How much rest will Martin Brodeur get next season?

It has become an annual question around New Jersey and one really has to wonder what the management philosophy is on the future Hall of Fame goalie; or if there even is a philosophy.

Remember last off-season, after Brodeur set the NHL record for wins in a season but then looked tired in the second-round playoff loss to Ottawa? Lou Lamoriello went out and signed veteran Kevin Weekes to a two-year contract to be a real backup, to take some of the load off Brodeur's shoulders.

What happened? The last time Weekes started a game was Jan. 5. He lost to the Bruins, and never got another chance. Brodeur went the rest of the way and looked more than mortal in the five-game loss to the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.

Now, for what it's worth, Brodeur said the playoff battle with the Rangers and Sean Avery took their toll; and while that may well be true, he still looked like just another goalie for the second straight playoff defeat.

His playoff record since the last Stanley Cup, in 2003, is just 12-18.

Time for more rest?

"I don't think (I was mentally fatigued) about hockey," Brodeur told the Star-Ledger. "I think it was more about (the media), just having to deal with the circus with the Rangers."

Said coach Brent Sutter: I think Marty was fresh going into the playoffs. I just think it wore on him as the series went on. A lot of things that took place probably had some impact on him."

And probably took the focus off the real issue -- the guy probably played too much.

Brodeur just turned 36. He has a lot of hockey -- probably great hockey -- left in him. But does he have to appear in 82 of his team's 87 games?

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
The Devils won nine straight games from Nov. 17 through Dec. 7, tying the third-longest streak in franchise history. They yielded only 14 goals in the nine wins, all recorded with Martin Brodeur in goal. The Devils were just 7-10-2 before run.

TURNING POINT
Even though they stumbled some in March, losing the first two games of the first-round playoff series to the Rangers at home put the Devils in a hole they never dug out of. They did win Game 3 at Madison Square Garden but then lost Game 4 there and Game 5 right back at The Rock to end the season.

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