On Tuesday, the St. Louis Blues made it official. The team announced they have signed goaltender Martin Brodeur to a one-year deal. It will mark the first time in his 21-year career that Brodeur plays NHL games for a team other than the New Jersey Devils.

The Hockey News

For the first time in his career, Martin Brodeur is officially a member of a team other than the New Jersey Devils.

The St. Louis Blues have made the signing official, as the finishing touches were put on a deal that sees the 42-year-old goaltender become a member of the St. Louis Blues on a one-year deal worth $700,000 including performance bonuses.

Signing the contract on Tuesday signifies that Brodeur, who has been practicing with the team since Friday, Nov. 28, may play on the Blues upcoming road trip.

St. Louis’ string of road games began on Saturday, but will continue on Wednesday when they go into the United Center to take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Speculation has him most likely starting on Thursday, as the Blues seem unlikely to run out Jake Allen on back-to-back nights. When Brodeur gets into a game, it will officially be his 1260th NHL appearance.

Brodeur was given the opportunity with the Blues after an injury to goaltender Brian Elliott, which will have the goaltender on the shelf on a week-to-week basis. With the Blues feeling uneasy about handing the backup duty to Jordan Binnington, he of only 11 American League appearances, Brodeur was brought in to see what was left in the tank. For what it’s worth, the sure-fire Hall of Famer told media that he passed every test he had set out for himself, personally.

There may be some other, more historic, markers that Brodeur can pass, however. If Elliott is out for long, it could provide a situation in which Brodeur could reach the 700-win milestone. Achieving 700 wins would put him nearly 150 ahead of the next closest netminder in all-time wins, Patrick Roy.

It’s doubtful Brodeur will be able to supplant current St. Louis starting goaltender Jake Allen, but, if he does or Allen goes down with an injury, there are few teams in the league with which Brodeur would have a better shot at improving on his already league record 688 wins. A powerful St. Louis squad could provide him the cover needed to rack up those 22 wins and reach the almost unbelievable milestone.

And, while there are few goaltending records that Brodeur doesn’t hold, there is one that has eluded him throughout his career that he’s knocking on the doorstep of: the highest scoring goaltender of all-time. As it stands, Tom Barrasso, who scored 48 points over his 777 games in the league, holds that record. Brodeur is currently sitting at 47 points. A fortuitous bounce here or there could be enough for Brodeur to lay claim to yet another goaltending mark.

No matter what happens once he starts, it will simply be strange to see Brodeur don a jersey other than that of the New Jersey Devils.