Martin Brodeur's trip into free agency lasted just one day.
The New Jersey Devils re-signed their legendary goaltender, inking Brodeur to a two-year, $9 million contract. It includes a no-trade clause, and probably ensures Brodeur will finish his career with the same team it started. His average cap hit will be $4.5 million.
The Devils were initially unwilling to offer Brodeur more than a one-year contract. But Lou Lamoriello relented, offering the 40-year old goalie a two-year deal. That helped seal the deal.
"The money was there," Brodeur told Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record. "It was more for one year. It was the two years that was important to me with the lockout (possibly coming). At my age, I went through a lockout before and you lose a lot of money if it happens for a whole year and at my age who knows if in this situation I would have been without a contract without playing a whole year? I just didn't want to have to go through that."
New Jersey also kept Johan Hedberg, signing the 39-year old backup to a two-year, $2.8 million contract. Like Brodeur, Hedberg received a full no-trade clause. He's been better than expected in two seasons with New Jersey, posting a 17-7-2 record with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.
Hedberg kept his family in Atlanta while playing for the Devils, and said the security of a two-year contract helped him stay with the team.
"If it would have been one year, we would have been in the same boat and I probably wouldn't have been able to do that and I don't know what would have happened," Hedberg told Gulitti. "So, I'm very happy that Lou made a commitment and gave me the two years. I'm going to do everything that I can to be as prepared as possible to make sure I can be as good as I can be."
It wasn't all good news. New Jersey is still waiting for Zach Parise to make his decision on where to sign. The unrestricted free agent and Devils captain is considering several teams, and New Jersey remains a strong possibility. After calling a press conference today, Parise announced he wasn't making a decision, instead opting to take time to consider the decision with his family.