Brodeur won't play Monday because of injured elbow; Frazee called up; Halischuk sent down; Rolston skated

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur will have an MRI and X-rays today on his injured left elbow and won't play in Monday's game against Buffalo, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said.

"Marty will be going through tests today - MRI, X-rays and so forth -- and we will not have any information until all of those things have been taken in and the doctors have evaluated it," Lamoriello said. "We'll have no (more) information until further notice. He will not play tomorrow and we'll let you know when we know more."

When I asked Lamoriello if there was concern that Brodeur's injury was more than the team's initial diagnosis of a bruise, he said, "You are always concerned, but rather than start jumping to any conclusions, we'll let the professionals do what they do best."

Brodeur was not available for comment today.

A hyperextension still seems like a possibility from the way Brodeur appeared to be injured in the second period of Saturday's 6-1 win over the Thrashers. He grabbed his elbow after he stretched his left arm out fully to try to stop a shot with his catching glove.

A torn biceps tendon, like the one Kevin Weekes sustained last season, also might be a possibility.

Weekes said he exchanged text messages with a concerned Brodeur after Saturday's game. Weekes pointed out that his catching glove arm injury last season was initially diagnosed as a bruised elbow. It wasn't until he had further tests during the summer that Weekes learned that he was playing with a torn biceps tendon, which had to be repaired by surgery.

 

"I had a bruised elbow initially," Weekes said. "So you never know what it could be until you get diagnosed and you get that prognosis from the medical people. It could be the exact same part of your body. One day it feels like you have a bruise, the next day you have a strain, the next day it's a twist or something else. So, you never really know until you get diagnosed and that's kind where we were at last night -- just wait and see and hope for the best."

 

Weekes would not say if Brodeur initiated the texting or if he did.

 

"It was just more so how he's feeling and what it feels like and we were just going back and forth knowing that I had just kind of come through that myself," Weekes said. "He knew that I had experienced something maybe similar or maybe along the same lines in some respects so we bounced that off each other."

 

Weekes said his injury was caused by the "wear and tear" of catching so many pucks in practices and games. He said throwing the catching glove up there like Brodeur did puts a lot of stress on the arm.

 

"It's like 1,200 pounds of force to catch one puck," Weekes said. "It's a lot of torque on your arm. It's the same as a pitcher when they are pitching the force being exerted. It's just that it's going the other way. Instead of us, ours snapping backwards, (pitchers) are going forwards."

 

Lamoriello said he spoke with Brodeur this morning. He said Brodeur "didn't say exactly" how he was injured.

"But he reached out and I think we all saw the same thing," Lamoriello said. "So, we'll just have to wait and not jump to conclusions." 

Asked it if was an impact injury rather than a strain, Lamoriello said, "I couldn't answer any of these questions until all of the evaluations are done because I'm just guessing."

Lamoriello did say the injury was to Brodeur's elbow "area."

"It's in that area," he said. "Specifically I can't give you exactly, but that's where it was. I can't give you all of the medical terms."

Goaltender Jeff Frazee has been recalled from Trenton of the ECHL on an emergency basis and is practicing with the Devils today. "He was the closest," Lamoriello said.

Frazee was 2-2 with a 2.65 GAA and .912 save percentage in five games with Trenton. Frazee said he got home at 3 a.m. this morning after the team bussed back from a game in Elmira. He got the call this morning that he had to be at Prudential Center at 9:30 a.m. for practice.

Lamoriello would not commit to Frazee backing up Weekes Monday night. "I didn't say that," he said.

Devils coach Brent Sutter said the decision on who would back up Weekes Monday would made later today or Monday morning.

Sutter wouldn't speculate on whether Brodeur might miss more than one game.

"Until we find out more, we'll know what's going on, I guess," Sutter said. "I don't know what to expect. Whatever is thrown at us, we'll deal with."

***

Rookie right wing Matt Halishcuk was sent back down to Lowell today.

Also, Lamoriello said Brian Rolston (high right ankle sprain) skated "three or four days ago", but has not skated since - though Lamoriello claimed there was no setback. "We put him on the ice one day just to see how he felt and hasn't skated since that day," Lamoriello said. "The doctors wanted to see how he felt. He's progressing." 

Comments

[njteech]

UGH, does not sound good for Marty. Is it time to get rid of the mask? Thanks for the heads up TG.....

