Blues sign Brodeur to be assistant general manager

NHL's all-time winningest goalie gets three-year contract 

after retiring, joining staff as senior advisor to GM Doug Armstrong

By LOU KORAC

ST. LOUIS -- The NHL's winningest goalie has decided to make St. Louis his permanent home for at least the next three seasons.

Martin Brodeur, who retired from the NHL with the most regular season wins (691), shutouts (125), games played (1,266) and minutes played (74,438) and is likely a first ballot Hall of Famer, joined the Blues' front office as a senior advisor to general manager Doug Armstrong in January. On Wednesday, Brodeur signed a three-year contract to be the team's assistant GM.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Martin Brodeur will remain with the Blues organization after signing a

three-year contract to be the assistant general manager,

Brodeur, whose prestigious career ended with the Blues on Jan. 29 after he initially signed a one-year contract on Dec. 2 following the knee sprain to Brian Elliott, immediately joined the Blues' front office.

The 43-year-old Montreal native played 21 seasons with the New Jersey Devils before joining the Blues as a free agent. He played in seven games with St. Louis, which included a 16-save shutout against the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 29, and was 3-3-0 with a 2.87 goals-against average and .899 save percentage before announcing his retirement.

Brodeur immediately jumped into the hockey operations aspect of the organization, often traveling with the club and taking part in all activities but he was on in a part-time role.

Armstrong said following a first round playoff exit against the Minnesota Wild that the Blues would welcome Brodeur back in a more prominent role if something was available.

Brodeur desired a more prominent role and got it.

"We need him to take a bigger chunk of what we're doing," Armstrong said of Brodeur. "Having a lot of part-time guys around isn't healthy. It worked this year; I don't think it's going to work moving forward, but I'm not saying that if there's a full-time position that we can work out, that I wouldn't want him back here. 

"I worked with Steve Yzerman at Hockey Canada events. Probably the most humble superstar I've ever met until I met Marty Brodeur. He's been great to have around. I'm a better manager for working with him."

There was talk that Brodeur could return and rejoin the Devils organization after this season with the Blues, but with New Jersey's recent hiring of GM Ray Shero to replace Lou Lamoriello, the team's longtime GM who will remain the team's president of hockey operations, there was no guarantee Brodeur would have a job awaiting him in New Jersey.

The Blues did all they can to make Brodeur's stay in St. Louis as smooth as can be.

"I think (Brodeur) really enjoyed the freedom that he had this year with our group, but part-time jobs are only good for so long," Armstrong said.

Brodeur ranks first in starts (204) and shutouts (24) and second in wins (113) in the postseason. He appeared in 10 NHL All-Star Games and led the NHL in wins nine times, shutouts five times and games played six times, including appearing in 70 or more games in 10 consecutive seasons from 1997-98 to 2007-08. Brodeur won the Jennings Trophy five times (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2010) and Vezina Trophy four times (2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008).

Brodeur was a Stanley Cup champion with the Devils three times (1995, 2000 and 2003) and two-time gold medalist at the Winter Olympics (2002 and 2010) with Canada.