Martin Brodeur’s agent says deal could wait until midseason
Veteran goaltender Martin Brodeur could wait until after the beginning of the 2014-15 season to agree to a new deal, reports Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record.
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After 20 seasons with the New Jersey Devils, it’s possible Brodeur signs elsewhere to finish off his career. The Devils already essentially moved on from the future Hall of Famer by inking incumbent starter Cory Schneider to a seven-year extension this month, committing to the goaltender for the foreseeable future.
That leaves Brodeur without an obvious spot on the only team he’s ever known, and now he’s considering waiting until later in the year to make his next move:
"“On or around July 1, we explored a few possibilities for Marty that made somewhat sense. That didn’t come to fruition,” Brodeur’s agent Pat Brisson said via email. “Marty has a lot to offer, but it will be the right fit and this may come later this summer or even early in the season. He is in no rush until the right fit appears.“In the meantime he is getting ready the same way he has the past 20 seasons.”"
Last season, Brodeur recorded a 19-14-6 record with a 2.51 GAA and .901 save percentage over 39 games. Across the board, they were some of the worst numbers of the 42-year-old’s career, which includes seven All-Star appearances and four Vezina Trophies.
It’s unclear which teams might be interested in Brodeur, but the Penguins and Lightning reportedly reached out to the veteran earlier this offseason. Those teams ultimately went in different directions for their respective backup openings, but given his playoff experience and track record, it wouldn’t be surprising if a contender eventually decides to take a risk and bring him in.