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Martin Brodeur to retire from NHL, join Blues' front office

Longtime NHL goalie and current St. Louis Blues netminder Martin Brodeur is set to retire and join the team's front office in an executive role.

Certain Hall of Fame netminder played 21 seasons in New Jersey

Doug Harrison · CBC Sports ·
Blues goalie Martin Brodeur will retire from the NHL on Thursday and join the team's front office in an executive role. He joined the team in November as an injury fill-in after playing 21 seasons with the New Jersey Devils. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Martin Brodeur decided three was a crowd, so the St. Louis Blues goalie is hanging up his pads to join the NHL team’s front office.

The 42-year-old, who took a leave of absence from the team on Jan. 14 to ponder his hockey future, will assume a management role, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said in a news release.

The Blues have scheduled a news conference for Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Among those expected to attend the news conference are general manager Doug Armstrong and Blues Hall of Famers Bernie Federko, Brett Hull and Al MacInnis. Federko is a team broadcaster and Hull and MacInnis are in the front office.

"It's kind of sad to see a guy like him hang 'em up," said Brian Elliott, the Blues' all-star goalie. "I'm sure it's a tough decision, but I was grateful to be on the same team with him if only for a little bit."

After leaving the New Jersey Devils and going unsigned last off-season, Brodeur arrived in St. Louis in late November on a one-week tryout and made his debut on Dec. 4 in a loss to Nashville as an injury fill-in for Elliott, who returned to the lineup earlier this month. Jake Allen is the other Blues’ netminder.

Brodeur signed a one-year, $700,000 US deal with St. Louis that reportedly included playing bonuses, among them $10,000 for each point the Blues earned with Brodeur in goal.

In seven games for the 29-13-4 club, he sported a 3-3-0 record, 2.87 goals-against average and .899 save percentage after spending 21 seasons with New Jersey.

When he signed in St. Louis, Brodeur said he understood when the time would be right to leave the game as an active player.

"I just want to go out and enjoy the season and enjoy the winning way like I was able to in New Jersey for a lot of years," he told reporters at the time. "It's so much fun playing hockey when you win. I want to gain that back.

"Hopefully with the Blues it's going to be a long year still ahead."

For Brodeur, he'll just have a different perch while viewing games.

The Montreal native's final shutout was recorded on Dec. 29 against Colorado, a 16-save performance in his next-to-last start.​

With 691 victories, he is the NHL's all-time wins leader and boasts 125 shutouts, also a league record.

Brodeur finishes his playing career with a mark of 691-397-176, 2.24 GAA and .912 save percentage in 1,266 games.

Among his other accomplishments:

  • Regular-season goaltending records for wins, shutouts, games played and minutes played (74,438)
  • First in playoff starts (204) and shutouts (24) and second in wins (113)
  • Three-time Stanley Cup champion with New Jersey (1995, 2000, 2003)
  • Two-time Olympic gold medallist with Canada (2002, 2010)
  • Four-time Vezina Trophy winner as NHL's top goalie (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)
  • Five-time recipient of Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed as a team (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2010)
  • Led NHL in victories nine times, shutouts on five occasions and games played six times
  • Appeared in 70 or more games in 10 straight seasons (1997-98 to 2007-08)

With files from The Associated Press

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