Confirmed with Link: Devils to retire Martin Brodeur's #30 02/09/16 vs Edm

[Richer's Ghost]

With the 3 retired numbers that were drafted by us, it appears they're going with the year they were drafted.

I knew Niedermayer had played some games in the 91-92 season, and it turns out they were actually in the 1991 part of that season. His starts with 1991.

Daneyko's banner is 1982, he didn't actually play a game in the NHL until 83-84 though.

I've always tried to figure out why Niedermayer's last year on the banner is 04, but Stevens last year on his banner is 05. Both technically played their last games with the Devils in 04, both were technically under contract with the Devils until 05 though.

Because he's a quitter.

 

[Triumph]

Niedermayer's contract ended in 2004 - he signed a 4 year deal in 2000-01 covering the 01, 02, 03, and 04 seasons. He wasn't eligible to be a UFA until 2005 though. Stevens' contract ended in 2005, I think, though I can't find that with basic googling.

 

[njdevils1982]

Niedermayer's contract ended in 2004 - he signed a 4 year deal in 2000-01 covering the 01, 02, 03, and 04 seasons. He wasn't eligible to be a UFA until 2005 though. Stevens' contract ended in 2005, I think, though I can't find that with basic googling.

didnt he have arbitration in 04 and the lockout came and they just voided the contract?

 

[Triumph]

didnt he have arbitration in 04 and the lockout came and they just voided the contract?

Oh yeah I totally forgot about that. Yeah, so my guess is either it's a weird Lou decision or something to do with how the 2004-05 league year worked.

 

[Bleedred]

Yeah I remember Niedermayer (among a few others) getting one year RFA deals in 2004 through arbitration.

Rafalski was another one that got a one year RFA deal that year, I believe also through arbitration. Obviously neither contract was ever play. Both were to become UFA's that next summer and both did become UFA's.

 

[Based Anime Fan]

Man, Holik has turned into a ******* IMHO.

As for Holik, he certainly doesn't want to rain on the parade. He speaks only glowingly of Brodeur and his place in hockey history. But he feels statues should come years later, certainly after Brodeur waits the mandatory three years to be inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

"The statue is a no-brainer, but I don't know about now because usually people get statues later on," Holik said. "It was going to come sooner or later, but I personally think you always need a little time. Nothing needs to be proven with Marty, but I'm used to people getting statues after years go by and they realize it's not going to get any better than what they had with Marty.

"I'm not surprised at the number retirement, but I'm surprised that the statue is coming already. He's barely a year retired. He deserves it, there's no doubt about it, but the timing is, 'Already? What are they going to do in 10 years to celebrate Marty?' It's a little bit premature."

Like, really dude? Arguably the best goaltender in modern history and this is what you think?

http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/...n_brodeur_statue_is_a.html#incart_river_index

 

[Bleedred]

Man, Holik has turned into a ******* IMHO.



Like, really dude? Arguably the best goaltender in modern history and this is what you think?

http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/...n_brodeur_statue_is_a.html#incart_river_index

Coming from Holik of all people, I don't find this to be arrogant at all. Holik has always been vocally supportive of Marty, and even went out of his way to praise Marty when they were no longer teammates. Even during his Rangers days, I remember him crediting Marty as the best player on our team every game they had played us one of those seasons.

I also distinctly remember him saying in 07-08 that Marty should win the Hart over Ovechkin, because Ovechkin had to play 20+ games against the Southeast division, which was the worst division in hockey at the time. And he even buried his own Thrashers team in the process, while praising Marty.

If it was coming from one of the usual suspects that usually degrade Marty, I would think it was a lot worse. But Holik is very blunt and honest, and very supportive and fair towards Marty. Even when they were on rival teams, and even if he did take a few runs at Marty during the games. It's just the competitor he was.

I do get his point though, he makes a very valid one. Maybe the statue is a bit premature. But I also have no real big issue with it happening now either.

 

[Wingman77]

Man, Holik has turned into a ******* IMHO.



Like, really dude? Arguably the best goaltender in modern history and this is what you think?

http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/...n_brodeur_statue_is_a.html#incart_river_index

Don't really see much wrong at all with what he said.

He took nothing away from Marty. If there is anything that he took away from, it was the organizations decision to do it now, which whether they did it now or when he gets into the HOF, don't see the big deal there either.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

meh - Bobby being exactly Bobby - not shy to call it like he sees it and honestly the statue would have been nice as a down the road gesture to celebrate him again at some big anniversary of the 95 cup or something.

I've got nothing bad to say about him for this.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

I don't see what there is to criticize about building the statue now. The longer it's up, the longer Marty is honored, and it's nice that it will be up at the jersey retirement. And Marty is arguably the greatest goaltender of all time, so it's not obscene to honor him like this at an early juncture. He's iconic to this franchise. The statue is perfectly fitting, and I'm excited to see it when I go to Marty's jersey retirement.

