Roy: Brodeur will leave everyone far behind

After watching Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur tie him at the top of the NHL's all-time wins list by registering his 551st tonight at Bell Centre, Patrick Roy knows he will be left far behind by the time Brodeur retires.

"He's a machine, I can tell you that," Roy said. "I think [Devils coach] Brent Sutter mentioned a couple fo days ago, the scary part of it is I'm sure he has maybe three, four or five more good years in front of him. The difference between both of us is I think he has a better approach to the game than I had. At 37, I was thinking about retiring and I don't think Marty thinks that way. He still wants to play mayn more years.

"When I was talking to him this morning he mentioned to me missing those 50 games (with a torn biceps tendon) reminded him that he was missing the game a lot. Sometimes bad things happen in your career, but I think for agood reason. Unfortunately that was bad luck, but he used it in a fashion that reminds him that he loves this game and he was extremely happy to come back."

Here's the rest of what Roy said in his press conference after tonight's game.

On meeting with Brodeur this morning at the Devils' hotel:

It was important for me to come and talk to him. I expressed to him how happy I am for him and if someone knows how hard he had to work to get there and how much hard work, a lot of discipline, he deserves every minute of it."

On what watching Brodeur tie his record meant to him:

"It reminds me of great memories. Since I have retirned I haven't put a lot of thought into my career and to be here tonight and to be there this morning it kind of reminds me when I met with Terry Sawchuk's son. It was a great moment for me. It's fun to get some flashbacks from then. It was fun. I've very happy to be here tonight and to see that moment. It think it's great for the game of hockey. Hockey has been good to me. The NHL has been great to me and it's nice to be here." 

On where record ranks:

“Every record is special to me. I was proud when it happened to me and I'm sure Marty is very proud. I don't know where it places in the history of the game, but if you look at goaltending it's something great. It goes with the team. You have to win hockey games and if you do the team is winning hockey games. To be part of that as a player makes it very special and I think marty should be extremely proud of being able to help his teammates. That's the way I felt at the time."

 

Was he pulling for Brodeur and into the game?

 

“You're in Montreal you know, so you want to at least show you are pulling for both teams, but to be honest with you…I was hoping to be there the day he tied it at least or beat the record. I'm happy to be here tonight to see it happen. Nothing against Montreal, I know Montreal is in the middle of a big race, but it's a great moment in the game. I'm sure Marty is very excited to see it happen in his hometown in front of his family. To be honest with you, I'm very happy to see that game. One day I'm going to say my grandchildren, 'Hey, I was there the night he tied me.' It means something to me."

 

Comments

[Captain Cornholio]

Perhaps Patrick Roy is being genuine. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He has said the right thing at every opportunity over the last few days. I did not think he would have.

By the way, the Devils arrived at Newark at 12:02.

[jack sprat]

yes, MARTY will leave henrietta far behind!!!!! Oh yeah, henrietta is no where near MARTY in wins or anything else for that matter.
Rags stink!!!!!! avery is dogpoop!!!!!! monkeyboy(gomez) is lying in my toilet!!!!!
thank you

[Sohl]

that comment gave me a whole new look on life, thank you for making me want to end my life jack (lol)

[mara in PDX]

I've been very impressed with Roy's comments over the past week or so. I've never been a big fan of his, and I don't think he was ever good enough at BS-ing to say all the right things if he didn't actually mean it.

[lightrail rider]

I too was surprised at how gracious Roy has been. He even granted an interview in the Star Ledger last week. The reporter was even surprised. Also a tip of the hat to the Montreal fans who showed real class.