It’s hard to imagine Martin Brodeur playing in a uniform other than that of the Devils, but it seems like a real possibility.
In an interview with ESPN.com on Friday, Brodeur indicated 2014-15 will likely be his final one in the NHL and he doesn’t expect it to be with the Devils, the only franchise he has ever known. He said he will test free agency on July 1.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m definitely going to be available July 1,’’ the 42-year old Brodeur told ESPN. “I want to play one more season and I want to see what’s out there.
“I’ve had a lot of good conversations with the Devils, but I’m not inclined at going back at this point. I just feel that with [Cory Schneider], the organization has to move on. Me being around might be tough a little bit for them. I don’t completely put it out of the question, but I don’t want to mess up the cards for the Devils.”
The three-time Stanley Cup winner, who holds numerous goaltending records, including career wins (688) and shutouts (124) guided the Devils to the finals in 2012 before losing in six games to the Kings. On draft day last year, the Devils traded for Schneider, which jeopardized Brodeur’s standing as the team’s No. 1 goalie.
Brodeur was not happy with his reduced role this season. In 39 games, Brodeur went 19-14-6 with a 2.51 goals-against-average — his highest since the 2005-06 season — and a .901 save percentage. Schneider was 16-15-12 with a 1.97 GAA and a .921 save percentage.
The only other time Brodeur tested free agency was in 2012 when one day after free-agency, he re-signed his expiring two-year deal with the Devils.
“I want to challenge myself. It’s a different opportunity, I’ve never experienced this before,” Brodeur told ESPN.
“I think I can help certain teams. I look at what happened in the playoffs with certain goalies and certain teams, I wish I could have been there for them.”
Brodeur was drafted by the Devils in the first round of the 1990 NHL draft and has been a mainstay on the team since the 1993-94 season. He said no matter where he ends up, he will always be remembered as a New Jersey Devil.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where I go next, I’m always going to be a Devil,” he told ESPN. “I’m always going to come back to the organization. But I want to play one more year. So I’ll see what’s out there.”