ETA: I don't really have a problem with Holik expressing his opinion. I just don't agree with it, but that's a matter of perspective.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I pretty much agree with what Holik's saying, but I don't care either way. This is really just another showing of Holik's well-documented lack of a filter.

 

[NJDevs26]

They'll celebrate Marty again when he goes into the HHOF, why have a third night for some random statue dedication five years later? Might as well do the statue concurrent with the number retirement or the HOF induction although if you want to hold the POV that a statue shouldn't be built for a living player that's another story.

If I didn't know better I'd swear Bobby was looking at it from a cynical ticket-selling POV

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

I don't see the harm of putting up the statue right away. You can always honor him with something else later if you want to, and it's not like you're rushing into anything and are going to be like, "Sheesh, wish we hadn't built that statue to commemorate one of the greatest goalies ever and icon of our franchise, because he wasn't so good after all." It's not a decision you're going to regret, so why wait? Doing it this way adds an extra touch to the special jersey retirement night.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Would like to have Holik fill in for Dano a few games.
Must watch tv.

 

[Emperoreddy]

No filter Bobby.

He isn't exactly wrong but he isn't right either if that makes sense. Marty deserves a statue over anyone not named Lou.

Could they of held off? Ya sure but doing it now is no big deal either.

 

[Emperoreddy]

They'll celebrate Marty again when he goes into the HHOF, why have a third night for some random statue dedication five years later? Might as well do the statue concurrent with the number retirement or the HOF induction although if you want to hold the POV that a statue shouldn't be built for a living player that's another story.

If I didn't know better I'd swear Bobby was looking at it from a cynical ticket-selling POV

See I thought that was what Bobby meant but it seems he just thinks team should wait so they can celebrate Marty more down the road.

It's just Bobby being Bobby and it was a funny read because he spent half of it defending the fact he does believe Marty deserves a statue.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Has there been any leak or breakdown of the actual ceremony Tuesday?

 

[downtown56]

They moved all the banners around. The retired jersey's are where the division championship banners were and the division banners are down the length of the rink along center ice

 

[Emperoreddy]

The puck drop tonight was just a glimmer of how amazing Tuesday will be. I'm
Beyond excited.

 

[KohoDonuts88]

For those who bought a 4-game pack, any word on how we get the commemorative puck that is included?

 

[Devils090]

Sooo what happens if it snows like its supposed to?

 

[Wingman77]

Marty on the statue;

“It's a great honor for me to be part of that knowing that everyone that is going to come here to Prudential Center will get to look, birds and everything. I'm going to hire my own cleaning crew.”

http://fireandice.northjersey.com/fire-ice-1.174987/martin-brodeur-drops-puck-to-begin-long-weekend-celebration-of-his-devils-career-1.1507431

On Holtby;

Brodeur, who loved to play every game himself, predictably did not think the Capitals should limit Holtby's workload down the stretch of the regular season.

“I don't think so if you want to play,” Brodeur said. “You probably have a better risk of getting hurt in practices than you do in the game. You need to be sharp. It's like a reliever. Nobody said to (Mariano) Rivera not to go out and get your saves at the end of the year to get ready for the playoffs. He wants to stay in that rhythm. Definitely you have to be smart about it. Your workload in practices is where you need to understand because he's still young (26). I was still young when I was playing 75, 76 games a season, but the thing is I managed my time in practice better than probably other guys did and that's why I was able to play for so long that many games.”

.......

Years later, when he was coaching the Nashville Predators, Trotz saw how hard Brodeur worked to be as good as he was.

“He didn’t play one night in Nashville,” Trotz remembered. “I used to not go home during the day. I watched the team practice, showered and after lunch he was still on the ice. It was almost 2 o' clock and he was still on the ice working on his game. I’m thinking, 'Man, we only get 20 or 25 shots on this guy and he saves 300 or 400 pucks working on his game for hours.' That’s what stood out in my mind – that work ethic, that preparation, all those things.

http://fireandice.northjersey.com/fire-ice-1.174987/with-holtby-on-pace-to-break-his-single-season-wins-mark-brodeur-sees-similarities-in-their-makeup-1.1507507

 

[NJDevs26]

Sooo what happens if it snows like its supposed to?

Nothing since the forecast is supposed to be for a very small amount of accumulation and it's likely both teams will be in town.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

So when is everyone thinking of arriving at the rink if they are attending?

 

[Devils Dominion]

So when is everyone thinking of arriving at the rink if they are attending?

If all goes as planned, I want to be in Newark by 2pm, have a nice late lunch/early dinner, then go into The Rock by 4:45.