Who is your all-time New Jersey Devils team at each position? We weigh in with our opinion of who is worthy of the title.
By Patrick Comia
Started in 1982, they have seen their fair share of Hall of Famers and hockey greats come through, whether it be as a contributor to a championship team, or a brief stint in their hockey careers.
During the team’s time in Newark, NJ, the Devils have treated their fans to three Stanley Cup championships (1995, 2000, 2003).
Often the forgotten team in an area dominated by the New York Rangers and Islanders, the Devils were once described as a “Mickey Mouse operation” by Wayne Gretzky after his Edmonton Oilers routed the Devils 13-4 in a regular season game during the 1983-84 season.
Fast forward to the present, and the team is vastly improved. In fact, at one time, the Devils were considered the model team to emulate, as far as their performance on the ice.
Their staunch, suffocating defense led by Hockey Hall of Famer Scott Stevens and goaltending extraordinaire Martin Brodeur were the foundations upon which Devils hockey was built on.
Even though they were the players that fans outside of New Jersey recognized the most, Stevens and Brodeur weren’t the only ones on the ice. It is safe to say that they could contribute part of their success to their teammates, because hockey is a team sport.
As mentioned before, the Devils organization has seen many great players come and go in it’s 30+ years existence. But it’s not just players, it’s been those leading behind the bench that have contributed to the product on the ice.
Here are my all-time players at each position, and managers that I would build a Devils team around.
G, Martin Brodeur: 1994-2014
When you speak of all-time greats in the history of the Devils, one name comes to mind: Martin Brodeur.
No other player is synonymous as Mr. Devils himself.
For 20 years, he took his place on the ice, making save after miraculous save. There is no arguing that he was the key to the Devils success in their three Stanley Cup championship runs.
Brodeur was drafted 20th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, by the Devils. After playing two years in the QMJHL, he made his debut against the Boston Bruins in an emergency backup role. Both of the team’s starting goaltenders were injured, Brodeur was tapped on the shoulder to help fill the void in net. After spending the 1992-1993 season with the Utica Devils of the AHL, he got second call up. This time it was on a permanent basis.
What followed was a Hall of Fame-worthy career:
– Calder Memorial Trophy (1994)- Best NHL Rookie
– Nine-time NHL All Star
– Vezina Trophy (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)- Best NHL Goaltender
– William H. Jennings Trophy (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2010)- Best Goals Against in the Regular Season
Among his NHL records, he is the NHL’s all-time leader in:
– Wins in Regular Season (691)
– Shutouts: Regular Season (125) and Playoffs (24)
– Overtime Wins (47)
– Career Saves (28,508)
Aside his three Stanley Cup rings, Brodeur has been a part of two Gold-medal teams, representing Canada in the 2002 and 2010 Olympic Games.
After retiring from hockey last season, Brodeur stayed with the St. Louis Blues as a special assistant to general manager Doug Armstrong. Later, he became the Blues assistant general manager after signing a three-year contract.
Needless to say, Brodeur has an impressive resume and has placed himself amongst the greats of his era, if not all of hockey.
I mean, if you caused a rule to change in the NHL with regards to handling of the puck, you know you are doing something right!
LW, Patrik Elias: 1996-present
Another pillar to the Devils identity is that of the 19-year veteran. Elias holds most of the franchise’s record in offensive production, and is still going.
Among his franchise records are:
– Points: Regular Season (1,017) and Playoffs (125)
– Goals: Regular Season (406) and Playoffs (45)
– Assists: Regular Season (611) and Playoffs (80)
– Most points in a single regular season (96 during the 2000-2001 season)
Drafted 51st overall in the 1994 NHL entry Draft, Elias has played in over 1,200 NHL games, all with the Devils. He is tied with two other players all-time in NHL games played.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Devils (2000 and 2005) and Bronze medalist when he represented the Czech Republic in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Elias has been to the mountain top of hockey.
If he ever retires, his jersey will hang from the rafters of the Prudential Center for years to come.
RW, John MacLean: 1984-1998
Drafted sixth overall in the 1983 NHL entry Draft, the soon-to-be alternate captain made his season debut against rival New York Rangers, at the start of the 1983-84 season.
From then on, he would play 934 games with the Devils, capturing the Stanley Cup in 1995 as player. After playing for three other teams, MacLean called it a career during the 2002 season.
He held most of the franchise’s scoring records, until Patrik Elias came along. He registered 701 points during his career with the Devils.
He is second to Elias in goals (347), ranked fourth all-time in the Devils franchise in assists (354), fifth in games played (934), and third in penalty minutes (1,171).
MacLean would be back with the Devils as an assistant coach under the late Pat Burns. He would capture his second Cup, this time behind the bench. He would later become head coach of the team.
After going 9-22-2 in the 2010-11 season, MacLean was fired. He would join former teammate Kirk Muller with the Carolina Hurricanes, but would be let go after the 2014 season.
