The New Jersey Devils might have finally found the successor to longtime goaltender Martin Brodeur after landing Cory Schneider in a shocking trade on Sunday at the 2013 NHL Draft.
The Devils sent their No.8 overall pick in the draft to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Schneider, who finished last season with a 17-9 record and .927 percent saving percentage.
Schneider's deal is widely perceived as a sign that the Devils are now preparing themselves for the future without future Hall of Fame goaltender Brodeur.
A four-time Vezina Trophy Winner, Brodeur just turned 41 in May and is set to enter his 22nd season with the Devils. Last season, Brodeur finished with a 13-9 slate in 29 starts and recorded a saving percentage of .901 - the lowest since the goaltender's rookie season in 1992-93 campaign.
The 27-year old Schneider is considered as an emerging goaltender in this league, having won the William M. Jennings Trophy alongside Roberto Luongo during the 2012-13 season.
Many expected Schneider to replace Luongo as the Canucks' regular starting goaltender, but the Canucks decided to make a gamble by sticking with the much older goaltender.
Schneider is expected to become the Devils' regular starter probably next season, with Brodeur likely playing sparingly for the hockey team.
"I've been a fan of Marty Brodeur's since I was younger," Schneider told the Devils' website, according to ESPN. "To potentially get to work with him is going to be incredible. Just to see him coming off a Stanley Cup finals trip just a year ago, I know they have a lot of good pieces in place."
Father time is indeed approaching for Brodeur, who announced his son, Anthony, as the Devils' 7th round pick (208th overall) in Sunday's draft.
Watch this clip of father and son during Draft Day:
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