Won three Cups under three coaches

Continued from B5

“As it gets closer, too, it’s great to see how happy the inductees are. I love seeing that. And working with the Blues I work with Al MacInnis, who got in years ago.

“All those things get you excited about it.”

When it comes to stats, Brodeur has some legendary numbers. His 691 victories are 140 more than the No. 2 goalie on the list, who happens to be Roy. His shutout resume shows similar dominance, with his 125 far ahead of the 103 posted by second place Terry Sawchuk.

Yet, there are still the critics, those naysayers who claim a semblance of Brodeur’s greatness came from the defensive-first system employed by a Devils team led by Stevens and Niedermayer.

Of course, what the anti-Brodeur fraternity fails to point out is that Montreal Canadiens Hall of Famer Ken Dryden played behind three Hall of Fame blue-liners — Larry Robinson, Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe.

“I’m just shocked to hear (any criticism) like that,” Lamoriello said Monday. “Here’s the bottom line. It’s like a hitter in baseball who’s hitting behind another hitter. He still has to hit the ball.

“He won three Cups under three different coaches. Our system and style was consistent because we believed in a defensive system to win that started with the goalie out. And Marty was the key guy.”

Because of Brodeur’s outstanding stickhandling abilities, Lamoriello says the Devils actually blueprinted breakout plays predicated on his passing skills. Brodeur was so good at it, he changed the rules of the game, with the NHL implementing trapezoids so goalies could no longer field pucks in the corners.

As for Brodeur’s records, Lamoriello says: “I’ll be very interested if anyone catches him. And the best part of it was, his success and the team’s success went hand in hand.

“He respected his teammates. I never saw him say anything to his defencemen that could have been construed as negative.”

Come next June, Lamoriello will congratulate Brodeur for being named to the Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

And, hey, if Lanny McDonald wants to make the Hall call before then, we’d be more than happy to give him Brodeur’s number.