Brodeur shooting for Feb. 26 return

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur could be back in unform in a little more than three weeks.

Brodeur, who has been sidelined since Nov. 1 with a torn left biceps tendon, is aiming to return to game action in a Feb. 26 contest against the Colorado Avalanche at Prudential Center, a source familiar with Brodeur's recovery schedule indicated.

The Feb. 26 return fits logistically into Brodeur's recovery schedule and the team's schedule. The Devils have four days off following their Feb. 21 game against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum and that window would allow Brodeur to get in three hard practices with the team to prepare him for his first game, the source said. Brodeur would likely begin practicting with the team the week before that, though.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said on Jan. 21 that the goal was for Brodeur to have his first full practice on March 1, but added that "Chances are it's sooner than later."

The Feb. 26 return would also come less than a week before the NHL's March 4 trade deadline. That probably won't be enough time, however, for the Devils to determine if they can risk trading away one of their other goaltenders -- Scott Clemmensen and Kevin Weekes.

Brodeur had surgery on Nov. 6 to re-attach his distal biceps tendon near his left elbow and was expected to miss three to four months. He was cleared to resume skating on Jan. 21 and began facing light shots shortly after that. According to the source, Brodeur stepped up his regimen over the weekend when he started facing harder shots.

Brodeur ranks second in NHL history with 544 career wins and needs eight more to break Patrick Roy's all-time record of 551. A Feb. 26 return would give Brodeur 22 team games -- he won't play them all -- to chase down Roy before the end of the regular season.

Comments

[Captain Cornholio]

This is terrific news!

[JT]

awesome!!!!

[embo slice]

if brodeur is healthy, it most certainly be enough time to unload clemmer, but only if the price is right.....keep in mind the schedule is very light at the beginning of march, which allows time between starts for marty, and hey, we still got weekes....had to say it

[VinnyC]

Jesus H. Christ people, if this turns out to be the day can we please get as many people in the seats as possible?

[SS]

I think for anything the devils should try and trade weekes and keep clemmer, at least with clemmensen, we known he can play and maybe he can be a nice number one after marty retires. This team really needs to start working on bringing up a new goalie for the future, and as we see now, clemmer is the man who can fulfill that role, hes young and he not that bad.

[Andrew]

lmao trade weekes and try and keep clemmer! yes i know who would even wants weekes but who knows, Lou is famous for pulling off odd trades.

[lunchbox]

but why would we unload clemmer when its be smarter to unload weekes? yeah, we obviously wont get as much, but the insurance in clemmer is much more valuable.

hey TG, what happens if we dont move either goalie? can we keep all 3 on our roster for regular season/postseason?

thx!

[Mike]

Clemmensen to Ottawa for Mezzaros and maybe a draft pick. Ottawa need to make some hefty changes somewhat like what Boston did getting rid of Thornton.
Id on't know ,what other defensemen are out there that we could get people?

[JJ]

You might get a 3rd rounder for Weekes or Clemmensen.

[modnarm]

YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RG9]

he lets through such bad goals i still dont get why people like clemmer soo much hes okay for a back up but if our goal scorers wouldnt be doing so well we would not have been winning.

Great News though about Brodeur i just hope they are not rushing into it.

[Robbie]

Got Salvadore for Janssen. I wonder what we can get with Weekes

[Jason]

We CAN NOT keep Clemmer after this season. Especially if he makes it to 30 wins. He will get a starting job with starting cash next year (or at least the chance to compete for it). Which, obviously, he will not get here. Weekes is our man.

[Devilswede]

wooo!! Awesome news! Can't wait! :)

[shahjige]

IM GOING TO THE GAME THAT DAY, ITS DEVILS COLLEGE NIGHT!! if he returns that day it would be freakin sweet!!

[Cream]

Weekes and Clemmensen are both not to big of trading chips. Pretty sure Clemmensen is around the 31-32 age range..which doesn't give him many years left anyways..maybe 5-8. We need to find a solid 20 year old netminder for this team before Brodeur retires, and i think our main players we're looking to trade are Gionta and Pandolfo

[embo slice]

clemmer has a much higher trade value....it helps sometimes to think of the other team and what they might be trying to do.....clemmensen is not the goalie of our future, he won't even be on our team next year

[modnarm]

i can't wait for the day we hear form the players saying that Marty is the same old Marty- in reference to him shutting them out as they take their best shots on him.

[Captain Cornholio]

TG, I think four games gives the Devils enough time to assess whether or not Brodeur has returned to form. With home games against Colorado, Florida and Philadelphia and a game in Toronto the night before the trade deadline, the team should have an idea as to whether or not it can deal a goalie.

[josh]

weekes is a much better team guy than clemmer is from what I can tell. I would definatly say trade clemmer. someone will want him for sure. I say we could get a 3rd no problem, and maybe if Lou works some of his salvador for janssen like magic we get a 2nd or 1st rounder for him (the later is rediculously unlikely but you never know with Lou).

IMO Weekes is the one that desereves to ride the train (or pine in this case I guess) to our teams stanley cup (if that ends up happening) because of all he has endured while being with the devils. Honestly the guy has gone from hopefully tey are bringing me in here to lighte martys workload and I get 10-15 starts to ok that as a no only 5'ish starts per year to marty's hurt and now i'm the guy to carry this team to ok the 3rd stringer is now taking on a marty-like workload and I'm getting pouch screwd again and he has done it all with a smile and a great attitude that must rub off positively on the players around him.

hell after wins he is usually more excited than the rest of the players that contributed to the win.

[mw]

@ Mike

Meszaros doesn't play for Ottawa...

[Jeff]

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Speed Marty!

[Jacko]

Jason, I am willing to bet you anything you want that Clemmensen will not get more than 2yrs and 6MM. ANYTHING...

I don't know if you follow other teams but top goalie money is like 5MM+. No team in this league is stupid enough to give an average goalie a long term deal for what amounts to 30 games of performance.

[Devilswede]

Hmm..who might this source be TG? :) Considering how tight-lipped the Devils are about Marty's injury and his pending comeback, I'm wondering what Lou and his staff must be saying right now with this out there. :)

[aaron]

arent both weekes and clemmer free agents after the year?

i think trading clemmer would be a colossal mistake. even if hes gone after this year, what happens if marty tweaks his bicep soon after returning?

trading weekes is fine, i guess. i dont know why any team would want to rent him for a month, though.