Devils pull surprise, acquire G Schneider from Canucks for 9th pick in NHL draft

NEWARK, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils have acquired goalie Cory Schneider from the Vancouver Canucks for the ninth pick in the NHL draft.

The Canucks selected centre Bo Horvat on Sunday at the Prudential Center.

Schneider seems in line to be the eventual successor to Martin Brodeur in net. Schneider was on the market once the Canucks were unable to dump high-priced goalie Roberto Luongo.

Brodeur and Johan Hedberg were the oldest goalie tandem in the league last season. Schneider can now be groomed to take over for Brodeur, 41, one of the NHL's all-time great goalies.

Brodeur, a rookie in 1994, has only ever played for New Jersey, and has led the Devils to three Stanley Cup titles.