Kevin Weekes, Welcome to New Jersey, the Garden State.  It is time to give the Devils organization some credit, not a lot, but enough for signing a reliable backup to Martin Brodeur in the offseason. As a 34-year-old veteran, Brodeur started 78 games last season and looked exhausted in the postseason.
The early reports indicate that Weekes will start 15-20 games this season.  By doing so, he will give future Hall-of-Fame Brodeur a well-needed rest between the pipes.

A well-traveled veteran, Weekes has spent time between six teams in his nine-year career. His latest stint was playing across the George Washington Bridge for the New York Rangers.  I should mention that the Rangers released him for his rather subpar goals against average of 3.39.  Nevertheless, he is definitely an upgrade over Clemmensen, who was taken in the 1997 draft round 8 #215 overall and did not play until the 2001-02 campaign.

In Clemmensen’s four-year stint with the Devils, before he signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he only started 17 total games, a mere four times last year.
Whether the Devils lacked confidence in him or if they permitted Brodeur to dictate when he was available, that number told me that Clemmensen must lack the necessary basic skills in goaltending in the NHL.  Oh, and he averaged a 2.82 GAA and .894SV% in his career in the Meadowlands.
After GM Lou Lamoriello signed Brent Sutter as the team’s new head coach, the Devils definitely made a necessary move in picking up Weekes.  A player who once defeated the Devils in the playoffs and looked like a future starter, Weekes never had a successful career in the NHL.
Even though the signing can turn out to be a mistake, it was a worthwhile risk considering their lack of depth behind Brodeur for the last several years.  Considering the hard salary cap, Weekes was also affordable at a two-year, $1.375 million contract.
Corey Schwab, Mike Dunham, John Vanbiesbrouck, and Chris Terreri have all successfully protected the net as reserves to Brodeur.
Some became starters.
In the 1998 expansion draft, the Nashville Predators selected Mike Dunham, who started a few years in Nashville.  He currently holds two awards.
-Nashville Predators all-time record for games played by a goaltender (96)
-Nashville Predators all-time record for most wins by a goaltender (35)
Vanbiesbrouck, aka “The Beezer," began his career for the New York Rangers, then for Florida, the Flyers, and finally in New Jersey for the final nine games of his career.  In his 20 years in the NHL, he won 374 games, a Vezina Trophy, and various awards, honors, and praises from across the league.
Weekes will most likely play a few games a month and give Marty a rest.  Now, if you begin to struggle, Brodeur will start 78 games like last season.  This cannot happen again.  The Devils rely on Marty and cannot afford another meltdown in the playoffs.  
Preparing for the playoffs, which is almost a guarantee year in and year out with the Devils, is much more important than starting Brodeur in back-to-back games.  Start Weekes against Florida, Washington, or even the Islanders. 
I am confident that Brodeur will definitely break the major goaltending records within the next few years, including career wins, shutouts, games played and minutes played, so please let Sutter, an experienced player and coach, dictate your status before a couple of nonconference easier opponents.
Broduer cannot start 78 games again this season.  There is no way to know if he struggled in the playoffs or if Tampa and Ottawa deserve credit for finding and taking advantage of his weaknesses.  He is still Marty, just a 35-year-old, 13-year veteran version of himself.

Definitely the most consistent goalie in ice hockey’s storied history, Brodeur needs to see more time on the bench this year, as weird as that may sound.
Even the best of goalies need a break once in awhile.  Everyone is just hoping Weekes can make a small yet significant difference this year and help lead the Devils to their fourth Stanley Cup Trophy since 1995, and first since submerging the Anaheim Ducks in 2003.  It’s been way too long, I am awaiting another Cup, and Weekes may just be the missing link in leading the Devils to success.

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