Mike Cammalleri signs w/Devils, 5 years, $25M

Mike Cammalleri

Lou Lamoriello made, perhaps, his quickest deal ever on Free Agency Day, signing Mike Cammalleri away from the Calgary Flames today for $25 million over five years. The Devils targeted the 32-year-old at the trade deadline last season, but were unable to pull it off.

Great move and great start, Lou. Let’s hope there’s more than just this.

Going to have to ask Kyle Mayer his thoughts on Cammalleri (Kyle is our Flames fan in-residence).

Now the burning question -- will he be allowed to wear his traditional No. 13? No Devil has ever worn that number.

What are your thoughts? Comment here, on Google+ or on our Facebook Group.

In under 2 days, a 22-year affair comes to a close for Marty

NEWARK — 

Martin & Anthony Brodeur

Two more days.

That’s it.

Two more days.

In two days, there will still be a Brodeur within the Devils organization, but his first name is Anthony. In two days, Martin becomes a free agent and with that, a 22-year relationship comes to a close.

It is hard to believe how quickly that time has gone by. Because by chance, on March 26, 1992, I was fortunate enough to have been at the Brendan Byrne Arena to see Marty’s first-ever game played in a Devils uniform -- against the Boston Bruins.

We’d chosen, my friends and I did, to go to the game against Boston because it was one friend’s birthday on 26 March -- and another friend was heading to Boston College in August of 1992 to begin his freshman year of studies there. So what better opponent to see the Devils play was there than the Boston Bruins?

We were hoping to see one of our all-time favorites play that night -- Chris Terreri. But we were disappointed. Terreri was a scratch, as was the backup that night (I want to say it was Craig Billington -- but I am not 100% sure).

When long-time PA announcer Bob Arsena announced the scratches, we couldn’t help but wonder: Who the hell was going to start in goal if both regular goalies were scratched?

As it was, “And starting in goal, No. 29 -- Martin Brodeur.”

Martin who? No. 29 what?

We were all stunned that night -- and disappointed.

Marty wasn’t even in the 1991-92 team photo,
despite playing in 4 games and 1 playoff game.

But not when the final buzzer sounded. Because that night, March 26, 1992, we saw history -- and had no idea we were seeing it. It was the first-ever win for Martin Pierre Brodeur. Brodeur made 24 saves on 26 shots en route to a 4-2 Devils win.

Scoring for the Devils that night were, get this, Tom Chorske, Claude Lemieux, Randy McKay and Kevin Todd. Ironically, three of those guys would still be around to win a Cup with Marty just three years later. Who would have known.

Amazingly, the Devils did not dress a backup goalie that night (I know this from looking back at the boxscore). I wish I could find the attendance that night because I am sure there are a lot of people who claim to have been there that night who really weren’t. But if my memory serves me, there were around 14,000 on hand that night.

Marty went 2-1 that year playing in four games. He relieved Terreri in one playoff game against the Rangers that year, and wound up getting the loss (don’t remember which game it was). But it was the beginning of a career that is coming to a close in two days.

I really wish Marty had gone on a goodbye tour with the Devils ala Marino Rivera, but I also understand he really kind of wants to get 700 wins before he retires. And who are any of us to say “You really shouldn’t want to work, Marty.”

But the reality is his career here is done -- and man were we ever blessed and lucky to have witnessed it -- and to have taken it for granted.

All those winter nights when 11,000 people showed up at the old arena -- we took for granted Marty would be there.

All those spring nights in the playoffs, we took for granted Marty would be there.

Those three glorious nights -- Game 4 of the 1995 Finals, Game 6 of the 2000 Finals and Game 7 of the 2003 Finals -- we took for granted Marty would be there.

For in reality, back then, we couldn’t think of a time where Marty wouldn’t be there, because he always was. And when he was, rarely, if ever, did he disappoint.

Now as he leaves us, perhaps as it seems now for Toronto, maybe he gets one more chance to win a fourth Cup. And play in front of a packed house every night. Yet for 22 years, he was ours.

It will never be the same again sans Martin, but to paraphrase an infamous quote from Sam Rosen, of the MSG Network, the memories of Martin Pierre Brodeur will, indeed, “Last a lifetime.”

Thank you, Martin, for all the thrills you brought to us over the years.

I cannot wait until that night in 2015 or 2016 when you sweater gets raised to where it belongs -- right along side Nos. 3, 4 and 27.

What are your thoughts? Comment here, on Google+ or on our Facebook Group.

Marty a backup | mentor to Bernier in Toronto?

How about this jersey?

TORONTO, Ont. —

So Marty Brodeur was in Toronto yesterday for a charity golf tournament hosted by David Clarkson -- and then he took in the Jays game with Leafs’ brass.

So now there is speculation that he might be seeking out the Leafs or vice-versa. The biggest question is whether he’d be willing to be Jonathan Bernier’s backup -- but of course, this could also be a case of the Leafs really needing and wanting a mentor for Bernier, who has yet to play a true full season in net (though he did play in 55 games last year, and I believe he started 52 of those games).

So Devils fans -- Marty in the Blue and White of Toronto. Could you stomach it for one year? I think I could. Discuss away.

Brodeur tells Gulitti he’s ‘nervous, excited’ about free agency

MONTREAL —

Martin Brodeur today told the Bergen Record’s Tom Gulitti he’s “nervous and excited” about testing the free-agent market.  Click here to read the piece.

What surprises me most is that he really gives no indication as to any interest yet from any teams. While they cannot discuss contract parameters, teams could have already contacted him to express interest -- and that appears not to have happened yet.

