The Fifth Liners

Since retiring at only 32 in 2012 (mainly because no team would take him) former trouble maker Sean Avery has shed light on his decision to retire. In short, he claims that he needed people to hate him in order to stay motivated. Although he achieved his goal is spectacular fashion, Avery often resorted to hateful tactics to provoke people. We all remember his notorious 'Sloppy Seconds' quoted aimed at Dion Phaneuf or the time he decided to get creative while screening Martin Brodeur ! Apparently ever since his off-broadway debut fell apart in bizarre and typical Avery fashion (he got into an argument with a stage hand over refusing a slice of pizza), he now has taken to remodelling East End homes in NYC. Let's hope he does cause too much mayhem during the renovation part of the job! To see more about his reflections in the Players Tribune, click on the link here .

Today it was announced that Martin Brodeur has finally called time on his 21 year career in the NHL after a short spell at St Louis Blues. To say he has had an extraordinary career would be putting things lightly! In 2009, he officially surpassed Patrick Roy to become the most winning goaltender in NHL history and finishes with a remarkable record 691 wins and 125 shutouts are most in NHL history. Brodeur was an integral part of the New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup triumphs in 1995, 2000 and 2003, and was also a part of two Canadian Olympic gold medal winning teams in Salt Lake City in 2002 and on home turf in Vancouver in 2010! Brodeur was the league leader in wins nine different times, shutouts over five times, and remarkably he led the league in games played six times, which included playing in 70 or more games in 10 consecutive seasons from 1997-98 to 2007-08. His great skills were also reflected in his 10 NHL All Star appearances, four Vezina Trophies, and not to mention winning t...

Today it was finally announced that the long standing issue of Martin Brodeur returning to the NHL has been resolved as he has signed a 1 year deal with the St Louis Blues after a successful tryout. After regular starter Brian Elliott was sidelined through injury, Brodeur has been signed to provide cover during this crisis. But after a less than successful final year at his old side New Jersey, does the most winning goaltender in NHL history still deserve a shot? On a sentimental level, I think it is great to see Marty still wanting to prove his worth at the top level rather than being forced into retirement. But sadly we have to look at the facts for this whole deal, firstly at 42 years old he is no spring chicken! Also his age caught up with him in dramatic fashion during a lackluster 2013-14 season as he recorded only 19 wins from 39 games with a GAA of 2.51- his worst since 2006! The season prior he had guide the Devils to an unexpected Stanley Cup Final appearance! But in 20...

A few weeks ago it was well noted in the media that Sean Avery had quit the off-Broadway production, 'Positive is Negative' in a typically fiery fashion after an argument involving pizza! No stranger to controversy, Avery forever made headlines during his 11 year NHL career for all the wrong reasons, but this meltdown was something else entirely. Many of us after picking ourselves off the floor from the laughing fit that ensued suddenly realized this was actually serious! So if Mr Avery is intending treading the NYC boards, here some ideas to produce his own Broadway shows. Screening Brodeur  A two man play which involves a young yet troublesome hockey player attempting to screen a rival goalie during a key playoff game and using all manner of tricks in which to achieve it! Whether Martin Brodeur will agree to star will depend on some good negotiations. Sloppy Seconds: Or How I Spent My 6 Game Suspension Angered that his former flame is dating another hockey player, o...

The great state of New Jersey maybe have brought us the music of Bruce Springsteen but right now the New Jersey Devils are starting to dwindle! After a glorious period from 1995 to 2003 which included 3 cup wins, the Devils have only been the finals once since in 2012 when they lost in six games to the LA Kings. Last season they finished only 11th in the Eastern conference and the seasons only real highlight was Martin Brodeur being selected for the new NHL 14 cover! Problem with this team is the key elements that them such a threat are either long gone or about to leave, missing are the days of the tough defensive pair of Scott Stevens and Scott Neidermeyer. Right now NJ doesn't have that back line that makes a difference and with Brodeur now 40 and seemingly on the verge of ending his great career, it seems that their fail safe options are thinning out! So should this team look to the future? Well right those options are looking scarce, kid wonder Zach Parise bolted to Minnes...

IThe New York Islanders won an entertaining 4-3 clash against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center last night which was only decided by a narrow shootout. New Devils recruit Damien Brunner (sorry Mike) gave New Jersey the lead with three minutes gone in the period but 1st star of the game Michael Grabner quickly levelled when he seized on a breakaway to score low underneath Martin Brodeur. Into the second period it was another new Devil who gave the home side the lead when Michael Ryder scored a wrap around to flag up his first NJ goal- but again the lead was soon pegged back when Grabner bagged his second after 13 minutes. The Islanders edged in front after only a minute of the third period when Frans Nielsen scored, but this time it was New Jersey who levelled the scores when Damien Brunner scored his second with only three minutes of the third left to bring the scores to 3-3! The shootout went six rounds without any scores, but finally Matt Moulson used some clever t...

Nathan Mackinnon was selected as the 1st overall pick by the Colorado Avalanche in New Jersey last night, after an impressive season with the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior League it came as little surprise to many and capped an impressive comeback after a knee injury during the World Junior Championships had threatened to lower his ranking. Young Finnish centre Aleksander Barkov was chosen as the second selection by the Florida Panthers and Mackinnon's Halifax team mate, Jonathan Drouin was picked as the third overall choice by Tampa Bay Lightning . Biggest surprise of the night came when original number one prediction Seth Jones was only selected fourth by the Nashville Predators . Swedish centre Elias Lindholm was the fifth choice for the Carolina Hurricanes while Sean Monahan was added to the Calgary Flames at sixth overall. There was a shake up at  the 9th overall pick as the Vancouver Canucks unexpectedly traded Cory Schneider to the New Jersey...

New Jersey Devils Goaltender Martin Brodeur will be the face of EA's next NHL game when it's released in September. Click  here  for more info about NHL 14 and  here  to see all of Brodeur's records. An honour well deserved, let's just hope he isn't affected by the curse...

The voting for the new cover man for NHL 14 continues and it seems someone must have been listening to Mike's wise words about a goalie gracing the cover as we have not one- but two potential men in net who could grace it! Hockey Fans, I give you the final contenders! Martin Brodeur Sergei Bobrovsky  Pavel Datsyuk  John Tavares Voting is still open for this better get voting on Twitter, my personal vote shall go to Brodeur, purely because he deserves a cover after all he's achieved in net! Go to NHL.com to find out how! Shame that Handzus didn't make the list though, oh well we both still love you here Michal! Mike says 'vote Datsyuk!'

By Alex Watson Martin Brodeur is without a doubt the greatest goaltender the NHL has ever seen and has smashed just about every record going. But after New Jersey's 4-1 win over Carolina Hurricanes, another record falls as he records, Amazingly- his 3rd career goal! This is something we will probably never see again in the history of this great sport. This goal has literally a touch of good fortune about it, but they all count don't they? Congrats Marty and keep up the good work, http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=661434&navid=nhl:topheads