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.

-Michael Russo of the Star Tribune on Martin Brodeur. Read more from Russo plus other hockey topics...