New Jersey Devils: All-Time Winter Olympic Lineups
By Mike Luci
Team Eastern Europe
Forwards
Alexander Mogilny (2000-2001, 2005-2006): GP: 121 G: 58 A: 56
Peter Stastny (1990-1993): GP: 217 G: 64 A: 109
Ilya Kovalchuk (2010-2013): GP: 222 G: 89 A: 112
Defense
Viacheslav Fetisov (1989-1995): GP: 341 G: 19 A: 111
Alexei Kasatonov (1989-1993): GP: 257 G: 31 A: 88
Goaltender
Peter Sidorkiewicz (1993-1994, 1997-1998): GP: 4 Record: 0-3-0 GAA: 2.80 SV%: .889
Like the Czech Republic, Russia could have had their team in this piece, but the New Jersey Devils (nor the Colorado Rockies or Kansas City Scouts) never had a Russian-born goalie. Bunching all the players from East European countries gave this team a tremendous boost down the middle with Peter Stastny—who hails from Bratislava (which originally was in Czechoslovakia, but is now the capital of Slovakia). Although his best years were with the Quebec Nordiques, he was effective over the three full seasons he played in New Jersey.
Regardless of what you think about him, Ilya Kovalchuk ultimately is the organization’s greatest Russian-born player, and—aside from his undignified and unprecedented “retirement”—should largely be remembered for spearheading the Devil’s 2012 playoff run. Although Alexander Mogilny only spent one full season and parts of two others in New Jersey, he appeared in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals appearances with the team, netting 43 goals in 2000-2001. There were other Russian and East European-born players who had longer stints and compiled more points during their time with the Devils, but none were at the level of stardom as Mogilny or Kovalchuk. In terms of pure skill and firepower, East Europe arguably has the most talented forwards in their lineup.
Defensemen Viacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov were among the first Russians to defect from the Soviet Union so they could play in North America, both starting their NHL careers in New Jersey. Fetisov was famously traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1995 and would lose to his former team in the Stanley Cup Finals. The least-known player in this lineup is goaltender Peter Sidorkiewicz, who played 246 NHL games over parts of eight seasons. Just one of two Polish players in the organization’s history, Sidorkiewicz only appeared in four games with the Devils.
Honorable Mentions: Sergei Brylin, Valeri Zelepukin, Dainius Zubrus