Teams listed as possibilities for Marty include Pittsburgh, Washington, Chicago, St. Louis, Tampa Bay and the New York Islanders. I still believe the Canadiens would make sense, also.

Your thoughts? Will there be any interest in Marty’s services for the 2014-15 season? Discuss away on Google+, in the comments section here or on our Facebook Group.

Rangers buy out Brad Richards; could Lou consider him?

NEW YORK —

USA Today is reporting the Rangers have officially bought out the remainder of Brad Richards’s contract. With that, come July 1, he will likely be able to sign anywhere else. Now this is purely speculation -- but let’s say Richards wants to stay in the neighborhood. Could he consider | could Lou Lamoriello consider signing him?

In no way am I suggesting this is what I think would happen -- nor am I suggesting this would improve the Devils [and do they ever need to improve before September]. Instead, I am just throwing it out there for fans to discuss.

Speaking of which, please discuss away in the comments section below, on Google+ or on our Facebook Group message board. Would you want Brad Richards in a Devils’ uniform? 

Now that the Finals are over, we’re going to slow it down a bit the rest of the summer — and look ahead to the next season which is just 3 months away

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —

Well, the summer is officially here.

And with that, we may slow things down a bit here at NewJersey-Devils.com. But we will certainly look ahead to what should be a very intriguing summer for General Manager Lou Lamoriello.

Perhaps the biggest news will come when at some point on or after 1 July, we learn that Martin Brodeur is no longer a member of the New Jersey Devils.

Will Lou be smiling much
this summer? Hope so!

My gut tells me he winds up with the Montréal Canadiens, as Cary Price’s backup. That may seem bizarre given what we just saw with goaltender Dustin Tokarski in the Canadiens’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals. But for the Habs, having a chance to have Brodeur in their sweater might just be too attractive -- just for a year -- to pass up.

We’ll see.

It’ll also be intriguing to see what Lou does.

Will he buy out a contract?

Where will this guy
wind up? My gut
says in Montreal.

Will the ownership group allow him to open up his wallet to sign a significant scorer -- or perhaps two?

Will the blue line get solidified?

How will the Devils, at no. 30, draft?

Will there be any salary-dump trades?

Will there be A trade?

It all kicks off, in earnest, on July 1 -- so we hope to see you then.

In the meantime, we’ll have any news at it breaks, as well as the continuation of our SUMMER SERIES on Doc Emirick’s greatest Devils calls ... and more as it is warranted. So be sure to continue to follow what’s going on via our Facebook Group, Google+, by checking back here periodically -- or by signing up for instant e-mail alerts. Just put your e-mail address in the box, follow the prompts -- and anytime there's something new here, it’ll be delivered right to your inbox.

Lastly, we’d like to begin a new series -- sharing YOUR memories, your greatest memories, of being a Devils fan. I’ll be sharing mine throughout the summer -- and we will publish yours if you want them to be. Simply send them in the body of an e-mail message to kevincanessa@gmail.com ... or by clicking here.

Cheers, one and all!

 -- Kevin Canessa Jr.

Happy Saturday! Imagine if this became real?

Guess it could be a lot worse than this sweater!

Oh Bro-deur! Please don’t do this to us or you!

Is this coming soon?

NEW YORK —

Well, MARTIN BRODEUR decided today was as good a day as any to tell ESPN’s PIERRE LeBRUN that he was going to test the free-agent market. Click here to read the story from LeBRUN.

Among the interesting things Marty said:

• He is fairly certain Newark won’t be home for the 2014-15 season.

• He’d back up a goalie on a team with a good chance at winning a Cup.

• He’d accept being a no. 1 goalie on a team that might not be a contender.

This stinks. He is absolutely set on playing another season. And he is being very selfish here. What reason other than getting 700 wins does he really need to play a 22nd season? He has rings. He has records. But he’s short of that 700-win plateau.

I don’t like this one bit. In fact, if he would just hang it up, I bet we’re talking about no. 30 being raised to the rafters sometime in late 2014 or early 2015. Instead, we have this.

What is pretty clear is that if he does, in fact, play one more season, there are a few places he absolutely will not play. New York and Philadelphia are paramount among those.

First, neither has a need for an elder-statesman goalie.

Second, he hasn’t exactly hidden that he is not overly fond of either team or organization as a whole.

I could personally only stomach his going to one team — and that is the Montréal. Going there would likely fulfill a childhood dream of donning a Habs sweater. And it would also personally pay fine homage to his late father, Denis, who died last year.

But who knows? Is there really a market out there for a 42-year-old goalie in a no. 1 role? Is there a market out there for a 42-year-old, likely expensive backup? Is there a platoon scenario where he might fit?

I just don’t see it — but perhaps he does.

The bottom line here, however, is Marty would be best set to simply call it a career now — 700 wins isn’t that important, is it really? Wouldn’t it simply be better to realize the best days are gone, he’s accomplished more than any other goalie before him just about and would win himself a lot of points by retiring and moving on to the front office?

But what do I know? I’ve had skates on my feet four times is 39 years. Perhaps when you’ve been wearing them your entire life, it’s just different ...

We will certainly see soon, for sure — especially come July 1.

What’s your take? Comment here, on Facebook or on Google+. We’ll create a post of just comments if we get a few ... 

Parise signs 1-year, $6M contract, avoiding arbitration

The Star-Ledger is reporting that Zach Parise has signed a one-year, $6 million contract, avoiding arbitration. This is excellent news -- and a good sign that Parise is likely open to negotiating with Lou Lamoriello on a long-tern deal. Click here for the story.