Martin Brodeur and David Clarkson were teammates in New Jersey from 2006 to 2012.
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David Clarkson and Martin Brodeur are tight.
But that does not mean the Maple Leafs right wing has any inside information whether the Devils’ future Hall of Fame goaltender will finish his career in New Jersey or ply his trade elsewhere.
“I don’t have a comment on it,” Clarkson said after the Leafs’ morning skate at the Garden. “I don’t know much about it. I’m in a different city. We’re both buddies but I’m in a different city. I have no idea what’s going on there except for the same thing you guys read that gets put on the TV.
“I’m on a different organization now. He’s a friend, he’s a very close friend, one of the best teammates I ever played with — not just what he’s done on the ice but the person he’s off the ice, in that [locker] room. But as to what happens, I really don’t have a comment or have [an] idea what [will] happen.”
Brodeur has been unhappy ceding playing time to Cory Schneider this season, despite Schneider having a better statistical year. Brodeur is 15-11-4 with a 2.49 goals against average and .899 save percentage in 30 games this season. By comparison, Schneider is 12-12-9 with a 1.92 GAA and .923 save percentage in 34 games.
Following last night’s 4-3 win over the Red Wings at the Prudential Center, a game started, Brodeur said he had not waived his no trade clause. However, TSN’s Darren Dreger tweeted after the game that Brodeur submitted a list of teams to general manager and president Lou Lamoriello he would accept a trade to.
“I don’t know much about it,” Clarkson said. “I’ve talked to him. [We’re] pretty close, talk a lot, but it’s not something that you go through with a guy. I don’t know anything about the list. I just see what’s reported, what people write.”
Klein rooting for Rinne
Kevin Klein was relieved to see former Predators teammate Pekka Rinne return to action Tuesday night, following a staph infection which had sidelined the goaltender since October.
Rinne started Nashville’s 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh and made 16 saves on 19 shots.
“It’s good to see him back,” Klein said. “He’s an unbelievable person and player. I sent him a text, happy for him. He looked pretty good. It’s just one of those things where you could see it was killing him but he kept a positive attitude.
“I can’t be more happy for the guy.”
The illness robbed Rinne of an opportunity to play for his native Finland in the Sochi Olympics.
“Hopefully in four years he’ll be on that team,” Klein said. “He deserves it. He battles so hard. I know he loves his country and he’d love to be there. It was disappointing for him, but I think just the fact he wasn’t playing hockey overall was really disappointing. But he’s back and he’s gone through months on crutches and all sorts of stuff. I know he’s excited to be back.”
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
