How One Goalie Changed the Ice Behind the Net
Martin Brodeur is one of the rare athletes whose influence can be seen directly on the playing surface. The trapezoid behind the net exists to limit how effectively goalies can play the puck in that area, and this rule is widely referred to as the "Brodeur rule," after New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, whose puck handling behind the net is believed to be the cause for the rule.
Brodeur's impact was not just that he could stop pucks. He was perhaps the best puck-handling goaltender ever, aiding his defense by corralling dump-ins and dumping them right back out or passing to a teammate. It made him, in essence, a third defenseman, and a reason why the NHL installed the trapezoid behind the net to restrict goalies' movements with the puck.
What Made Martin Brodeur So Dangerous With the Puck
Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils was the master. When opponents dumped the puck into the Devils' zone, Brodeur would race to the corner, intercept it before forecheckers arrived, and fire a perfect breakout pass to his defensemen. He basically acted as a third defenseman, shutting down offensive pressure before it could even start.
His former teammate Ken Daneyko explained it perfectly: "His puck-handling ability almost made him like a third defenseman and they ended up making a rule for Marty because he was too good at it. Nobody could forecheck."
Brodeur made dump-and-chase strategy nearly useless. According to NHL executives like Brian Burke, "The game was turning into a tennis match." What should have been an offensive-zone recovery for the attacking team often became an easy outlet for the Devils instead.
The skill itself went beyond just being adventurous for a goalie. These goalies had elite stick-handling, skating ability, and game sense. They could read plays, make quick decisions under pressure, and start counterattacks in seconds.
Why Dump-and-Chase Stopped Working the Same Way Against the Devils
The dump-and-chase is a bread-and-butter hockey tactic. An attacking team shoots the puck deep into the offensive zone, then races after it to battle for possession. When it works, you create sustained pressure and scoring chances.
Brodeur disrupted this timing by getting to the puck first and moving it before the forecheck could lock in. His ability to get out of his net to stop dump-ins and get the puck to his defensemen diffused opposing forechecks and often started the Devils' transition from defense to offense.
The strategic insight here is crucial: dump-and-chase only works if the offensive team can create pressure before the defending team regains control and moves the puck. Dumping the puck into the offensive zone—a staple strategy for many teams—became far less effective because goalies could simply retrieve it and pass it to a teammate before the opposing forwards arrived.
This fundamentally changed game flow. As NHL GM Brian Burke explained: "You'd dump it in and the goalie would throw it out and now with the soft chip into the corner it turns into a puck battle and a forecheck opportunity, which is what we wanted."
The trapezoid wasn't just about stopping one flashy skill. With the NHL lockout in 2004-2005 that cancelled the whole season, a rules committee was formed to increase offence in the NHL. Amongst the number of rule changes made to help increase scoring was the addition of the trapezoid behind the net.
What the Trapezoid Rule Actually Says
The goalie can play the puck only within that trapezoid area or in front of the goal line. If he plays the puck behind the goal line and not in the trapezoid, a 2-minute minor penalty for delay of game is assessed.
The NHL rulebook defines this as a restricted trapezoid-shaped area behind the goal where the goalkeeper is allowed to play the puck behind the goal line. The trapezoid rule limits where goalies can play the puck behind the net.
Goalies can still play the puck, but they cannot roam freely into the corners behind the net. Teams adjusted their dump-in strategies to exploit the trapezoid. Smart teams now aim for the corners outside the trapezoid, where goalies legally cannot go. This maximizes the chance of winning puck battles.
For more detailed information about how the trapezoid works in practice, check out our comprehensive trapezoid guide.
Was the Rule Really About Brodeur Alone?
The most accurate answer is no, not entirely, but he was clearly the face of it. The trapezoid was adopted as part of the NHL's broader 2005-06 rules overhaul, which included several changes designed to open the game up and improve offensive flow.
However, the rule's connection to Brodeur is undeniable. As one NHL executive noted: "If they had 30 Martin Brodeurs out there, that rule wouldn't be there; nobody would have voted for it. There are just too many teams that didn't have these goalies that were ready to make sure the guys that were affecting the games weren't able to do it anymore."