[Jeff]

I understand Frazee is closest so hopefully this is just for pratctice but what happens if Weekes goes down. I'm Guessing Clemer is on a flight right now or a bus or hitchhiking.

[Jack]

He has got to get rid of that mask!!

[Matt]

Calm down. It's not the mask. 6-2-2 is not a "bad luck" mask. This is an injury fluke year for the Devils but if we can get through it okay and still make the playoffs, then all those injured players should feel rested. You all want Brodeur to get some days off? You got your wish. Stay behind the team everybody! Go Devils!

[Speedz]

Well said Matt

[JoeDevs]

Marty, we're praying or you.

[Brian D]

So what about yesterday when Lou insisted that he KNEW it was just a bruise? How can you tell he's lying? His lips are moving.

[Tim]

So true, Matt.

We've been getting scoring lately and on most nights we have one of the best team defenses in the league. The boys will be fine.

[drewbee30]

I also believe the team will be fine if brodeur is out for any extended period of time. If the team continues to play w/i the system, I think Weekes will hold his own. Im sure most will agree he is a very good b/u and would probably be a starter on many teams! Lets hope for the best, we've been very lucky that brodeur has never had any major setbacks in his career to date.

[Salvatore from Garfield]

This has nothing to do with Marty's new mask, put away your jump your conclusions mat!!

[roshacla]

Frazee? That is an interesting call.

[Jeff]

I wonder if Rollie skated for a long time and just how close he is or did he try 3 strides and sit back down. Let's all hope Marty gets back soon no matter how we try to fool ourselves he is the reason we win most games.

[Devilsfan]

Glad to see Lou make a fool out of himself yet again with his bs proclamations that hold up for all of about 10 hours. Brian D nailed it right!

So I guess he drove himself to the hospital last night for a bandaid? Being all the testing was being done today.

[TG]

Nobody said that Brodeur went to the hospital last night - as far as I know.

[Salvatore from Garfield]

TG- I heard one of the guys last night on MSG+ say that marty drove himself to the hospital. Can't remember who it was that said that... but i heard it also. Devilsfan isn't going crazy.

[TG]

Nobody on the team said that last night. In fact, we asked if he went to the hospital.

[Nick]

Ugh, things just seem to keep getting worse and worse for the Devils. It's not a good sign that Rolston skated and then did not skate for a few days.

Let's just hope that it isn't too bad with Marty or the Devs are gonna be in trouble.

[Jeff]

They definately said that Marty drove himslef to the hospital on Hockey Night Live I watched it twice last night since I missed some of the first airing.

[Jersey Mike]

the sky is falling the sky is falling
shall I call a Wambulance for all of you ?

the team will go on, will this injury hurt the "team" sure, but injury's are part of the game
Marty will be fine and so will the Devils

and for all of you folks eager to have Marty take a rest, well there you go

get well No# 30 and make a speedy recovery

[mikeford]

"It's like 1,200 pounds of force to catch one puck," Weekes said. "It's a lot of torque on your arm. It's the same as a pitcher when they are pitching the force being exerted. It's just that it's going the other way. Instead of us, ours snapping backwards, (pitchers) are going forwards."

I'd like to cram this quote down whoever tried to mock my pitcher comparison yesterday's throat.

[JerseyLove]

:[
I blame the mask.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

mask has nothing to do with it. it is what it is, the team will be fine, and Weekes will be more than up to the task. Lets all not go crazy the team will be A-OK. Also TG, they did say last night on Hockey Night Live that Marty drove himself to the hospital last night. I believe Fischler said it, but whatever, it is what it is. Go Devils, and i know i will be there tommorow night. its a shame they had to send down Halischuk, and it doesn;t sound good for Rolston either if he skated a couple days ago but did has not been back on them since

[Jeff in Hoboken]

I don't blame the mask--I don't believe in Santa Claus either.

I've been whining about Weekes not getting to play and now we're gonna find out if he can hold his own. It won't kill Marty to sit a bit, let's just hope this won't require surgery.

[Salvatore from Garfield]

You're outnumbered TG.

Then again, your source (team) > our source (MSG+). You get the W.

[Chris Wassel]

It was indeed someone Steve from MSG+ was talking to who said it. It was in error as found out later. Advantage TG.