Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said tonight that goaltender Martin Brodeur received medical clearance to begin on-ice workouts and skated earlier today.
It was his first time on the ice since he tore his left biceps tendon on Nov. 1 against Atlanta. Brodeur had surgery to repair the tendon on Nov. 6 and has been working out off the ice for the last three weeks.
"Marty went to the doctor today and got the OK to skate," Lamoriello said. "He did skate today, but I would not rush that. And by saying he's skating, it's part of the physical therapy he's going through. It will be a day-to-day situation as far as skating goes with the exercise he does."
Lamoriello said Brodeur did not take shots and has not been cleared to do so yet. He would not estimate how long Brodeur skated for and did not know if he would skate again on Thursday.
"He just skating," Lamoriello said. "There mght be a puck on the ice. There's movement, but it has nothing to do with taking shots. But he did go on the ice today and has the OK to skate and that's it and to do different theraputic exercises on the ice. It will be a day-to-day situation as far as skating goes with the exercies he does. We don't know from day to day whether he will or he won't (skate)."
Lamoriello said Brodeur's recovery remains on schedule and that the "target" remains March 1 for him go "full-out" in a practice.
"Could it be sooner? Possibly," Lamoriello said. "Could it be later? We certainly hope not because of where he is as far as his schedule, But that's the target. Chances are it's sooner than later."
"(Brodeur) is right on time, right to the day as far as what they said would transpire," Lamoriello said. "He's right on schedule to what they thought and there has been no regression whatsoever. We're still on the same timetable we were with the target of March 1."
Lamoriello said the next step in Brodeur's recovery, "is actually taking shots and doing everything he has to do when he gets to practice."
Didn't I tell all of you that you had no reason to worry?
Posted by: Captain Cornholio | January 21, 2009 at 07:54 PM
thanks t.g great news
Posted by: dan from western ny | January 21, 2009 at 07:58 PM
I wasn't worried. darn good news.
Posted by: Shari | January 21, 2009 at 07:58 PM
Thanks TG for the update! I can go to bed now :O).
Posted by: Tibbs | January 21, 2009 at 07:58 PM
Why does it scare me when Lou says everything's fine with an injury? :)
Posted by: Number6 | January 21, 2009 at 08:11 PM
praise baby jesus. It's great to hear that he's on schedule.
Posted by: jules | January 21, 2009 at 08:35 PM
Thank god i was getting worried....
Posted by: Craig in Vancouver | January 21, 2009 at 08:38 PM
I just had a bit of a thing in the back of my head that he would take longer so this is good.
Posted by: Christian T. | January 21, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Who made cornholio captain?
Posted by: Ben M. | January 21, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Are you threatening me? I would hate for my bungholio to get polio.
Posted by: Captain Cornholio | January 21, 2009 at 10:17 PM
so does that march 1st target mean he will be ready to play or ready to practice with the team by then?
Posted by: Bill | January 21, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Bill, I'm guessing he'll be ready for full-contact practices on Mar. 1. Being ready to play is a different story.
Posted by: Captain Cornholio | January 21, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Great News on Marty all things are really starting to look up for this team. They proved what they can do without Marty I can only imagine where this team can go with him back healthy!
Posted by: Jeff | January 21, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I think we should vote on who should be captain. And I choose Cornholio because his name is awesome.
And it's nice to hear that Brodeur is skating again. On MSG's broadcast of the game tonight they showed him sitting in Lou Lamoriello's box and he was smiling and laughing. He looked much more cheerful tonight than he has at any of the past home games they've shown him at. Clemmer's been awesome but I miss seeing Marty in net. I never appreciated good goaltending as much as I do now after being forced to watch a Brodeur-less NHL for the past few months.
Posted by: Kellyn | January 21, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Jeff, think of it in baseball terms. The Devils are six games behind the Bruins with 35 to play, and they have three of those games against the Bruins. Call me crazy, but the Devils could challenge the Bruins for first in the conference. This is not an impossible situation in terms of getting the top seed.
Posted by: Captain Cornholio | January 21, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Kellyn, I think the Devils have much for which to feel thankful at this point. Clemmensen will never have a tape like Jim Park did, but he has found a way to keep the puck out of the net that works for him.
Posted by: Captain Cornholio | January 21, 2009 at 10:29 PM
clemmenson is good, after watching tonights game and maybe someone can agree with me, he overshoots his lateral movements too much, so much so that i caught him several times a few feet away from the net, scrambling to get back on his feet and in position, we were lucky our D stepped up tonight, but you do something like that in front of an Ovechkin or Malkin type of guy and its light out. I guess im trying to say thanks for keeping us in the race, but Marty IS Marty and you are truly missed. I cant see Clemmenson getting traded as a starter for another team, he just seems a little jittery under pressure. my 2 cents
Posted by: shahjige | January 21, 2009 at 11:22 PM
It's weird, but this season, Clemmer has become one of my favorite Devils in recent history. What a story he's had this year. He doesn't make the dazzlers like Marty does, but he doesn't get rattled easily and has a somewhat fun - albeit scary for fans - style of play. I'll be thrilled when we get Marty back but at the same time I'll be a little sad for Clemmer. Hell, who knows... He could very well play 1 out of every 4 games once Marty's back, and if Marty isn't playing well, we have a competent second option.
Posted by: Josh | January 21, 2009 at 11:58 PM