Over the summer, one of the things the Canadiens needed was a backup goalie to Mike Smith. Martin Brodeur seemed like a good fit for that spot. He has a high EX/LD, a good backup rating and would only play one more year before hanging up the skates for good.
Due to this, the Canadiens offered him a 2 year deal at just under 3M per year. This seems high, but Mike Smith is on the last year of his 4 year, 1.5M per year deal so together they only make 4.5M per year. Hopes we high that Broduer would come in and play against a lot of the weaker Western Conference teams and give Smith a rest. Unfortunately, those games have not turned out so great for the Canadiens.
Brodeur is currently 0-7-3 on the season, and 7 of those games are against teams currently out of the playoffs. Head coach Barry Trotz is at a loss of words right now. He knows he needs to give Smith a rest here and there, but he also doesn't want to overwork Smith and wear him down for the stretch drive. Hopefully, Broeduer will figure it out soon, and help turn around the awful December that has been going on in Montreal.
In other sad news out of Montreal, the offense which was clicking in November, has done a 180 and has been brutal in December. The PP was at an amazing 25% in November, and is now down to 13%. How does this happen you might ask? Well, the last PP goal was on November 30th! That was 10 games ago, and helps explain the 2-6-2 stretch the team has been on. Hopefully one PP goal will trickle past the goalie soon, and all will be well again.