Back in November, the prospect of months without Martin Brodeur seemed like a long and daunting wait, but with Scott Clemmensen and Kevin Weekes playing the way they have, the time has gone quicker than expected. Still, everyone in New Jersey wants Marty back, and we're getting closer and closer to the reality of having No. 30 between the pipes again.Brodeur had his first full practice with the team today after almost four months. "I'm comfortable to go into a game if I had to [Sunday]," he told Tom Gulitti, but any hockey fans hoping for a cinematic return against the incredible Sharks to inject some drama into this NHL season will have to settle for Claude Lemieux possibly playing his former team instead.
While he acknowledges that he's comfortable enough to play if he has to, the simple fact is that he doesn't have to. Clemmensen has afforded Brodeur the luxury of coming back when he truly feels ready physically and mentally rather than rushing a return to save some last-ditch playoff hopes. Brodeur expects that to be a week to 10 days from now, but Brent Sutter has indicated that he wouldn't have enough practice time to get his first start in that timeframe with the Devils heading on a road trip to Florida next week.
So what does it mean? It means that the February 26 return date that we previously wrote about, at home against the Avalanche, is going to be the date. Even though Lou Lamoriello denied it. Yes, Lou Lamoriello is deceptive.
Shocking, I know.
Now there seems to be only mystery left to debunk: how are the Devils going to rotate a future first-ballot Hall of Famer with two goalies playing exceptionally well?




