Now that we are in the New Year and the last decade is behind us, I would like to reveal to you who would be my All-Decade First Five for the Devils. I can not stress enough how difficult it was to come up with the final five since I am dealing with a team that was in the playoffs every single season over the past ten years, but when decisions need to be made, just refer to the numbers, they never lie. After much debate and tedious time consumption over at hockey-reference.com, I am comfortable with whom I have chosen. I based my decisions on leadership, playoff success, balance in goals to assists and an increase in level of play through the decade.
Scott Stevens-Defenseman #4
He falls right into the category of leadership; he is the best one the Devils have ever seen. His best years statistically came before the 2000’s, however, it was at the beginning of the decade in which he made one of his biggest impacts. In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Flyers, when the Devils trailed 3-1 at one point, Stevens made a bone crushing hit on Eric Lindros in game 7 that single handedly turned the game around. The Devils would go on to complete the comeback in the East Finals and win the Stanley Cup. Stevens’ mere presence on the ice gave New Jersey a psychological advantage other teams just did not have at the time. In the 2003 playoffs he led Jersey to their third franchise Stanley Cup and compiled three goals, six assists for nine points and had a +14 in that campaign. Like I said, his stats may not be outstanding but that was not Stevens’ game. He did however average a +8 during the playoffs over the decade, showing that positive things happen for us while he is on the ice and rarely did the opposition strike.
Brian Rafalski-Defenseman #28
Some may have expected Scott Niedermayer to be in this spot, well I liked Rafalski more. Perhaps I still hold a grudge against Scott for leaving New Jersey like he did, but that would not have prevented me from putting him in his rightful place on this list had he deserved it. The fact of the matter is, I felt Rafalski produced more over the decade and was fantastic in the playoffs. Not once during his time spent in Jersey did his plus/minus fall below even. He was an outstanding offensive/defenseman averaging 44 points during the seven seasons with the Devils. In his rookie season (1999-00) he emerged as a top defenseman and in 23 games played during the postseason he was +5 with eight points, helping his team win a Stanley Cup. In his next season, as the Devils looked to defend their Cup, he had seven goals, eleven assists for eighteen points and was a +10 during that postseason. He was a big time player for this team and I miss him terribly, but in his time here he was a true number one defenseman and perhaps because of Niedermayer, he never got the full respect he deserved.
Scott Gomez-Forward #23
Never a goal scorer but always a play maker, Scott Gomez arrived on the Jersey scene in the 1999-2000 season at the age of 20. He went on to win the Calder Trophy that season for rookie of the year after netting 19 goals, 51 assists for 70 points and a +14. It was not until the 05-06 season where Gomez would eclipse that 70 point mark he set as a rookie, but in the time between he was always consistent, making gorgeous plays happen that would result in goals. There is no denying Gomez’ skating ability. He has great speed with tremendous strides and always seemed to be able to find his line mates on the ice. He was also a clutch player when he needed to be, accumulating double digit point totals in four of his six appearances in the postseason as a Devil. In his rookie year, like Rafalski, he would help the Devils win the Cup against the Stars and was an integral part of that team. I know there are Devil fans out there that have animosity toward Gomez for leaving Jersey only to sign with the Rangers. I hated him then for that and I STILL hate him for it, but I am a big enough person to respect the man for the time he gave this team. There is no denying that he was one of the best players to have on the ice in the time he spent here.
Jamie Langenbrunner-Forward #15
Jamie came over to the Devils in a deadline deal on March 19th, 2002 after spending his first 8 seasons with the Dallas Stars. Jamie was the opponent when we beat the Stars in 2000 but he quickly became a fan favorite in New Jersey. After he was traded he played 14 games and accumulated just 3 goals and 3 assists and had just 1 point in the postseason. It was in his first full season as a Devil where he showcased what he could bring. Jamie amassed 22 goals (one short of his previous career high), 33 assists (tying his career high) for 55 points overall (which was his most in a single season). He was also a +17 that year, but it was the playoffs where Langenbrunner came up big. He had huge goals in the Eastern Conference Finals against the explosive Ottawa Senators and in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Mighty Ducks. After the Devils had hoisted their third Stanley Cup, Langenbrunner totaled up 11 goals, 7 assists for 18 points and was a phenomenal +18 in the 24 games the Devils played in that playoff crusade. In 2007 Jamie was named the eighth captain in Devils history, an honor he still holds today as he wears the “C” very well. He has never been the most talented player on the ice, but when the moment calls for it, he is always there. He has come up with clutch goals plenty of times during this last decade for us, something some teams can only hope for.
Patrik Elias-Forward #26
He has been a Devil his entire career ever since he broke into the league in 1995 and will one day join Stevens and Daneyko with his number retired. He may very well be the most under rated player in the NHL today. He is the Devils all time scoring leader with 303 goals (John MacLean is the Devils all time goal leader with 347), 427 assists for 730 total career points. He will go down as one the best Devils of all time and his work over the last decade tells it all. The best season he has had statistically was in 2000 when he racked up 40 goals, 56 assists for 96 points and was a ridiculous +45 while he played on the “A” line. But, most importantly he had 9 goals, 14 assists for 23 points in the playoffs that same year, showing he doesn’t disappear when it matters the most like some players do (Joe Thornton anyone?) In fact during the last ten years he has collected 38 goals, 64 assists for 102 points in the playoffs. Granted last year against Carolina he only had 1 goal and 2 assists in a 7 game series, but he has had huge playoff performances before and I am willing to bet he will again. The best thing about Patrik is his ability to see the ice. He has another sense at knowing where to be or who the best option is to get the puck to, he just makes things happen at the right time, truly a franchise player.
Martin Brodeur-Goalie #30
Well it isn’t like there was going to be any debate about it. I mean the best goalie ever is obviously going to be on the All-Decade list of the team he plays on. He has had incredible success through his career, but this is about the last decade, so I will stick to that. In that time he captured two more Stanley Cup’s, won four Vezina Trophies, two Jennings trophies and was an All-Star six times. He also had six 40+ win seasons including the most wins by a goalie in a single season with 48 in 06-07. I can go on and on about the accolades he has reached but we all know what he his capable of, however, in recent times, he has come under fire for his performances in the playoffs the last few years. Well, let’s address this. Since he won his last Cup in 2003 he has played 37 playoff games with just 3 shutouts in them, has a 2.57 GAA and .912 save percentage. Those are by no means the kind of numbers you want from your goalie over a five year span in the playoffs; however, Brodeur has earned the benefit of the doubt. There is more to a playoff series then just the play of the goalie and he has been magnificent in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before. Even though his numbers may not be to his standards, his stats leading up to the playoffs in each season are consistent, so it is the team around him as well as him who has had a hard time in recent playoff memory. I know there is another run in Marty as he thrives on silencing any critics that may still remain. We may not have had a Cup since 2003, but we did in fact get two Stanley Cups over the first decade of the third millennium, and it all falls on Marty’s shoulders.
So, that is my New Jersey Devil All-Decade First Five. These are the five I feel, as a Devils fan, have been/were the best you could have had on the ice in the biggest of situations with it all riding on the line. I know with these lists it always leaves room for debate, but that is what makes them so much fun to make. Here is to a new decade of Devil memories.