As of this week, New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur holds 598 career wins. But the ultimate NHL record can be seen as early as this coming Saturday, as Brodeur may become the only NHL goalie to ever acquire 600 career wins.

There is no doubt that this goaltender from Montreal deserves such a great honor. 

Vincent Lecavalier—C, Tampa Bay Lightning

“I don't think he's all about just the numbers. He's about winning every year. I don't think all of the records matter to him. He just wants to win Stanley Cups, and that's why Martin Brodeur is a champion."

Ryan Miller—G, Buffalo Sabres

"Brodeur is outstanding. Not even for the saves he makes. I appreciate the way he competes. He finds a way to play the game every night, and the amount of time he spends in the net every season is amazing. He's been resilient and at the highest level winning Stanley Cups and doing it in a fashion where it's tough.”

The 37-year-old goalie has led the Devils to four Stanley Cup Finals (of which three were won) and the playoffs every year except for the 2004-05 season.

He is a four-time Vezina Trophy and Jennings Trophy winner, a 10-time NHL All-Star, and a Calder Memorial Trophy winner.

Last Tuesday, March 23, after a Devils victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Brodeur was honored as the only goaltender in NHL history with eight 40-win seasons.

Not only will he hold the title of having most career wins, Brodeur has broken plenty of other career records—many that previously belonged to former Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy. Here are some of a multitude of them:

·  Most regular season wins (557)

·  Most shutouts—regular season and playoffs combined (118)

·  Most 40-win seasons (8)

·  Most overtime wins (45)

·  Most wins in a single season (48)

·  Most minutes played in a single season (4,697)

·  Only NHL goalie to score a game-winning goal

·  First goaltender in history to have three shutouts in two different playoff series 

He also holds more than 30 Devils franchise records. I could go on for a long time, but we’ll still be here when Marty reaches 600 career wins.

Aside from his NHL career with the Devils, Brodeur has won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games, as well as other medals with the team in other international competitions.

Despite all of these honorable mentions and awards received by the greatest goaltender in NHL history, we have to remember that Marty’s time in front of the net will expire sooner than we’d all hoped.

What does this mean for the future of the New Jersey Devils? Will Yann Danis get more playing time, or will the Devils acquire someone in the draft? Or will they trade up for another NHL goalie when Marty is ready to hang up his skates?

I’m hoping that Marty will still be a Devil for years to come, but I can only hope for so much longer. He’s given the Devils almost 20 years.

I’d say keep it up and go for 700 career wins, but let’s focus on the present—Marty only needs two more wins for 600.

With and I quote, “the best offensive team they’ve had in years,” I believe New Jersey can absolutely make this happen for their veteran goalie.

Stay tuned Devils fans—this Friday, April 2, the Blackhawks are coming to town. Then they’re on the road to North Carolina to face the Hurricanes, where history may be made this Easter weekend…