The trapezoid rule has also been called 'The Brodeur Rule' after Hockey Hall of Fame and two-time Stanley Cup champion Martin Brodeur. Brodeur played for the New Jersey Devils during the trap period. The New Jersey Devils were known as one of the best neutral zone trap teams and Brodeur was known as one of the best goalies of all-time in coming out to play pucks that had been shot into the zone.
The strongest factual phrasing is this: the trapezoid was part of a league-wide push to change how the game flowed after the lockout, but Martin Brodeur was the clearest player example of the problem the league wanted to solve.
How Brodeur Expanded the Job Description of a Goalie
Brodeur created his own hybrid style that was unpredictable to shooters. As he wrote: "I needed to be able to poke-check, to stack the pads and be able to play the puck behind the net."
His revolutionary puck-handling skills fundamentally changed how goaltenders could influence the game. Often playing the puck like a defenseman, he disrupted opponents' offensive strategies by cutting off dump-ins and starting plays for the Devils.
Before the trapezoid rule, elite puck-handling goalies like Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy could act almost like a third defenseman, venturing far beyond their crease to retrieve dump-ins and make plays. Their ability to stop the puck behind the net and fire breakout passes helped teams avoid defensive pressure and transition quickly to offense.
The rule wasn't really a punishment for being flashy. In response, the NHL introduced the trapezoid rule—often called the Brodeur Rule—following the 2004-05 lockout. Many saw this as a direct effort to curb Brodeur's influence, as his puck-handling was a key component of New Jersey's success. The new rule altered the dynamics of goaltending, effectively limiting future players from replicating the dominance Brodeur had displayed for years.
Modern goalies still need puck-handling skills—but within more limited parameters. Training now focuses on making quick, accurate plays inside the trapezoid rather than ranging freely to the corners.
Sticks That Help You Play the Puck With Confidence
Martin Brodeur's trapezoid story still lands because it reminds goalies that puck-handling is not a side skill. As Ken Daneyko noted: "He had the passing ability that made it that much easier for the defensemen." The ability to settle dump-ins, move pucks cleanly, and help start a breakout can change the flow of a shift, even within today's rules.
CCM Vizion Goalie Stick
$379.99
Warrior Ritual V4 RTL Goalie Stick
$339.99
True Project X Storm Senior Goalie Stick
$359.99
FAQ
Why was the trapezoid rule really created?
The trapezoid rule was introduced to encourage more offensive opportunities and increase scoring chances. It was part of the NHL's broader 2005-06 rules overhaul designed to open up the game after the lockout.
Did Martin Brodeur support the trapezoid rule?
No, Brodeur was frustrated by the rule. He told the New York Times: "You can't be happy, taking away something I've worked on all my life to do. I think this is not doing it. I think it goes the other way around. It goes taking away a talent from guys."
Has the trapezoid rule been effective?
Supporters argue it creates more offensive opportunities. By preventing goalies from easily clearing dump-ins, the rule forces more puck battles and sustained pressure in the offensive zone. The rule has remained in place for nearly 20 years, suggesting the NHL views it as successful.
Do other goalies still handle the puck like Brodeur did?
While elite puck-handlers became less of a necessity, goalies still had to develop strong passing skills within the trapezoid. Many modern netminders now focus on making quick, efficient plays when they do retrieve the puck, rather than attempting long stretch passes like Brodeur once did.
What happened to the Devils after the trapezoid rule?
Despite the trapezoid implementation in 2005-06, Brodeur remained one of the NHL's best, winning the Vezina in 2007 and 2008. The rule limited but didn't eliminate his effectiveness.
How did other teams adapt to playing against Brodeur?
Teams developed more aggressive forechecking systems. With goalies restricted by the trapezoid, sending hard forecheckers became more effective. The first forward in can often beat the defenseman to the puck, creating turnovers and scoring chances.
Is the trapezoid rule used in international hockey?
The International Ice Hockey Federation implemented the same rule in 2021, showing that Brodeur's impact on hockey extends beyond just the NHL.
What records did Martin Brodeur set as a puck-handling goalie?
Brodeur scored three goals -- two in the regular season and one in the playoffs -- the most by an NHL goalie. He also accumulated two goals and 45 assists in regular season play, with one goal and 12 assists in the postseason.
