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Martin Brodeur (born May 6, 1972, in Montreal (St-Jérome), Quebec) is a professional ice hockey goaltender. He and his childhood idol Patrick Roy are considered among the best NHL goaltenders of all time. Brodeur is on pace to surpass Roy's career records for wins, games played and minutes played as well as Terry Sawchuk's record for shutouts. He has been among the most consistent goaltenders over the past 13 years, winning at least 35 games each of the last nine NHL seasons.
Playing career[]
Brodeur was drafted in the first round, 20th overall, from the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser (QMJHL), in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, for whom he has played since 1992.
1993-94, Brodeur won the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) after leading the Devils to 2nd overall and the 3rd round of the playoffs where they lost to the New York Rangers in a close 7 game series. His play during this playoff run was simply spectacular, especially for a rookie. He finished 2nd in goals against average and 4th in save percentage during the regular season. He had one of the best rookie seasons of all-time for a goalie.
1994-95, Brodeur's regular season was not quite as impressive, although his statistics were still respectable. The Devils finished tied for 9th overall and were not considered a Stanley Cup contender. Against expectatation however, they defeated the Boston Bruins in the 1st round with Brodeur notching 3 shutouts. They defeated Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and then swept Detroit in 4 games to win the Stanley Cup. Brodeur wasn't named playoff MVP, but many feel he should have won it after having one of the best statistical playoff years ever.
1995-96, the Devils were in the middle of the pack for most of the season and barely missed the playoffs for only the second time in 9 seasons. However Brodeur had a solid season playing in 77 games and having the 2nd greatest number of shutouts in the league. He started in the All-Star game and stopped all 12 shots he faced. Brodeur finished 4th in voting for the Vezina Trophy. He also set a single season record for most minutes played by a goalie. Brodeur played on Team Canada during the 1996 World Cup tournament.
1996-97, Brodeur would have one of the best seasons ever by a goalie at the time. The Devils finished 3rd in the NHL, but lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Brodeur was runner-up for the Vezina, named to the 2nd All-Star Team, won the Jennings Trophy and had the lowest goals-against-average by a goalie in almost 30 years. He also had 10 shutouts. His .927 save-percentage for the season was one of the highest ever achieved.
1997-98 was another amazing season. The Devils would finish first in the Eastern Conference again, but lose in the 1st round of the playoffs to Ottawa. However, Brodeur was solid, having 43 wins and 10 shutouts in the regular season. He was named to the 2nd All-Star Team, runner-up for the Vezina, won the Jennings and was among the stats leaders in most categories.
1998-99 saw the Devils finish first in the Eastern Conference for the 3rd straight season. Brodeur was a workhorse as usual. He still managed to win 39 games despite not playing as well as previous seasons. He was among the contenders for the Vezina Trophy and started in the All-Star game, making his 4th appearance. The Devils lost in the 1st round as Brodeur struggled against Pittsburgh, allowing 20 goals in 7 games.
1999-00, Brodeur continued to succeed and pile up wins at record pace. He won 43 games for the 2nd time. The Devils would go on to win their second Stanley Cup. Brodeur was solid in carrying them to victory in the same way he did in 1995. He was a strong case for playoff MVP, which was later won by Scott Stevens. Despite this, Brodeur silenced many doubters who were saying that he was hiding behind the strong New Jersey defense; they played a neutral-zone trap style.
2000-01 was another good season. Brodeur played in the All-Star game for the 6th consecutive season. Although he had an average GAA and save-percentage, he still topped the 40 win mark for the 3rd time and was nominated for the Vezina. Brodeur took the Devils to the Stanley Cup finals for the second straight season. They lost to Colorado in 7 games.
2001-02. Brodeur struggled with consistency despite being among the league leaders in wins and GAA. His work load of playing in over 70 games a season might have been tiring him out. He always played more than any other goalie. Brodeur continued to lead the league in victories and remained a Vezina and MVP candidate.
2002-03 would be the year where Brodeur achieved what had been alluding him his whole career: the Vezina Trophy. He was considered league-wide to be the best. He was also nominated for the Hart Trophy, won the Jennings, was named a 1st Team All-Star and started in the All-star game. He also guided the Devils to their 3rd Stanley Cup victory, as he played perhaps the best goaltending of his career. Again, Brodeur made a strong case for Playoff MVP, but it was awarded to Jean-Sebastien Giguere. There was no doubt that Brodeur was the Devils' MVP; he set a playoff record with 7 shutouts.
2003-04, Brodeur would continue to be one of the most dominant goaltenders the league has ever had. He repeated the same success he had from 2002–03, winning his 2nd consecutive Vezina Trophy, Jennings, 1st Team All Star, all-star game and a Hart Trophy nomination.
He was selected as Team Canada's backup goalie for the 1998 Winter Olympics, but did not play. Canada failed to win a medal.
In the 2002 Olympics, Brodeur won gold for Canada, playing in every game but the tournament opener against Sweden. Brodeur had the best GAA in the tournament and went undefeated, stopping 31 of 33 shots in the Gold Medal victory over Team USA.
He backstopped Team Canada to the World Cup of Hockey championship in 2004 allowing only 5 goals in 5 games. He led all goalies in GAA and save percentage while going undefeated.
