Martin Brodeur Gives Up Goal Because Of "Martin Brodeur Rule"

Ever since the lockout in 2005, there have been few rule changes as baffling and aesthetically displeasing than the trapezoid. The random lines behind the net confuse new fans and few people understand the purpose of it. The comedy hockey blog DownGoesBrown posted a fake player-survey in which they took a jab at the strange rule.

So just to get the official terminology of this ridiculously absurd rule, here it is:

1.8 Goalkeeper’s Restricted Area - A restricted trapezoid-shaped area behind the goal will be laid out as follows: Five feet (5') outside of each goal crease (six feet (6') from each goal post), a two-inch (2") red line shall be painted extending from the goal line to a point on the end of the rink ten feet (10') from the goal crease (eleven feet (11') from the goal post) and continuing vertically up the kick plate 

27.8 Restricted Area – A goalkeeper shall not play the puck outside of the designated area behind the net. This area shall be defined by lines that begin six feet (6’) from either goal post and extend diagonally to points twenty-eight feet (28’) apart at the end boards. Should the goalkeeper play the puck outside of the designated area behind the goal line, a minor penalty for delay of game shall be imposed. The determining factor shall be the position of the puck. The minor penalty will not be assessed when a goalkeeper plays the puck while maintaining skate contact with his goal crease.

So that's the rule.

The thought process behind it was that goalies won't play the puck as much as they used to, which will lead to more defenseman coming back to play the puck, which will lead to more room for chances by the opposing offense, thus creating more offense (even though I've wrote about offensive chances because of  goalie's playing the puck)

...Ya....sure...good reason (just as a side note, this rule has created a lot more boarding penalties and brutal injuries due to defensemen turning their backs on the play to receive the puck. Just another reason to abolish this rule.)

So the rule seems ridiculous especially along with the reasoning.

Perhaps the goalie most affected by this rule is Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. One of Brodeur's claim to fame was the way in which he stickhandled the puck. He was considered by many to be a 3rd defenseman for the Devils whenever the puck came to his end. The defenseman got open for outlet passes as Brodeur would gather the puck and pass it crisply up ice. Devils fans have been used to seeing Marty create great plays with his puck handling like this, and this (and many more like them on Youtube). He invested time into being the best in the game at it and even managed to be one of the 10 NHL goalies to have scored a goal.

But everything changed with the new trapezoid rule. Marty is no longer able to make it to some pucks and it puts him at a disadvantage, not allowing him to use a trademark that's been his ever since Ron Hextall was in the league. Teams used to have to change their game plan because the whole "dump-and-chase" system simply did not work against Marty. Fans even started calling this the "Martin Brodeur Rule" based on the target of the rule. This is, in fact, the first time a rule was made because one player was "too good at something".

So ever since then, fans, Marty, and even general managers have pleaded for a rule change. So far they have not been successful but you never know. (You can even buy a shirt for it from the "In Lou We Trust" hockey blog.)

In tonight's game 5 between the Devils and the Panthers, Brodeur and New Jersey were down a goal with over 6 minutes left in regulation and were putting on some pressure to try to tie it up. And then this happened:

I'm not discrediting Florida's goal. It wasn't a cheap gimme that they didn't deserve. They used every ounce of muscle they had left on a tough shift to get the puck down every inch of the ice and then were credited with a gift.

But this goal was clearly preventable without the trapezoid.

The puck was JUST out of reach for Marty when Kris "Devils Killer" Versteeg chipped the puck to a wide open Scottie Upshall.

Devils fans have been blaming this goal on Brodeur saying that he didn't use good judgment. But late in the game the ice was choppy and the puck died down outside of the ridiculous shape on the ice.

This goal put the game out of reach for New Jersey and they now face elimination Tuesday night on home ice.

This goal was a dose of irony for the goalie who pushes the most to get rid of the trapezoid. In what might be his last season, this goal may be his downfall.