Last week, he wouldn’t shake Sean Avery’s hand. Now Martin Brodeur won’t even say his name.
Surprisingly, Brodeur yesterday said he’s turning down the chance to play for Team Canada in the World Championship in Quebec next month. He indicated that the five-game, first-round playoff loss to the Rangers sapped his desire to play right now.
Brodeur said it was “The circus with the Rangers,” and especially, “You Know Who,” who made him look “tired mentally,” as coach Brent Sutter put it.
“I was really disappointed with how it unfolded,” said Brodeur, announced yesterday as a finalist for his fourth Vezina Trophy, up against Henrik Lundqvist and Evgeni Nabokov.
“To play a rival and get dominated like that, it’s not fun at all,” Brodeur said as the Devils parted company for summer yesterday.
Sideshow Sean’s confrontations with Brodeur, the bumps, the stick-waving semaphore show, snide comments and verbal goadings, appear to have taken enough of a toll that will cost Canada the participation of the goalie who has won the World Cup and the Olympics.
“When you win, you don’t feel that. If you have success, it’s easy to dismiss,” Brodeur said. “When you don’t, it’s harder to deal with. It wasn’t easy. Hockey-wise, I felt as good as ever.”
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Patrik Elias said he’s likely going to play for the Czech Republic in Quebec, while Sergei Brylin’s invite for Russia hinges on whether Washington and Montreal advance. Paul Martin and Zach Parise will play for Team USA, while Brian Gionta will attend the birth of his child shortly.
Karel Rachunek said he won’t be back with New Jersey, but denied dining with a representative of a Russian league team back in January. Rachunek indicated his agent did have such talks, which are not tampering because the NHL lacks an agreement with the Russian league.