Reflections on Martin Brodeur’s career

Martin Brodeur, No. 29.

It was March 26, 1992.

Two friends of mine — Greg and Nick — decided we were going to go to the Devils-Bruins game at the Meadowlands. It was Greg’s birthday, and in a few months, Nick was moving to Boston to go to Boston College for undergraduate studies. So we had two major reasons to go.

When Bob Arsena got to announcing scratches, among them was Chris Terreri, our favourite goaltender. We were bummed, considering the alternatives. But little did we know that also out was Craig Billington. His name was not announced among the scratches. So who would be the goalie?

It was a mystery.

But when it came time for announcing the starters, which used to happen before the players got on to the ice, it was No. 29, Martin Brodeur.

Who?

You’ve got to be kidding me. Not only is Terreri not playing — it’s some nobody, this guy Martin Brodeur, starting in goal. No way this game turns out good. No chance. It’s over before it started.

The Devils won that game, 5-2, and it was the first of 691 wins Martin Brodeur would get in an amazing career. And I was fortunate (lucky) to have been at his very-first NHL game two years before anyone even knew who he was. No. 29, he wore, no less, that night — and a few other nights he played that season (including a playoff-relief performance against the Rangers that April).

Many people say he was a product of the defense in front of him.

I prefer what Jaromir Jagr said last night about him — that he was the 2nd and a half defenseman most nights.

I often wonder if Brodeur hadn’t been the Devils goalie so long if they would have won a cup in 1995, or 2000 or 2003? Would they have even been in the Finals in 2001 or 2012? And the answer is pretty simple — not a chance.

So many games — too many to list here — along the road, he stole games. Too many nights, the Devils won games they should not have won because he was there.

And here we are, the first year he’s gone, and is it any coincidence the Devils are having the worst season in franchise season since the 1988-1989 season, the last team that did not make the playoffs before Marty became the franchise’s No.1 goalie ?

Is it any coincidence Cory Schneider has slipped quite a bit since Marty left (and since he no longer has a veteran by his side, as he did with Roberto Luongo)?

Is it any coincidence the team is apparently upset Brodeur did not come back to New Jersey for a front-office job, a job he was all but guaranteed, instead choosing to remain with St. Louis for the rest of the year?

Here’s the bottom line — Martin Brodeur is, perhaps, the greatest or close to the greatest athlete to ever play in the tri-state area. (Unfortunately because he played on this side of the river, he will often be skipped in such discussions).

He did what so many goalies before him couldn’t do.

He did what athletes who have played, since 1995, with the Mets, Jets, Knicks, Islanders, Rangers and Nets never experienced — not just one, but three championships. Locally, only the Yankees experienced more championships in that timeframe (5 World Series wins). And the Giants ONLY (go ahead, laugh) only won two Super Bowls in that period.

So yes, he did what a majority of local athletes could not do.

He did it all.

Man am I missing him already.

Man do I miss him getting heckled at Madison Square Garden.

Man will it never be the same for this franchise again.

And I was there to see it all begin. Couldn’t ask for more than that.