Greatest New Jersey Devils player of all time: 1. Martin Brodeur
The best. The GOAT. Everything this franchise needed and wanted. There is a good chance the New Jersey Devils would be playing in Nashville or Kansas City or Quebec if it wasn’t for Martin Brodeur. If the Devils took Trevor Kidd instead of Martin Brodeur, the Devils would be the laughing stock of the league. They might have some success with Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer. However, without this man between the pipes, the story of this franchise is completely different.
Martin Brodeur played for the Devils from 1992 to 2014. He’s won four Vezina Trophies, three Stanley Cups, five Jennings Trophies, and a Calder Trophy. He owns all of the records. Every important goalie record is his. He is the career leader in wins, shutouts, saves, and a litany of other records. Many of his records will never be touched. Not to sound old, but they don’t make him like Martin Brodeur anymore. Only Grant Fuhr has ever played more games in a season than Brodeur’s 78 in 2006-07.
It wasn’t a fluke either. He played at least 70 games 12 times in his career. He was incredibly durable. The Devils always knew they had everything they needed at the goaltender position. There wasn’t a need for a backup goalie. That player was there to collect a paycheck and learn from the best. Or, they were there to keep the guys entertained on the bench.
Brodeur is the best player in the history of the position, the best player to ever put on pads, and the best player in the history of the New Jersey Devils.