Martin Brodeur To Begin Practicing With Blues On Friday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Martin Brodeur waited patiently for the right team to come along. If plays his cards right over the next few days, he could be back in the NHL sooner rather than later.

The legendary goaltender will practice with the St. Louis Blues on Friday and into next week with the hope of signing a contract for the rest of the season, the team announced Wednesday.

Brodeur, 42, is the NHL's career leader in regular-season wins, losses, shutouts, and games played, and holds numerous other league records. A four-time Vezina Trophy winner and three-time Stanley Cup champion with the New Jersey Devils, Brodeur is the only goalie in NHL history with eight 40-win seasons.

However, his game dropped off dramatically over his last few seasons with the Devils, the team with which he spent all 20 years of his eventual Hall of Fame career. New Jersey then decided this past offseason to cut ties with Brodeur and turn the full-time duties over to Cory Schneider, a decision the club cemented by giving him a long-term contract.

Brodeur received some interest during free agency, but didn't jump at anything, deciding instead to bide his time while working out with his son's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team, spending time with his family and traveling.

And now, due to an injury to Brian Elliot, Brodeur might get that chance as he could soon find himself teaming with Jake Allen for the Blues, who went into play Wednesday night tied with the Nashville Predators for the Central Division lead.

What remains to be seen is just how quickly Brodeur can shake off the rust and show some semblance of still being the player who many believe was the best to ever play the position in the NHL.

"I'm willing to play in any kind of role that would be offered to me to a certain extent, in the right fit and in the right market," Brodeur said recently. "For me, it's not about ego or anything. I just love to play the game, and I know I can help the team out somehow."

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