Jeff Frazee keeping open mind about Devils' backup competition

Jeff Frazee knows the reality of being a rookie goaltender in the Devils' organization.

Before last season when a torn biceps tendon sidelined him for 50 games, Martin Brodeur hadn't played fewer than 70 games since 1996-97. And it might not do much good for the development a 22-year-old with only one year of pro experience to sit on the bench for long stretches in the NHL rather than play in the minors.

That said, the Devils do have an opening for a backup goaltender after the departures of Kevin Weekes and Scott Clemmensen. Former Islander Yann Danis has the inside track because of his experience, but Frazee will be given a chance to show what he can do in the preseason.

"Right now my plan is to go in and just play my best and hope for the best, but expect the worst, I guess," said Frazee, who has been working out in New Jersey since before the team's rookie camp in July. "I mean, it wouldn't be the worst (to not win the backup job)."

Frazee admitted he wants to be Brodeur's backup.

"I'd like to be," he said. "It's not my decision, but I'll do what I can."

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After losing his starting job as a junior at the University of Minnesota, Frazee decided to turn pro in 2008 and resurrected his status as Brodeur's possible heir with a strong season in the minors. After going 2-2 with a 2.65 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in five games with Trenton of the ECHL, Frazee was promoted to Lowell when Brodeur was injured and Scott Clemmensen was called up to the Devils.

Although Brodeur's injury was a negative at the time for the organization, it was a positive for Frazee because it created an opening for him to play at a higher level.

"I think it was," he said. "It was kind of an opporunity in an unfortunate way, but I was glad to get it."

Frazee ended up being selected to play in the AHL All-Star Game. He played in 58 games with Lowell, going 28-22-6 with a 2.62 GAA and .920 save percentage. He then went back to Trenton for the playoffs and went 2-2 with a 2.22 GAA in four postseason games.

"I always knew I was capable of playing like that," he said. "It was a matter of just putting everything together. Spending the last couple of summers out here (in New Jersey) has really helped me out and, hopefully, it will pay off again this year."

Frazee is leaving it up to others to decide whether he's ready for the NHL, though.

"It's not really my decision," he said. "I think I can compete and we'll see where the chips fall."

He said that no one in the organization has told him "directly" what the team's plans for him are, yet. He acknowledged that the Devils might decide it would be better for him to play in the AHL this season than to sit in the NHL.

"That's definitely a possibility," he said. "That's not really my decision to be made. If that's what's said at the end, then I will respect that. They know what's best for me and I will do whatever they tell me."

That said, he admitted that the idea of competing for the Devils' backup job is "exciting."

"I'm very excited and I look forward to every day at camp and competing and working hard and getting to know a few more guys," he said.

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As I mentioned earlier, there was no ice available today. The first on-ice practice of rookie camp will be Thursday morning. Veterans report for their physicals on Saturday morning and take the ice for the first official practice on Sunday. Some veterans will likely skate Thursday morning in an informal practice before the rookie camp begins.

Jamie Langenbrunner and David Clarkson were among the veterans who were at Prudential Center this morning to work out off the ice.

Comments

[Scotty K]

Jeff get your 60 starts in Lowell. We'll see you in 2 yrs when you can make a impact. Go get um kid.

[Scotty K]

TG take a long lunch. your fingers must be falling off!

[TG]

I think Frazee will spend most of the year in Lowell, but they might call him up for a few starts if the opportunity presents itself -- particularly if Danis doesn't play well when he gets a chance. Frazee could be called up for an NHL start and then go right back down and keep playing. That way, he gets the almost the best of both worlds -- he plays regularly, but also gets a little NHL experience under his belt moving forward.

[Ben]

I agree with Scotty K. I'm glad to see he had a good season last year but we need him playing, not sitting. Yann Danis will keep the bench warm this season and Frazee can go have another all-star season and get better and better. That's what the organization needs.

[SonicDude]

@bob glavine

we need to give lou move time...i cant believe we'll go into this campaign without a number 2 center for elias and rolston.

in sympathy with your comments, i was bitterly disappointed by the loss to the canes, and was equally disappointed that there have been no big UFA signings or buyouts of bad contracts.

but fear not. while younger guys need opportunities i suspect only corrente, bergfors and pelley make this team from lowell.

so this gets us back giving lou time...there is still time to improve this roster. you know from his comments post- the canes debacle that we need upgrades. and lou hates losing more than we do.

[mikeP]

We need to eventually find a successor for Marty, so I think the team needs to come up with a plan for Frazee to play at least 20-25 games this season, just to see if he has the potential for the future. Lemaire just might be the perfect coach to implement this plan. Sutter could never stick to his own plans, but Jacques was very good at alternating Brodeur with Terreri when Marty came up, and maybe now's the time to phase in the young goalie. Yann Danis should get the majority of games played up in Lowell, and be on standby in case of injury, or if Frazee struggles.

If Frazee never gets a shot he'll just be another Ari Ahonen, JF Damphousse, Mike Dunham, etc, a long line of Marty successors who didn't even get the shot to show their stuff

[Ben]

how do you tell the winning est goalie in history that he has to sit 20-25 games so that a kid can get some playing time? maybe it would be good for marty and he would be more rested going into the playoffs. but still i wouldn't wanna be the guy to start that conversation with marty

[Ben]

also i think lamaire was right on in his comment about some of the d men getting better around the net..i think we're going to see a much more consistent and mature defense this year which imo has been a big problem

[YEAHw/e]

does anyone have ESPN insider? there is this thing in the rumor section that says "devils players buzzing about Marleau"

[Ben]

Same crap as usual, "devils might be in on a three way trade"... the rumor section there always has glaring mistakes. One post has a Rangers logo and talks about an Islanders player. I always foolishly think the rumors might be intersting only to see they just re word the title and the rumor never changes

[Alz]

Speaking of ice, has there been any indication that the Newark ice crew has managed to fix the system? The last two years has seen the surface melt faster than a teenage girl at a Jonas brother's concert.

[TG]

"Players buzzing about Marleau" =

Question to any player who will listen: Do you think the team will trade for Marleau?

Answer: Who knows? Maybe.

[gambi99]

Marleau is not coming here. He doesn't want to leave San Jose, he's a west coast guy now and it would mean a big change in life for him. I still believe he'll get traded but not to NJ.

[kstatik]

Or...

Alternate Answer: I don't know, it's not my decision to make! All I can do is play my best and
focus on myself and playing my game.

[/canned player response during trade talk]

[Ashmore]

Frazee's certainly not the most talkative kid in the world...covered him last year in Trenton.

[mikeP]

anyone notice that the Penguins invited Zach P's brother Jordan to their camp?
I thought he was playing in Europe?

[gambi99]

Shoot, Penguins are going after Jordan to get to Zach just like Anaheim did with Rob Niedermayer and we all know how that turned out!!

[Puckster]

I agree with TG. I think Frazee starts in Lowell and gets in a game or two if possible during the regular season and then goes back down to Lowell so that he continues playing.