Decision on Brodeur to be made after Wednesday's practice (Click on photo to see video)

Devils coach Brent Sutter said after today's practice that he will make his decision on whether Martin Brodeur will make his return on Thursday night against Colorado after Wednesday's practice.

"I'm not 100 percent sure myself and I haven't sat down and talked to Lou (Lamoriello) about it either because we've got time and you use time to benefit you," Sutter said. "We're going to get through another practice here and make a decision."

Sutter pointed out that it is different for a goaltender coming back from an injury than a skater because a coach can't limit a goaltender's ice time in a game. The length of time Brodeur has been out is also a consideration. Brodeur hasn't played since he tore the distal biceps tendon in his left arm on Nov. 1 against Atlanta.

That said, Sutter said it is possible that Brodeur will play Thursday.  (Below: CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE VIDEO that I shot at the beginning of today's practice. Sorry if it's a little shaky).

"This isn't like he's been out for just two weeks or three weeks," Sutter said. "He had a pretty serious injury and had significant surgery on that injury and I want to make sure when it's the right time, it's the right time and nothing sooner. Can that be Thursday night? Possibly. Can it be Saturday (vs. Florida)? Possibly.

"That's why we want to use time on our side. That's why it was important for Marty to have some practice time. [When] you're a goaltender, it's a different situation than being another player on the team when you come back from a long injury because as a coach you have some control in that over the game and how you play him, situations you put him into. You don't have control like that with a goaltender. He's out there and he's out there for the duration, for the whole game, so you don't get to control certain elements like you do with other players as a coach. So, it's a different situation." 

Sutter has liked what he's seen from Brodeur in practice the last two days. He looked good in today's 40-minute session, which included a lot of situational work (3-on-3 down low, 5-on-5, 4-on-4) and concluded with a breakaway competition.

"Marty has been pretty sharp," Sutter said. "I just want to give it another day. More than anything, he's been pretty sharp in practice. I just want to give it another day. You're talking about a player that's been out for a long period to time now and you've got to be very careful. And it's a position that's a tough position to come back in and all of the sudden face game-like situations and being out there for 60 straight minutes or 65 or whatever it may take. Marty is a unique individual and sometimes you've got to be very careful with that."

Sutter knows that Brodeur wants to play Thursday.

"He's been itching for two weeks," Sutter said. "Yet, we want to make sure when the time is right, it's the right time. I don't know if there's ever a good or a bad time, but you've got to weigh everything into it and then make sure everything weighs in favor of the right thing and not the right thing."

Brodeur admits he is anxious to play, but know he'll have to wait until Wednesday at least to find out if he's playing. 

"We're going to go day-by-day," Brodeur said. "That's the way it's been since I came back. I'll have another solid practice to try to convince these guys I'm ready to go."

Sutter said the opponent in Brodeur's first game back will not be a factor in the decision-making process.

"I don't think so," Sutter said. "I don't think it should be. It's when he's ready to play, he's ready to play."

Brodeur admits that his first game will be "nerve-wracking a little bit, but I think when the game is going to start, I'm just going to be who I am. It never affected my game and that's important. It never affected my game, so I don't expect it to, but it's not something that I'm used to, to come back in the middle of a season like that."

Chances are, Brodeur won't be game sharp until he actually plays in some games.

"It's hard to say when you are 100 percent or not," he said. "There's not many players in this locker room that are playing 100 percent. They're hockey players. It's just the way it is.

"For me, I feel really good and until I feel the game-time, like power plays for two minutes or five-on-threes for two minutes, pulling a goalie, having to make a play, shoot the puck when five guys are trying to take it away from me, that's going to be that learning thing that I've got to see how that goes. It's hard to mimic that in any pratice. That's why when they say, 'game shape', it's a lot different than practice shape, being in a game. It's playing hockey and you've got to get back to that and there's only one way and that's to play the games."

Brodeur noticed how Vancouver's Roberto Luongo took some time to find his game after he initially returned from a long layoff because of a groin injury.

"He's playing pretty well right now," Brodeur said. "It took him a while. It could be anybody -- (Mats) Sundin coming back. It could be any player. It's pretty hard to go in and be yourself. It's a work in progress and I think we're taking the smart steps towards me getting back at the top of my game and the step now is playing games and see how it goes and get it to a level where I'm going to be effective on the ice.

"Hopefully, it will come Day 1 and we'll never look back. But it might not, so I can't have that in my mind that that's the way it's going to be."

Brodeur said his arm continues to feel "good" in practice.

"I think it always felt really good (last week) in Florida, but now it's practice time just to have a really good idea of how far I'm able to push it, not thinking about it," he said. "And that's the thing. When you have an injury, you're always thinking about favoring something. That's not for me now. It's all about reaction. Who cares where the puck goes? Everything is going the direction it's supposed to be and that's what I discovered this week more than anything." 

Brodeur said having practices at game speed has helped, too.

"Just having guys around me, a lot more bodies," he said. "I got run into from Gio (Brian Gionta), so I don't know if that really counts. But I still got hit by somebody (laughing). At least it's body contact, being around the guys, playing the game, quick reactions for rebounds, finding shots through traffic with big bodies in front of me. It was good. Like I said, we're able to do more. We have practice time for a change."

When informed of Brodeur's comment, Gionta seemed a little offended.

"No, I deal with it on an daily basis," he said.

When Brodeur joked that getting hit by Andy Greene (5-11, 190 compared to Gionta's 5-7, 175) will be his next step up, Gionta laughed.

"That is embarrassing," he said.

