Martin Brodeur swears there was no schism that caused the goaltender who broke record after record during 21 seasons as a constant backbone for the New Jersey Devils to have his retirement news conference Thursday in front of a St. Louis Blues backdrop.
Oh, really?
Brodeur arguably is the greatest goaltender of all time and inarguably the best statistical goalie of all time. After winning three Stanley Cups in New Jersey, after setting dozens of milestones that will never be broken with New Jersey, after being so loyal to one franchise by sticking around year after year while player after player struck it rich in free agency, how is it possible that Brodeur could have that presser in St. Louis, where he started five of his 1,453 career regular-season and playoff games?
Brodeur deserved the same grand sendoff that Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom got in Detroit, that Mike Modano got in Dallas even after leaving for the Red Wings, that Daniel Alfredsson got in Ottawa even after an apparent fracture with management and ownership.
Maybe Brodeur's ego was still hurt that he wanted to play one more year and Lou Lamoriello wouldn't make it happen. Maybe Lou was just being stubborn Lou and didn't feel it was important enough to make sure Thursday's event was in Newark, not St. Louis.
But it's a real shame it did. It was the most unemotional presser you've ever seen for a player as great as Brodeur. The Devils were barely mentioned, his Hall of Fame career almost glossed over.
It was awkward and wrong.
Brodeur, who will learn the management trade as Blues GM Doug Armstrong's apprentice for at least the rest of the season, has every right to work for the Blues. There's few better people to learn from than Armstrong. But that doesn't mean the retirement presser had to occur in St. Louis.