ST. LOUIS (AP) — Martin Brodeur is retiring to take a front office job with the St. Louis Blues. The New Jersey Devils have a spot waiting for one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history whenever he is ready to come back home.

“Absolutely. He is aware of that and has always been aware of that,” Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said Tuesday. “He could have come back even now if he wanted to.”

The 10-time All-Star and four-time Vezina Trophy winner finished his career with St. Louis after a standout, twodecade run with New Jersey. A news conference was set for Thursday morning before the Blues return from the All-Star break to play Nashville.

The 42-year-old Brodeur wrapped up his 22-year career with St. Louis after signing as a free agent on Dec. 2. He was 3-3 with a 2.87 goals-against average and in his final victory became the fifth-oldest goalie to post a shutout in a 3-0 win over Colorado on Dec. 29.

He last played on Jan. 2 in a loss at Anaheim and had not returned since being granted a one-week leave of absence on Jan. 14. Brodeur had dropped to third on the depth chart after starter Brian Elliott returned from a knee injury, with 24-year-old Jake Allen sharing the position.

He won three Stanley Cups with the Devils and was a twotime Olympic gold medalist with Team Canada in 2002 and 2010.