Comments

[Jeff in Hoboken]

Just promise us the next video you post won't autoplay. Not that we don't appreciate your one-of-a-kind reporting, you're just killing me at work, TG!

[TG]

I don't know how to post it without autoplay. Does that do something to people's computers?

If it's just that you're missing the beginning, you can click on it again when it ends and it will start over.

[JoeDevil]

I don't know what the problem here is. The game against the Avs is the best situation for Marty to start. A non conference game, a team that is not that good this year. The other option, which I think is not a good choice, interconference game, an early saturday game against a RED HOT team.
Choice is easy.

Play Thursday, give him Saturday off, play against the Flyers Sunday.

[Brian D]

For God's sake just play him on Thursday. He's not going to be ready to play 60 minutes Thursday night but he will be a day and a half later? When he'll get no real work at all on Friday because there's no way the team is having any kind of serious practice that day? Give me a break.

Of course the fact I purchased tickets for Thursday specifically to see Marty's return has absolutely nothing to do with my opinion.

[JerryG]

OK, opinions everyone.

If you were coaching the team and you start Marty in goal on Thursday, who do you dress as the back-up, just in case he does need relief? Weekes or Clemmer?

I think he can go the distance no problem, and I'm sure that will be a big factor in Sutter's decision making process, but what if he gets hammered and needs to not go the full 60 minutes?

[HF]

clemmensen has been the #1 so sutter will go with him as the backup now...

[frankied]

TG
The autoplay on the video causes my browser to freeze for a couple seconds while the page loads up. Maybe it is just my computer. If you don't know how to fix it, don't worry about it.

[Jeff]

Here's what I'm thinking. If they don't play now and get him in playoff shape by letting him sharpen his game how do they expect him to come in and face playoff hockey?

[modnarm]

Weekes will be backup. Hes been better than Clemmer in the past month. Hes signed as our backup and should retain those rights ha

[mikeschoenf]

Modarm,

Agreed. i like weeksie better as our backup. I think Shari posted something on a previous post mentioning that Gordon from the Islanders did something at the end of the game on Saturday that was not right. Can somebody please clarify this for me? Thanks.

[Rico Suave]

TG, i'm not sure what program/coding you are using to add the video. if you are using a program like MS Frontpage you can right click the video and look at the Video Settings/Properties. A menu will come up, and there will be a box checked for AutoPlay, just unclick the box. if that's not the case TG, put up a post on how you post the video and I can help you from there or shoot me an email at the information provided with the comment.

[TG]

The way that Typepad instructed me to do it, doesn't have that option. At least nothing that I could find

[TG]

But, if you want to stop the video, just click on it and it will stop.

[Bill]

I read this blog every day. I really enjoy the lengths you have gone, especially recently with the video and other media of Brodeur. You're a good writer, I enjoy all you do.

[Baggy Spandex]

Don't worry about it TG...leave it how it is. People can deal with it. It's a great bonus addition.

[modnarm]

definitely. i appreciate the practice footage and pics. I've always wondered how stuff went on during practices, even though its not video of a whole practice. Pretty cool tho.

[JerryG]

I'd dress Weekes as the backup if Marty starts Thursday, and if Marty doesn't start, I'd start Weekes.

[KenF]

Hey TG, how long till you can give us some live real-time videos of the practice? maybe something that will allow us to choose the camera angles? in HD. with subtitles. maybe strap on a helmet cam and get out on the ice, while you're blogging, of course. and maybe add some speakers on your end so we mic up on our end and yell "GO MARTY".

heheh, keep up the great work, love the pics and videos, autostart or not. between Fire & Ice and Interchangeable Parts, I get all the Devils info I need.

[skeeter]

I think the important question here is, did Marty really say "little bittle bit?"

[Jamie]

TG,
You are an awesome writer and I totally appreciate the videos and pictures, keep them coming : )!

[mcalpine2daRafters]

TG,
In a world that lacks quality hockey beat writers, this blog as well as your columns in the Record, truly show you care about your readers and bloggers. I think I speak for everyone here when I say Thank You, and keep it the awesome work

[Scott E]

TG, love the videos, but I think I understand Jeff from Hoboken's concern. I also notice when I'm surfing rather than working, the sound of the embedded video startles me, and people in the cubicles around me.

This link might help address the concern; if autostart="0" is not part of your coding, maybe it would help to insert it. But what do I know -- just trying to help.

http://support.typepad.com/cgi-bin/typepad.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=237

Meanwhile, I'm headed to the Rock on Thursday for my first live game of the season. Guess I won't know which goalie is in net until I get there.

[JT]

Clemmer dresses as backup. He's got to...although Kevin Weekes seems to be a great morale booster for the guys on the bench hahaha so that could factor in. Sometimes I wonder if that's the reason he sits on the bench most of the time and doesn't play...he's constantly praising everyone every second they're on the bench lol

[MartyFan in Albany]

TG,
Ditto to the above--thanks for giving us a well-written, interesting inside look at this hockey team every day, several times a day. I'm addicted to it!

[brian s]

weekes as the back up for sure. he has proven he can go from sitting to game mode rather quickly. i personally think clemm is now getting mental about his future with brodeur at the door. it has to mess with you knowing that you wont be playing much anymore. he seems like he has a bit of an ego. that is a good thing to a point, but he now knows for sure that he can play good at the nhl level. just from hearing his interviews i get that ego sense from him. i bit to cocky maybe. almost cant blame him cause he has really helped this team get to where they are. he deserves the respect to not be sent down, but dealt if he wants it. he is a part of this team this year