Among the multitude of milestones within reach for NHL players and coaches this season, New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur stands alone.
"Hopefully, (breaking the records) will happen more sooner than later, so we can put it to rest, move on and raise the bar for the next guy," Brodeur said. "But I'm just happy that I'm able to play at the level that I like to play. I realize the records I'm approaching are something to be recognized, that's for sure, but I don't play for these things -- I play to help my team win a Stanley Cup."
After becoming just the second goaltender in NHL history to reach the 500-victory mark following his 44 triumphs in 2007-08, the four-time Vezina Trophy winner enters 2008-09 needing 14 wins to surpass all-time leader Patrick Roy's record of 551, and eight shutouts to overtake the legendary Terry Sawchuk's standard of 103. He also can join Roy as the only goalies to play 1,000 games if he suits up 32 times, and he can pass Roy's mark of 1,029 games if he plays 62 games -- Brodeur hasn't played fewer than 62 games in a full season since he was a rookie in 1993-94.
Brodeur also could break records for most shots faced -- he's 2,156 shy of Curtis Joseph's record of 26,412 -- and minutes played -- he's 3,018 away from Roy's mark of 60,225.
"Hopefully, (breaking the records) will happen more sooner than later, so we can put it to rest, move on and raise the bar for the next guy," Brodeur said. "But I'm just happy that I'm able to play at the level that I like to play. I realize the records I'm approaching are something to be recognized, that's for sure, but I don't play for these things -- I play to help my team win a Stanley Cup."
After becoming just the second goaltender in NHL history to reach the 500-victory mark following his 44 triumphs in 2007-08, the four-time Vezina Trophy winner enters 2008-09 needing 14 wins to surpass all-time leader Patrick Roy's record of 551, and eight shutouts to overtake the legendary Terry Sawchuk's standard of 103. He also can join Roy as the only goalies to play 1,000 games if he suits up 32 times, and he can pass Roy's mark of 1,029 games if he plays 62 games -- Brodeur hasn't played fewer than 62 games in a full season since he was a rookie in 1993-94.
Brodeur also could break records for most shots faced -- he's 2,156 shy of Curtis Joseph's record of 26,412 -- and minutes played -- he's 3,018 away from Roy's mark of 60,225.
