As St. Louis Blues Goaltending Decision Looms, What Of Martin Brodeur’s Legacy?
By Mike Majeski
With Brian Elliott healthy, the St. Louis Blues need to decide what to do with Martin Brodeur
It is decision time for the St. Louis Blues – goaltender Brian Elliott practiced for the first time yesterday since spraining his knee and may be ready to return to the lineup Tuesday. Martin Brodeur is still scheduled to start tonight when the Blues take on the Colorado Avalanche, but from there the Blues can either choose to keep three goaltenders, send Jake Allen down to the AHL, or cut / trade Brodeur. At 42, and with a 2-2 record (as well as a .892 save percentage and a 3.29 goals against average) the Blues may find it difficult to find an interested buyer for Brodeur. Still, how do you cut a legendary goaltender?
This was the risk that both the Blues and Brodeur knew they were taking when they agreed to a one-year contract. Expectations were low for Brodeur, but there was some hope that he would flourish with a good defensive unit in front of him, as well as the talented offense. Brodeur has been average at best, while Jake Allen has not exactly shown he is ready to take over the starting role either. Allen is now 34th overall in goals against average (2.76) and 40th for save percentage (.899) – numbers he was near the top in prior to Elliott’s injury. Therefore the best move for the Blues right now may be to give Allen some time in the AHL, while also giving an Elliott / Brodeur tandem a shot.
The numbers aren’t pretty so far in St. Louis but was anyone expecting Brodeur to backstop the Blues to the cup? At this point I think he has proven that there is a little gas left in the tank and that he can serve as a backup to Elliott. The days of Brodeur stealing games are long gone, but with St. Louis he has shown he can be relied upon for relief (he most recently made 10 saves against Colorado, and earned his first win for the Blues when jumping in for Jake Allen).
But what does all this mean for Brodeur’s legacy? It was tough enough to watch him ride the bench in his final year in New Jersey. Now we have to wonder if he will be cut or possibly serve as a back-up again? Not exactly the ceremonious end to a legendary career. You can’t help but wonder if last year’s farewell tour would have been the more ideal ending to his career.
I can understand why some feel this stint with the Blues is tarnishing Brodeur’s legacy – it’s still strange to see him in something other than a Devils uniform (and there was that center-ice goal he let it in). That particular goal has been used to highlight why Brodeur’s decision to forgo retirement was a big mistake, but even goalies like Jonathan Quick and Henrik Lundqvist let in embarrassing goals every once in awhile.
But let’s be realistic – 20 years from now when you hear the name Martin Brodeur, I doubt many will think of his time with the St. Louis Blues. Joe Namath with the Los Angeles Rams, Mike Modano with the Detroit Red Wings, Brett Favre with the Vikings – heck I saw Michael Jordan play for the Wizards against the New Jersey Nets. But if I close my eyes I still picture Namath with the Jets, Modano with the Stars, Favre with the Packers (and the $80 I dropped on a Favre Jets jersey), and Jordan with the Bulls. The same will go for Martin Brodeur.
And if you’re still hung up on Brodeur playing for someone other than the Devils, there is always some hope for a fairytale ending. Things ended on relatively good terms between the Devils and Brodeur, so I would not be shocked if they sign him to a one-day contract prior to his retirement so he can retire a Devil. It’s a symbolic gesture but it should ease some of the pain for those who feel he has tarnished his legacy by playing for another team.