louboutin09

PITTSBURGH For the last week of the season, at least, the New Jersey Devils’ goaltending picture is pretty well-defined.

Johan Hedberg started Tuesday night in Pittsburgh and made 23 saves in a 4-2 loss to the Penguins. Martin Brodeur will be in net Wednesday night when the Devils host Toronto, and the plan is for Hedberg and Brodeur to split the team’s final two games — Saturday at the Rangers (likely Brodeur) and Sunday at home against Boston.

Beyond that, however, the goaltending plan is up in the air.

Brodeur, who will turn 39 May 6, intends to play out the final year on his contract in 2011-12, and is unsure what he’ll do after that because of the possibility of a work stoppage when the collective bargaining agreement expires after that season. Hedberg, who will turn 38 May 5 and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, said he hasn’t thought about whether he wants to return to New Jersey next season, and won’t do so until this season is over.

Brodeur would like to see Hedberg return, but acknowledges that the organization needs to start grooming a goaltender for the future or bring one in from the outside.

“I ain’t going to be here too much longer, so I think it’s important to get some young guys, too, you know, give them an opportunity depending on how it goes,” Brodeur said.

Although Brodeur claims he hasn’t thought a lot about how the team eventually will replace him, he says he’ll care about what happens after he retires.

“I’d like somebody to come in and (make) an impact,” he said. “It might have to be through free agency also. Who knows?”