It's always difficult to see the great ones reach the end, the ones you grew up watching in respectful awe and with deep appreciation, learning what it means to truly be great, to be "elite."
But, as they say, time waits for no man, and it seems that age and time may have finally caught up to longtime New Jersey Devils and current St. Louis Blues goaltender Martin Broduer.
According to the latest report, from Sportsnet.ca, the longtime NHL mainstay and future Hall of Famer will be announcing his retirement later this week after taking a couple of weeks to ponder his future.
Brodeur will also be joining the Blues front office in an assistant general manager role, per TVA's Renaud Lavoie.
The 42 year old Brodeur joined the Blues in late November after their starting netminder Brian Elliott went down with an injury.
In seven appearances this season, Brodeur managed a 3-3-0 record, 2.87 goals-against average and .899 save percentage.
He finishes his playing career as the NHL's all-time leader in wins (691) and shutouts (125). He also won three Stanley Cups with the Devils and four Vezina Trophies.
It will be interesting to discover why Brodeur chose to join the Blues front office and not the Devils - the team he spent the entirety of his previous 21 years in the league with.
"Let's put it this way: If and when Marty Brodeur decided not to play hockey, I know for a fact he will get many offers by many franchises, including perhaps the league," Brodeur's agent, Pat Brisson told the St. Louis-Post Dispatch. "There's a lot rumors and speculation out there, but I know for a fact that if and when he decides, he's going to have a job in hockey."
Now he does, but not with the organization many thought he'd end up with.
If anything, this news will, no doubt, further alienate Devils GM Lou Lamoriello from the New Jersey fanbase.