He was selected to Team Canada for the 2006 Winter Olympics. He played well, starting in 4 of 6 games, but Canada failed to win a medal despite having an all-star team.
The New Jersey Devils netminder is also distinguished by his active record holdings. Brodeur currently holds the best career goals against average during the NHL's modern era. He ranks first among all active goaltenders in career shutouts. Brodeur also holds the record for most shutouts in a playoff year with 7, set in 2003. With a victory against the New York Rangers on March 4, 2006 Brodeur became the first goalie in NHL history to win 30 games for 10 straight seasons [1]. Finally, he currently holds the records for most 35 and 40 win seasons in a career (9 and 5, respectively).
Noted for his excellent puckhandling ability, he has twice scored a goal. His first goal, the fifth by a goaltender in NHL history, was scored against his hometown Montreal Canadiens in the first game of the first round of the playoffs in 1997. His second goal came in the regular season against the Philadelphia Flyers, where he did not shoot, but was credited as the last New Jersey Devils player to touch the puck. The goal was the game winner, making Brodeur the only goaltender in NHL history to be credited with a game-winning goal.
Brodeur's father Denis competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, as the goaltender for Canada and winning a bronze medal. Denis would later become a world-class hockey photographer, best known for pictures of the Montreal Canadiens.
On January 27, 2006 Brodeur signed a contract extension with the Devils that will pay him $31.2 million over six years, ensuring that he will retire as a New Jersey Devil.
Personal life[]
Martin and his wife Melanie Dubois (native from St-Liboire, Canada) were married in 1995, after the birth of their son, Anthony. The following year they had twin sons, William and Jeremy. In 2002 they had a daughter, Annabelle Antoinette.
Between his hockey seasons, Martin was travelling from New Jersey to St-Liboire where he used to own a little house to join his wife Melanie's family. By recognizing his presence in the village, the Loisirs of St-Liboire (owners and managers of the central park of the town) named their center "Le Centre Martin Brodeur" (Martin Brodeur's Center). More a publicity implication than a time helper, his name was used by the Loisirs' directors to create a golf tournament named after him. This fund raising activity contributed to many projects such as a new children's park, a tennis court and an arena over the ice rink.
Brodeur is described as being a quiet and thoughtful individual off the ice. Of note, he is a particular fan of the white wine varietal, Chenin Blanc, and has commented publicly about his preference for its unique taste and balanced acidity.
Martin and Melanie were divorced in 2003. There is speculation that he was having an extra-marital affair with his sister-in-law (Melanie's brother's wife) [2]. His implications with the village are now done, but the park center is still named after him.
Statistics[]
Season Team Lge GP Min GA EN SO GAA W L T Svs Pct ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1989-90 St. Hyacinthe Lasers QMJHL 42 2333 156 0 0 4.01 0 0 0 0 0.000 1990-91 St. Hyacinthe Lasers QMJHL 52 2946 162 0 2 3.30 22 24 4 1257 0.886 1991-92 New Jersey Devils NHL 4 179 10 0 0 3.35 2 1 0 75 0.882 1991-92 St. Hyacinthe Lasers QMJHL 48 2846 161 0 2 3.39 0 0 0 0 0.000 1992-93 Utica Devils AHL 32 1952 131 3 0 4.03 14 13 5 1002 0.884 1993-94 New Jersey Devils NHL 47 2625 105 0 3 2.40 27 11 8 1133 0.915 1994-95 New Jersey Devils NHL 40 2184 89 1 3 2.45 19 11 6 819 0.902 1995-96 New Jersey Devils NHL 77 4434 173 8 6 2.34 34 30 12 1772 0.911 1996-97 New Jersey Devils NHL 67 3838 120 5 10 1.88 37 14 13 1513 0.927 1997-98 New Jersey Devils NHL 70 4128 130 4 10 1.89 43 17 8 1569 0.917 1998-99 New Jersey Devils NHL 70 4239 162 4 4 2.29 39 21 10 1566 0.906 1999-00 New Jersey Devils NHL 72 4312 161 3 6 2.24 43 20 8 1797 0.910 2000-01 New Jersey Devils NHL 72 4297 166 2 9 2.32 42 17 11 1762 0.906 2001-02 New Jersey Devils NHL 73 4347 156 5 4 2.15 38 26 9 1655 0.906 2002-03 New Jersey Devils NHL 73 4374 147 4 9 2.02 41 23 9 1559 0.914 2003-04 New Jersey Devils NHL 75 4554 154 4 11 2.03 38 26 11 1691 0.917 2005-06 New Jersey Devils NHL 73 4365 187 2 5 2.57 43 23 7 1918 0.911
Awards Summary[]
- QMJHL All-Rookie Team - 1990
- QMJHL 2nd All-Star Team - 1992
- NHL All-Rookie Team - 1994
- Calder Memorial Trophy - 1994
- William M. Jennings Trophy - 1997-(shared with Mike Dunham), 1998, 2003 (tied), 2004
- Vezina Trophy - 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
- Stanley Cup - 1995, 2000, 2003
- NHL 1st All-Star Team - 2003, 2004
- NHL 2nd All-Star Team - 1997, 1998
- NHL All-Star Game - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004