Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils Finally Using Martin Brodeur Correctly In Front Office Role

By Nick Villano

TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 11: Martin Brodeur is congratulated by Ken Daneyko on his Hall of Fame induction prior to the 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic Game at the Scotiabank Place on November 11, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 11: Martin Brodeur is congratulated by Ken Daneyko on his Hall of Fame induction prior to the 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic Game at the Scotiabank Place on November 11, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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News that Martin Brodeur was crucial in New Jersey Devils signing Corey Crawford shows his legacy is worth a lot in the front office.

Martin Brodeur is the best goalie to ever put on pads. It’s a contentious topic, but everyone knows where we stand on the New Jersey Devils great. No matter where Brodeur sits on your all-time greats, there’s no doubt he’s one of the most popular players for the 90s and 2000s. A lot of the players in the league today remember watching Brodeur winning Stanley Cups. Even the young players remember the miraculous run of 2012.

Multiple reports, including this latest one from NBC Sports Chicago, said that the Devils used Brodeur to talk to Corey Crawford before signing him to a two-year deal. It’s clear that seeing one of the best to ever play the goaltender position helped make his decision.

This was a crucial signing for the Devils. With Cory Schneider getting the buyout treatment, the Devils were left without a real backup. There was no chance they were going into the season with Gilles Senn as the primary backup to Mackenzie Blackwood. There were a lot of players available, but with Jaroslav Halak, Robin Lehner, and Henrik Lundqvist signing before the true free agency period started, the crop was getting thin. Braden Holtby and Jakob Markstrom seemed like pricey options for a primary backup, and Thomas Greiss and Cam Talbot were not nearly as good as Crawford when healthy. The Devils got the best possible option, and it was in part thanks to Brodeur.

The legend makes a phone call, and it means something. It wasn’t something the Devils felt they should do under Ray Shero. It seems like there was a certain ego to the way the front office worked under the previous regime. Now, Tom Fitzgerald seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to make the right move. This isn’t a knock on Shero as a GM overall, he was given a terrible team with no prospects and now the Devils are building a possible dynasty thanks to the young players at all levels. However, it’s a very Fitzgerald move to use his Hall of Fame goaltender as a marketing tool instead of the job that is on his business card.

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Brodeur hasn’t done a ton since returning to New Jersey after spending a few seasons in the St. Louis Blues front office. However, it seems like his role has significantly expanded since Shero was removed in the middle of last season. He was even named as one of the decision makers when Fitzgerald was placed in the interim role.

Using Brodeur as a marketing tool to bring players into the building could be crucial when the Devils are actually contenders. They haven’t been a true contender for free agents in close to a decade, but that can change on a dime in today’s NHL. With Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier playing center, this could be a destination sooner rather than later. Getting a sales pitch from the best to ever play the position means something, even if the player isn’t a goalie.

This is a great way to weaponize Brodeur. Getting that kind of access to a lot of these players’ former hero helps swing them one way or another. Other teams have similar options (Joe Sakic in Colorado and Mike Modano in Minnesota come to mind), but there were few stars like Brodeur for a lot of these players’ hockey watching prime.

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