Martin Brodeur played just seven games with the St. Louis Blues this season before officially announcing his retirement officially Thursday. For the Blues game against the division-leading Nashville Predators on home ice later Thursday night, Brodeur was asked to drop the puck for the ceremonial opening faceoff.Brodeur, who will remain on with the Blues in an advisory role in the front office, got a heros welcome from the Scottrade Center crowd, as if he had been there for years. Complete with dramatic Michel Otanez Jersey music and a rousing introduction, Brodeur waved to the crowd before dropping the puck between captains David Backes and Shea Weber.As Brodeur went to leave the ice surface, the future Hall of Famer was stopped in his tracks by each of the Nashville Predators players and staff who all wanted to shake his hand. To see the opposing team come out to shake Brodeurs hand like that just goes to show how much respect the NHL great has within the game. It wasnt exactly a storybook ending for Brodeur, who had spent most of his career with the New Jersey Devils and could have walked away after last season. The brief ceremony was, however, a nice send off from the team that gave him one last kick at the can, and an especially nice gesture from their opponents to show their respect for one of the greatest goaltenders the league has ever known. Reggie Jackson Jersey