New Jersey Devils Best Players Of All Time
A lot of noise has been made on social media about the Devils all time Mount Rushmore of greatest players. “The Mount Rushmore of” excercise is when you name the best four.
A lot has been discussed and argued over, on which four players in Devils history fit that bill. Most agree, however, that it is any four of the five players that have their numbers retired by the organization.
It is time to no longer limit it to four. The Devils have had so many great players come through their very storied franchise in a relatively short amount of time. Here are the top 10 players in Devils history, according to me.
10. Zach Parise
Lets start at 10. What could have been. Zach Parise was one of the most talented forwards in Devils history. He scored 194 goals in 7 years with the club. He added 216 assists for 410 points in 502 games, led by his career year in 2008-09 when he had 45 goals and 49 assists for 94 points. He led them as team captain all the way to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. If he didn’t leave the team to join the Minnesota Wild in 2013, he could have easily found himself much higher on this list.
9. Sergei Brylin
At nine is forward Sergei Brylin. Only five guys can say they played on all three Devils Stanley Cup Championship teams, and the only one that doesn’t have his number retired is Brylin. He is also the only forward. He is one of the most important forwards in Devils history, spending his entire career with New Jersey.
8. Claude Lemieux
Coming in at eight is Claude Lemieux. He didn’t spend as many years with the team as some of the other guys on this list, but man did he perform while he was there. 142 goals and 155 assists for 297 points in 423 games over six years. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs in the Devils run to their first ever Stanley Cup in 1995.
7. John MacLean
At seven is John MacLean. He spent fourteen great years with the organization. He has the second best production from forwards during his time. He had 347 goals, 354 assists for 701 points in 934 career games with the Devils. He won the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 1995.
6. Taylor Hall
Number six may come to some as a bit of a surprise, but it’s Taylor Hall. Hall already has done something that no other player in NHL history has done, and that is win the Hart Trophy as a member of the Devils. When the Devils traded Adam Larsson to acquire Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers, most knew the Devils probably won that trade. Maybe they didn’t see the season that he just put up in 2017-18, where he scored 39 goals and had 93 points. He is on this list not only for what he has done so far in such a short amount of time, but for what he will continue to do. First course of action is to get him signed to a long term contract as soon as he is eligible next July 1st.
5. Ken Daneyko
Rounding out the top five is Mr. Devil, Ken Daneyko. Not only was he one of the best defenseman in team history, he is the epitome of a fan favorite. His number 3 is retired by the Devils, and rightfully so. He won the Stanley Cup with the Devils all three times. He also added the Masterton Trophy in 2000, which goes to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
4. Scott Niedermayer
Scott Niedermayer comes in at number four. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest two-way defenseman of all time. He was also one of the 5 players to win all three of New Jersey’s Stanley Cups. A fixture on the Devils top pair, he definitely deserves a spot in the top four on any list involving Devils all timers. He had 740 points in 1263 NHL games played. 476 points in 892 games in a Devils sweater, excellent for a defenseman.
3. Patrik Elias
Number three is the best offensive player to ever play for the New Jersey Devils. That is the man who just had his number 26 retired this past season, and that is Patrik Elias. He had 1025 points in 1240 games played, all with Jersey. It is no surprise that he is the franchises leader all time in scoring. Elias should be in the Hall of Fame with relative ease once he is eligible.
2. Scott Stevens
Coming in at two is former Devils captain Scott Stevens. He had a few seasons with the St Louis Blues and Washington Capitals before landing with the Devils for good. With the Devils alone, he had 430 points in 956 games, which again, is absolutely incredible for a defenseman. Three time Stanley Cup champion with New Jersey, won the Conn Smythe Trophy for his performance during the Devils run in 2000.
1. Martin Brodeur
Number one is obvious. Martin Brodeur. The greatest goaltender to ever live. Martin is a three time Stanley Cup Champion, Calder Trophy for best rookie, 5 time Jennings Trophy winner for least goals against, and a 4 time Vezina Trophy winner for leage’s top goaltender. He played every game for New Jersey, except for 7 appearances with the St Louis Blues in 2014-15. Brodeur is the NHL’s leader all time in wins and shutouts. It is no wonder why the Devils retired his number 30, and built a statue for this man, he was simply sensational.