St. Louis Blues: Martin Brodeur Thought to be Returning to Team’s Front Office

Judging based upon multiple reports on Monday evening, it appears that legendary NHL goaltender Martin Brodeur, who was a Senior Advisor to the General Manager during 2015, will reprise his role with the team for the 2015-16 season. Brodeur, who played 21 seasons with the New Jersey Devils over a Hall of Fame-worthy career, joined the Blues in late November of 2014 and went on to play the final seven games of his NHL career with the team before retiring in January and accepting a front office position with the organization.

Tom Gulitti, the Devils beat reporter for The Record, wrote on Monday evening that Brodeur did not expect to return to New Jersey for at least “a few years” following the Devils’ decision to hire a new general manager, Ray Shero, last week. Gulitti indicated that Brodeur’s continued involvement with the Blues was expected to be announced soon, perhaps as soon as Blues general manager Doug Armstrong returns from the World Championships in the Czech Republic.

"“Especially with the change (the Devils) made, I think it’s a great opportunity for me to take a step back and go somewhere – or stay somewhere – that I’ll be able to learn and do things I want to do and try to learn as much as possible and who knows what the future,” the former Devils goaltender told northjersey,com today. “But, it’s less and less likely it’s going to happen in New Jersey for a few years, that’s for sure.”"

As soon as Brodeur announced his retirement from hockey, there was speculation that he would go back to the Devils organization where he had made such a strong name for himself. Even after he decided to stay in St. Louis for the rest of the season, there was plenty of reason to think that Brodeur would go back to New Jersey as soon as he served out the season with the Blues and rode along for a potential Stanley Cup run. He didn’t do much to shut down those rumors, at least not nearly as aggressively as he appears to be doing so now. In his conversation with Gulitti, Brodeur said that he hasn’t even been contacted by anyone with the Devils since the end of the season.

More from St. Louis Blues

• An early projection of the St. Louis Blues’ opening-night roster
• St. Louis Blues sign Klim Kostin to three-year, entry-level contract
• St. Louis Blues: Nail Yakupov signs with Colorado Avalanche
• St. Louis Blues: An homage to Chris Butler
• St. Louis Blues agree to one-year contract with Oskar Sundqvist

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Blues beat reporter Jeremy Rutherford later added to the reports on Twitter, saying that he expected Brodeur to remain with the Blues organization. In addition, Rutherford alluded to Brodeur having an “enhanced” role in St. Louis for this coming season. Though he didn’t specify what this meant, one would think it could involving him in team personnel discussions if a general manager-type role is one that Brodeur eventually wants to get into, as has long been rumored.

Brodeur reportedly valued the opportunity to have heavy interaction with the players in his role with the Blues, and he’ll get to continue to work with some (brief) former teammates if he does indeed decide to return to St. Louis. Beyond the great benefit that his presence can be for whatever goaltender is in St. Louis–we saw some strong elements of his style rub off on rookie goalie Jake Allen as he got hot down the stretch late this season–he’s also a proven winner who can teach the values of success to the younger generation of talent. Though the Blues don’t currently have any former Stanley Cup champs on their roster, it does help to have a guy like Brodeur in the fold who is capable of being such a strong influence on the players.

Next: Former Illini Football Player Lashes Out at Coach Beckman