 In the 1991 – 92 NHL season , Brodeur spent most of his time with the Utica Devils of the AHL , but was called up to the NHL on an emergency basis for four games when New Jersey 's goaltenders Chris Terreri and Craig Billington became injured . Brodeur won his NHL debut against the Boston Bruins , 4 – 2 , and played in one playoff game that season . Brodeur spent the following season in the AHL with Utica . However , in the 1993 – 94 season , Brodeur returned to the NHL permanently and gained recognition when he won the Calder Trophy , an annual award for the best rookie in the NHL . He led the Devils to the second @-@ best record in the league and the Eastern Conference Finals in the playoffs , where they lost to the New York Rangers in seven games . He finished 2nd in goals against average ( GAA ) ( 2 @.@ 40 ) and 4th in save percentage ( .915 ) in 47 games played during the regular season , helping him eventually land the starting job over Terreri . 
