Martin Brodeur said he was inspired to be the best goalie in NHL history the moment he set eyes on Patrick Roy.
"I think I was old enough to understand what NHL hockey was when he played and when he came in as a rookie back in 1985 with the Montreal Canadiens," Brodeur said during a Q&A with fans during the Devils Black and Red Banter series for season ticket holders Thursday.
"Being from Montreal, we said, 'You know, if a guy from Montreal or Quebec could do this, so could we.'"
Roy was one of many topics Brodeur discussed with fans. The Hockey Hall of Fame goalie also provided some insight into his most memorable day with the Stanley Cup, after helping the New Jersey Devils win the second of three championships in 2000.
"I remember taking it to the movie theater and putting it between the seats," Brodeur said. "I put some popcorn in it and watched a Disney movie with my kids (William, Jeremy and Anthony) for an hour-and-a-half. It was probably the most enjoyable time because I could finally relax and not have people around me.
"I don't remember the movie and there was no butter on the popcorn since I couldn't butter the Cup."
Brodeur was born in the St Leonard district of Montreal, the same neighborhood of NHL goalie Roberto Luongo. Roy, who retired in 2003 and is coach and general manager of Quebec of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, was born in Quebec City.
Brodeur had a connection to the Canadiens growing up: his father, Denis, was Montreal's photographer.
"Year in and year out, [Roy] was always performing so well, and that's one of the things I wanted to do," Brodeur said. "I wanted to be consistent in my career and not have an off year. I wanted to play well and be on top of things.
"You don't always have to be the best, but give your team a chance to win every single time you go out there, and that's what Patrick did, and that's one of the reasons why I kind of looked up to him early on."
Brodeur, who played 21 of his 22 NHL seasons for the Devils, is the NHL leader in regular-season wins (691; Roy is second with 551), shutouts (125; Terry Sawchuk is second with 103), games played (1,266; Luongo is second with 1,044); and minutes played (74,438; Roy is second, 60,214). In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Brodeur ranks first in shutouts (24; Roy is second with 23) and second in wins (113; Roy is first with 151). Brodeur signed with the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 2, 2014 and played seven games for them before retiring.
Brodeur's pursuit of the regular-season wins record could not have been better scripted. He tied Roy's mark of 551 against the Canadiens at Bell Centre in his hometown of Montreal on March 14, 2009. With Roy in attendance, Brodeur made 22 saves in a 3-1 win.
He made 30 saves in a 3-2 win against Chicago Blackhawks at Prudential Center three days later, St. Patrick's Day, for his 552nd win.
"I think being the wins leader is the accomplishment I'm most proud [of]," Brodeur said. "When you play hockey, it's a team game, and when I win, everyone around me is happy. I was able to make my teammates, the organization, my fans, happy 691 times during the regular season."
Brodeur said he has always considered Roy a good friend and the two would swap stories whenever they were together at a game or event.
"We have a great relationship," Brodeur said. "We obviously played against each other a lot, played together in the 1998 [Nagano] Olympics and [Roy] played all the games. The following Olympics (2002 Salt Lake City Olympics) he didn't want to play, and people thought we didn't get along, but there wasn't one time we were in a room or when we were around each other that we didn't stop and talk, even when we played. I chased down his records, passed him, but he came to Montreal to shake my hand when I tied [the wins record] and he's a really good guy, a fun guy and a really competitive guy.
"My personality is totally different from him. I can't say we're best friends; I don't have his cell number or anything. But every time we cross paths we do talk to each other. It's hockey, nothing personal."
Brodeur helped the Devils to three Stanley Cup championships (1995, 2000, 2003), and Canada to a gold medal at the 2002 Olympics. Roy won the Stanley Cup twice with the Canadiens (1986, 1993), and twice with the Colorado Avalanche (1996, 2001). Canada finished fourth at the 1998 Olympics.
"The game is different now from when I played," Brodeur said. "I think it's a faster game and the new rules put the talent and skill of players more to the forefront. In the past you needed talent, physicality, grit, but now it's a little different. People can skate, make moves entering the zone.
"Before there was a Scott Stevens waiting for you on the other side, so you'd think twice about doing that. But now the game is a lot safer for kids to be able to roam, show off their skills. For the fans, I think that's a lot more exciting."
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