The New Jersey Devils are having their worst season since they moved to the Garden State from Colorado back in 1982.
They are 11-29-2 on the season and have the worst record in the NHL. They are 27 points behind Atlanta for the final playoff spot with 40 games to go. Mathematically they may still be alive but the reality of the situation is they will miss the playoffs for the 1st time since the 95-96 season.
The job of fixing the Devils falls into the hands of GM Lou Lamoriello. He has already placed Brian Rolston on waivers (as of this time he is still with the Devils) and he has traded Jamie Langenbrunner to Dallas for a 3rd round pick.
While I believe that Lamoriello is just getting started in reshaping the roster there is one question he has to ask himself as he rebuilds for next season.
Is it time to trade Martin Brodeur?
Brodeur has been with the Devils for nearly 20 years and has not only become the face of the franchise but the last link the the three Stanley Cups the franchise has one.
The thought of him finishing his career with any other team but New Jersey is something Devils fans don't want to consider. But they need to look at the facts.
He is 38 years old.
He is signed through next season.
He plays the most important position in hockey, one that usually is the difference in who wins & loses the cup.
Now I have no idea if Lamoriello is considering trading Brodeur but if he is this is the time to do it. I can think of five teams that would becomes instant Stanley Cup contenders if they acquire Brodeur.
5. San Jose:
Goaltending has been their achilles heel for the last few seasons. With Evgeni Nabokov the Sharks only advanced to the conference finals twice losing both times.
While they are currently on the outside looking in a trade for Brodeur could energize the Sharks and give them a boost as they make a push for the number four seed in the West.
With Antti Niemi & Antero Nittymaki sharing the duties in net the Sharks don't have a true number one in net. Brodeur would change that. The Sharks are on the outside looking in & as long as that is the case it has to be considered.
4. Los Angeles:
They are in the same place as the Sharks are in the standings. The difference is the Kings have more cap space & a good young goaltender in either Jonathan Quick or Jonathan Bernier they could send to New Jersey in a potential deal.
Putting Brodeur on the Kings with Jack Johnson & Drew Doughty playing defense in front of him would make it very tough to score on Los Angeles.
The Kings are only three points out of the final playoff spot & five points away from the number four seed. A Kings team with Brodeur would make them the team nobody wants to play in the post-season.
3. Nashville:
I know a team like the Predators are normally not on a list like this. I also know the Predators currently are holding on to the number four seed in a very tight Western Conference.
Acquiring a goalie like Brodeur could not only lock down home ice for Nashville in the 1st round but make them a stronger challenger to Detroit who currently leads the Central Division.
They have over 8 million dollars in cap space to work with & they have two young goalies in Pekka Rinne & Anders Linebeck that could be part of any Brodeur deal.
2. Philadelphia:
The thought of Brodeur being a Flyer makes me ill. The chances of division rivals trading with each other isn't likely but it has to be considered.
Right now the Flyers have the best team in the Eastern Conference and this is their best chance to win the cup since the 2004 playoffs. Their window is not going to be open for very long.
A proposed deal of Braydon Coburn, James Van Riemsdyk, Sergei Bobrovsky & a draft pick would be something Lamariello would have to seriously consider.
However there is one team out there that makes the most sense if the Devils are to trade Brodeur.
1. Washington:
They had the best team in the league last season. They score in bunches & have the most exciting player in the league in Alex Ovechkin.
Yet for all their success they have made it out of the 1st round once since returning to the playoffs in 2008. One of the problems has been the inability to settle on a goaltender once the playoffs start.
Acquiring Brodeur would solve that problem. The Capitals have two good young goaltenders in Semyon Varlamov & Michael Neuvirth they could send to New Jersey to help facilitate a deal.
Plus the Capitals AHL club in Hershey has won three of the last five Calder Cup championships. Washington has enough young talent to make a potential trade for Brodeur.
Now I have no idea if the Devils are even considering trading Brodeur at this point. What I do know is that the glory days the Devils experienced from 1994-2004 are over and they are looking at a long rebuilding process if they stand pat.
Trading Brodeur could get them back to the level of excellence they have been accustomed to.
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