NHL

Healthy Brodeur leads Devils into camp

The Devils’ wild, out-of-control, seven-game playoff loss to the Hurricanes in April left Martin Brodeur willing to swap a few thrills for some less-scintillating success under Jacques Lemaire.

“It’s not always flashy, but you know what? Last year was an exciting year, but we didn’t go where people wanted us to go,” Brodeur said.

“With Jacques [Lemaire], there are the things you will learn and have to be accountable to, whether you were here or not — work habits and making sure you’re on top of things: situations, proper position, proper people on the ice.”

Lemaire’s first returning veteran practice yesterday was marked by a touch of chaos: drills the players didn’t know, instructions they didn’t immediately understand and ice that was resurfaced after half an hour, but those are issues easily corrected. The bigger job is getting these shockingly depleted Devils into the playoffs for the 13th straight season and past the first round for the first time in three years.

Now 37 years old and counted on as much as ever, given this roster, Brodeur is back from a year of memorable highs and miserable lows. He suffered his first major injury, missing 50 games after biceps tendon surgery, then went 9-1 in his first 10 games back en route to becoming the winningest goalie of all time (557).

But in the final game of the season, when he passed Ken Daneyko for the franchise record with 176 career playoff appearances, two pucks eluded him in the final 80 seconds as triumph and advancement transformed into disaster and elimination.

Brodeur said his left elbow still reminds him of his surgery.

“I took a lot of time this summer to strengthen it,” he said. “I rehabbed it last year to get myself ready to play. I used the summer to make sure I get all the little muscles around it stronger. Everything is fine.

“There’s a little bit [of discomfort], not much. I have to make sure it’s warmed up pretty good. Only for shooting. Shooting the puck is the only thing I still have a little trouble early on, but nothing really at all.”

mark.everson@nypost.com