Brodeur 'was really surprised' to see Lamoriello join Maple Leafs

Former New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur was shocked to see Lou Lamoriello leave the organization and become general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I was really surprised," Brodeur said Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu. "I had some conversations with (Lamoriello) and I knew what was going on a bit, but it was still surprising to see all the changes going on there. I hope it's for the good of the organization."

Lamoriello announced his resignation from the Devils on July 23, and minutes later, the Maple Leafs named him GM, signing him to a reported three-year contract.

Brodeur, now the St. Louis Blues assistant GM, said he had to get used to seeing his former GM standing next to his former Devils teammate, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, wearing blue and white instead of red.

"It was the Maple Leafs pin on his suit that I found weird," Brodeur said with a laugh.

The legendary netminder acknowledged Lamoriello and his nearly three decades in the NHL will benefit the rebuilding Maple Leafs.

"He's going to provide experience for Brendan Shanahan, for everyone," Brodeur said.

"He's been in this business for 28 years, he knows how to run an organization, how to run a winning organization, so it's a big plus for the organization to be able to bring in a man of his stature. Obviously he's not in his prime any more, but I think this is going to give him a little spark after everything that's happened. I'm very happy for him."

Brodeur retired in January after signing with the Blues in December. Upon retiring, he was named senior advisor to Blues GM Doug Armstrong.

"(The Blues) offered me the job, and I had to think about it a little bit," he said. "I would have liked to go back to New Jersey, so it took some time for me to make my decision. But for me to go back there after everything that's happened in New Jersey lately, I think I made the right move."