Martin Brodeur finally retiring; joining Blues, not Devils, front office

Martin Brodeur is finally calling it a career.

The NHL’s all-time winningest goalie will announce his retirement on Thursday. Sportsnet, which broke the story, reports that he’ll join the St. Louis Blues front office.

Yes, the Blues. Not the New Jersey Devils, where he spent 24 seasons and a team that has been fairly consistent in bringing back the franchise’s legendary players work with the organization. Which is a little awkward, considering Devils GM Lou Lamoriello’s comments about Brodeur just last September:

“Yes. He knows that he will be a Devil for the rest of his life. He’s said it publicly and we’ve talked about it,” Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello confirmed. “What Marty has done, the type of personality he is and what his experience has been, it’s really a no-brainer. He’s a Devil.”

Hmmm…

If this sounds a little awkward, Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record said it's still in the cards for Brodeur to join the Devils:

Brodeur's position with Blues will be for the rest of season. He felt part of that team after playing for them/working with coaches, players. Both Brodeur and Doug Armstrong discussed with Lou Lamoriello before decision was made. Brodeur will be back with Devils after that. That Brodeur and Armstrong both discussed this Lamoriello first shows the relationship he still has with Lamoriello and Devils.

OK, stand down everyone ...

Brodeur, 42, signed with the Blues after starter Brian Elliott went down with an injury in November. He took a leave of absence before the All-Star break to consider his next steps. The Blues’ goalies were healthy and there wasn’t exactly going to be a market for his services. He played in seven games, with a 3-3-0 record, an .899 save percentage and a 2.87 goals-against average.

Oh, and one shutout. No. 125 in his career, also an NHL record.

Brodeur holds his share of them, and now that his career is over the discussions about his legacy can finally return their focus to those accomplishments. Among them:

• The all-time leader in NHL wins by a goalie with 691.
• The all-time leader in NHL shutouts: 125
• The all-time leader in games played for a goalie (1,266) and saves (28,928).
• Three Stanley Cup championships and five conference titles.
• Two Olympic gold medals.
• The distinction of being perhaps the best stick-handling goalie in hockey history, to the point where they invented a new rule (the trapezoid) to combat his skills set. Oh, and he’s the only goalie in NHL history to score a game-winning goal, one of his three career goals.

Did he hang on too long? Totally. Was the split with the New Jersey Devils, who brought in Cory Schneider to replace Brodeur one year after Brodeur re-signed with the team, too contentious? Apparently.

Are either of those things vital enough to detract from the enormity of his achievements, his impact on the game or the goaltending deity he’ll justifiably be lauded as?

Outside of some lamenting that he didn't retire a Devil, they're ultimately not; and beginning on Thursday, they’ll be a frustrating coda to a Hall of Fame worthy career.

Much, much more on this in the coming days.