How Martin Brodeur helped create the new New Jersey Devils third jersey

NEWARK, NJ – Martin Brodeur made history for 21 years as a goal scorer for New Jersey Devil, led the franchise to three Stanley Cup championships. Now, he’s done something else for the Devils: a new jersey, for New Jersey.

“I wish we could play in this game,” Brodeur said, clutching a black devil sweater with his name and number 30 on the back. “It’s just a wonderful thing.”

On Tuesday, Devils unveiled the first third shirt in the franchise’s history, leaving Detroit Red Wings and expansion Seattle Kraken is the only NHL team without an official replacement sweater in their history.

It is jet black with a total of 21 white stripes around the shoulders, arms, and waist. The white numbers are highlighted in red below, as is the central part of the design: the word “JERSEY” in the script font as the title.

(Yes, a jersey has “JERSEY” on the front. For the record, the pants don’t have “Pants”).

Adding to his resume as a Hall of Fame goalie and the team’s executive vice president/hockey operations advisor, Brodeur is now a fashion designer. He played an active role in the co-creation of the team’s third jersey, from concept to final design.

“Alumni have a bit of jealousy going on,” Jillian Frechette, Devil’s senior vice president of marketing, told ESPN. “Our players have never had an official third jersey, so this is really special for Marty. The most important part of this is the authenticity of the sport. The fingerprints. Marty’s on this shirt is very important.”

Frechette and Brodeur were the driving force behind the jersey’s design and concept, although many within the organization, along with executives from Adidas and the NHL, contributed to the process.

And it’s a process.

“When you’re in a market for almost 40 years without a third shirt, then you have to get it right,” Frechette said. “There are a lot of details that make us sweat. The shirt is really special, both for the players and for the fans. Sometimes it’s really special. [fans] may be over-liked, some fans won’t and some fans a little longer [to like it]. But we believe most of our fans will love it and grow to truly cherish it. “