Nowadays, he can be found being a studio analyst for the NHL Network, and has been with the Devils’ broadcast team.
C, Kirk Muller: 1985-1991
Though his time with the Devils was short (seven seasons), Muller was one of the team’s first offensive stars.
Drafted second overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Muller became the team’s first captain under former general manager Lou Lamoriello. To measure his ability as a player coming out of junior hockey, he selected after Mario Lemieux that year. Just saying.
His nickname, Captain Kirk, was appropriate for him. Muller’s been described as “…a fierce competitor in addition to his scoring ways“.
In his first four seasons with the Devils, Muller accomplished quite a bit. He would be a consistent team leader in scoring, ranking at the top or near it for the Devils. He would be named to the All-Star team in 1985 and 1986.
His production would climb each year, since his rookie season. He would score 54 (1985), 66 (1986), 76 (1987), and 94 (1988) points in four years. Meanwhile, he remained a consistent figure on the ice, averaging 79 games.
Muller would be tapped as captain, at the young of age of 21. But, it was well earned by Muller. He would lead the team to their first playoff berth, getting as far as the Conference Finals.
Muller’s last three seasons saw the Devils in the postseason, each year. However, their performance was never equaled to the success they had in 1988.
Muller’s highlights include:
– Career high in goals: 37 (1988)
– Scored 50+ assists in four of seven seasons, setting career high with 57 (1988)
– Holds the franchise record in regular season points with 94 (1988)
Muller would never see raise the cup with New Jersey, as he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, before the start of the 1991-1992 season. It would be three years too late.
However, he still ranks third in franchise history in points with 520 in 556 games. His time may have been short, but a great player for the Devils at his position.
D, Scott Niedermayer: 1991-2004
If there was an NHL defenseman you wanted to build a franchise around, his name would be near the top.
Niedermayer’s career was synonymous with winning. He won at every level of hockey: juniors, NHL, and international competitions.
There aren’t enough words to do the Hall of Famer justice. Sometimes you just have to watch and take in the sights and sounds of a player to fully understand. And if you were one of the lucky ones to see him grace the ice in person, you have a better appreciation of his contributions on the ice.
Niedermayer spent 13 seasons with the Devils, being drafted third overall in 1991. He would spend the next 13 seasons helping the team to three Stanley Cup championships.
He leads all New Jersey defensemen in points (476), goals (112), and assists (364). All while playing in 892 games for the franchise.
In an article in 2013, NHL.com published an article to celebrate his induction into Hockey Hall of Fame with fellow defenseman Chris Chelios. In it, Niedemayer’s former coach Larry Robinson had this to say of his former pupil:
Nieder thought the game so well and he thought the game differently than other people did, and you never want to change a guy’s skills and he had great skills
Fellow Hockey Hall of Famer and Rangers great Brian Leetch described Niedermayer as:
…as the one of the most underrated defensemen when I was watching him come up because he was playing in the most defensive system
Well, that’s all changed when his Niedermayer’s induction. His storid career was all verified in 2013 and remains one of the measuring sticks to today’s NHL defensemen.
D, Scott Stevens: 1991-2004
Probably, the most iconic player in Devils hockey (other than Martin Brodeur) was the hard-hitting captain Scott Stevens.
Number 4 graced the ice for 13 seasons with the Devils.
Stevens found his way to New Jersey after being awarded compensation from the St. Louis Blues, who signed former Devils RFA forward Brendan Shanahan to a contract.
Of the players mentioned, Stevens was the first all-time Devil to not have originally started with the franchise. He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1982, as the fifth overall selection.
After nine previous seasons in the NHL between the Capitals and Blues, he finally made his way to the New Jersey turnpike and settled in.
Despite the relationship between he and the Devils starting rocky, both parties were able to resolve their differences and bring success to the franchise.
In his time with the Devils, he lead by example with his hard-hitting style, causing his opponents to think twice about skating through the middle.
Though, he was never a top offensive producer like Scott Niedemeayer, Stevens brought the nastiness that gave the Devils their defensive identity.
That identity helped shape a franchise into a powerhouse, and ultimately led them to three Stanley Cup championships.
The amazing thing about Stevens’ game was his plus-minus rating through his career. He was never dipped below ‘even’ in his 20-year career. All but one season, the 1985-86 season with the Capitals, did he have a positive goal differential. He would end with +393 in 1,635 games played.
Stevens was named to 13 All-Star games in his career, and even won the Conn Smythe in 2000.
This quote from Stevensspeaks about him as player and his approach when on the ice:
What kind of respect do I get? … Just because I’m a physical player, it’s O.K. to come at me and do what you want? Hey, it’s a hockey game. It’s not figure skating. You know what? I can take a hit and I can give a hit. I don’t care who it is. No one gets a free ride out there. I don’t get a free ride, and no one gets a free ride from me