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Martin Brodeur

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Martin Pierre Brodeur is a legendary professional ice hockey goaltender.

MartinBrodeur
MartinBrodeur

He is widely considered one of the greatest players to ever play the position. Brodeur played 22 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent 21 of those seasons playing for the New Jersey Devils. During his career, he won three Stanley Cup championships.

The N.J. Devils win the 1995 Stanley Cup
The N.J. Devils win the 1995 Stanley Cup

He also earned two Olympic gold medals while playing for Canada. He was the starting goaltender in 2002 and a backup in 2010. His massive success led to his election to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

Brodeur utilized a unique hybrid style of goaltending to stop pucks. Many modern goalies use the butterfly style, which involves dropping to the knees. Brodeur stood up more often than those players. He later adapted to more modern techniques as his career progressed. He was famous for his excellent positional play and quick reflexes. His glove hand was especially noted for its skill.

Brodeur2003
Brodeur2003

He was also a master of puck handling with his stick. This skill was so effective that the NHL changed its rules. They created a restriction on where goalies could handle the puck. This is often called the "Brodeur rule" following the 2004-05 lockout.

NHL Hockey Rink
NHL Hockey Rink

His career was defined by incredible statistical milestones. Brodeur holds the NHL record for the most regular season wins with 691. He also holds records for the most losses at 397. He leads the league in shutouts with 125 total.

Martin Brodeur vs Islanders in Nov 2011
Martin Brodeur vs Islanders in Nov 2011

A shutout occurs when a goaltender prevents the opposing team from scoring any goals. He also holds the record for most games played by a goaltender at 1,266. Brodeur is the only goaltender in history with eight seasons of 40 wins. He achieved at least 30 wins in twelve consecutive seasons.

Brodeur earned many prestigious individual awards during his time in the NHL. He won the Vezina Trophy, which honors the league's top goaltender, four times. He also won the William M. Jennings Trophy five times. This trophy recognizes goaltenders with the fewest goals allowed. He was a ten-time NHL All-Star and a Calder Memorial Trophy winner.

Martin Brodeur - New Jersey Devils
Martin Brodeur - New Jersey Devils

Remarkably, he was one of only 17 NHL goaltenders to score a goal. He holds the record for the most goals scored by a goaltender with three.

His journey began in Montreal, where he was born on May 6, 1972. Hockey was in his blood because his father, Denis, was an Olympian. Denis won a bronze medal for Canada in the 1956 Winter Olympics. Martin did not start as a goaltender, though. He originally played as a forward in youth hockey. He switched to the position after a coach asked him to be a backup. At age 12, he almost quit the sport entirely. A conversation with his brother, Claude, convinced him to keep playing.

Brodeur became a "student of the game" through careful study. He attended a camp led by the retired Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak. Tretiak encouraged him to use many different goaltending methods. This helped Brodeur develop his hybrid style. He moved from the Quebec Major Junior League to the NHL in the early 1990s. He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 1990 NHL entry draft. He officially joined the NHL roster permanently during the 1993-94 season.

His leadership helped the New Jersey Devils reach many heights. He led them to their first Stanley Cup in 1995.

The N.J. Devils win the 1995 Stanley Cup
The N.J. Devils win the 1995 Stanley Cup

In 2003, he guided the team to another championship. That year, he set an NHL record with seven playoff shutouts. He also won the Jennings Trophy and the Vezina Trophy that season. His career concluded after a brief stint with the St. Louis Blues. He now serves as an executive for the Devils.

The new Order of Sport flags Canada's greatest sports champions who contribute to the greater good
The new Order of Sport flags Canada's greatest sports champions who contribute to the greater good
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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:The N.J. Devils win the 1995 Stanley Cup.jpeg
The N.J. Devils win the 1995 Stanley Cup.jpeg
File:Brodeur2003.jpg
Brodeur2003.jpg
File:NHL Hockey Rink.svg
NHL Hockey Rink.svg
File:MartinBrodeur.jpg
MartinBrodeur.jpg
File:Averyrule.jpg
Averyrule.jpg
File:Martin Brodeur vs Islanders in Nov 2011.jpg
Martin Brodeur vs Islanders in Nov 2011.jpg
File:Martin Brodeur - New Jersey Devils.jpg
Martin Brodeur - New Jersey Devils.jpg
File:The new Order of Sport flags Canada's greatest sports champions who contribute to the greater good.jpg
The new Order of Sport flags Canada's...
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