Martin Brodeur inked a one-year deal with the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, but the next and potentially last chapter of his playing career will truly start tonight if the reports that he will play between the pipes against Nashville prove to be accurate.
When Brodeur plays with St. Louis, he will be bringing 1,259 career NHL games worth of experience with him, including a record 688 wins, four Vezina Trophy victories, and three Stanley Cup championships. But that’s the past. Brodeur’s 42 years old now and he hasn’t played up to his legendary standard in years. All the same, he didn’t want to simply fade into the sunset and await his eventual induction into the Hall of Fame.
“I still love the game, still have the passion to go hang out with the guys and live the experiences,” Brodeur said, per CSN Chicago. “It’s hard when it’s taken away from you. That adrenaline rush is something that’s pretty cool. Hopefully I’ll find that and have fun with it.”
Brodeur isn’t worried if continuing to play past his prime or putting on a jersey other than the Devils’ will hurt his legacy. A different consideration has been his driving force.
“It’s hard when it happens but looking back, it’s my career, not the fans’ career or [anyone else’s]. When I leave I want to wash my hands and say, ‘I did it all,’” Brodeur said. “This is what I wanted. At my prime, that’s not how I was thinking. The older I got I was more intrigued in seeing other things. Seeing a different organization, conference, will be good for me.”
And the end of the day, nothing can change what Brodeur has already accomplished. The only real question is if he has enough left in the tank to help the Blues.
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