Chickens Roosting Once More...

I couldn't be happier for hearing the report from TSN of Canada that Devils sure-fire Hall-of-Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur will miss at least three months following elbow surgery.

It seemed so harmless at the time...

He goes down to cover the low spots around the net during Saturday night's romp over the deadweighted Atlanta Thrashers, then suddenly leaves the ice and doesn't return. Kevin Weekes filled in admirably thereafter.

A statement on the Devils website by GM Lou Lamoriello confirms that Brodeur will have surgery to fix torn bicep tendons but no timetable.

It's not too hard to find a quote on the recovery period, though.

I had been saying this for years, that it was ultimately unfair and harmful to Brodeur for the club to ride him so hard for so long. With the exception of a few years in the late 90's, it's been #30 starting 95% of the games and all of the playoffs.

Here's the breakdown since he assumed the starting role in his second full season:

1994-95: 40 of 48
1995-96: 77 of 82
1996-97: 67 of 82
1997-98: 70 of 82
1998-99: 70 of 82
1999-00: 72 of 82
2000-01: 72 of 82
2001-02: 73 of 82
2002-03: 73 of 82
2003-04: 75 of 82
2005-06: 73 of 82
2006-07: 78 of 82
2007-08: 77 of 82
2008-09: 10 of 10

The percentage of starts/appearances over the last two-plus seasons is especially staggering when you consider he'd done it at 34,35 and 36 years of age. He's been in the NHL since he was 19.

Brodeur is one of the most physically and technically sound players in league history with an ego to boot. Factoring in all the postseason action he's seen, he could easily play into his mid-40's if New Jersey went and got him legitimate backups over the years.

We all know he wants to play. Still, it's a wonder that GM Lou Lamoriello, who has had no problem shipping players and coaches away at the drop of a hat, hasn't yet
sat Marty down and told him he's going to have to cut back in order to be of great service to the team.

After all, it's been clear through the three Stanley Cup titles that Brodeur has been THE marquee player - the one with the guts and talent upon which the franchise's success has been sustained.

In spite of his competitive nature, why not sit him down coming off the cancelled season three years ago and have a plan in place to keep him as the Number One, but gradually reduce his starts? It wouldn't have hurt his pride so much as this surgery might hurt him physically.

Now the Devils are going to have to - finally - come to terms with what kind of on-ice product they've really had all these years. Fans rarely sold out the Meadowlands, and now the same pattern struck the Rock even with Brodeur patrolling the crease.

Kevin Weekes and Scott Clemmensen are going to have to come up with games of their lives on a routine basis to keep the Devils in contention for a playoff berth. Starting right now.