Is Martin Brodeur’s NHL Return a Good Move?

Apr 13, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) is honored by fans after his 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Brodeurs’ back in the NHL after signing a 1-year, $700,000 contract with the St. Louis Blues as reported by NHL.com. But is Martin Brodeur’s NHL return a good move? Or is he making one last grasp at glory and hurting his reputation in the process?

Martin Brodeur recently celebrated his 104th birthday (and by recently I mean six months ago and by 104th I mean 42nd) and after 21 season with the New Jersey Devils he is attempting a comeback by signing with the St. Louis Blues as a back-up. In fact, according to Blues headcoach Ken Hitchcock Brodeur could see action  as soon as this week during the Blues road trip. Number 1 goalie Brian Elliot is currently week to week with a knee injury. Rookie Jake Allen will fill in as the stater, but the Blues want experience in the backup role.

Brodeur is a future Hall of Famer who has a career Goals Against Average (GGA) of 2.24, good for 9th all time. I should also mention that he has this other little record of 688 wins. The next closest all time is Patrick Roy with 551. He also has 8 40-win seasons, with the next closest only having three. No doubt about it, he’s an all-time great. But, what does he have to prove?

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Nothing. At least not to most hockey fans (every player who has ever played professionl sports has their naysayers), but perhaps he does to himself. He was “unsigned and unwanted” by the New Jersey Devils in the offseason and I think this is a case of Brodeur trying to prove he can still play and even, perhaps, to go out on his own terms, rather than being tossed aside. As long time Brodeur teammate Scott Stevens said in a recent interview:

"“Well, he still feels he can compete and he still loves the game. He’s still passionate about the game. And he wants another chance to win. I think the Blues are a good fit. They play much like the Devils used to play. He’s going to see the shots so knows where they’re coming from ahead of time because of the way they play with [Blues coach Ken Hitchcock].”"

This isn’t the first time that a professional player has come back for one last go, but often it’s after the player has retired and gets the “itch” again. Brodeur is different because he, as I said earlier, wasn’t able to leave the game on his terms. But now he can prove to himself (and the Devils) that he can still be a viable netminder and then, if he chooses too, he can retire at the end of the season making it his decision. Good for him. An all-time great should get to make the choice and now he can.