New Jersey Devils: Dynasty Deserves An ESPN 30 for 30

It would be nice to see the New Jersey Devils get a documentary based on their dynasty.

The world of sports has been dominated by documentaries airing on ESPN during the COVID-19 pandemic that has shut down all live sports. “The Last Dance” was a brilliant ten-part movie that told the story of Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls. “Long Gone Summer” was an okay film on the 1998 home run single-season record chase between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. The New Jersey Devils dynasty around that same time period should have it’s own ESPN 30 for 30.

The Devils were so good for so long back in the day, and they did it in a way that not many teams have ever been able to. They were able to score some goals but the team was built on goaltending and defense. The likes of Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, and Scott Niedermayer all have their number retired because they built a wall around New Jersey’s net that allowed them to win a lot of hockey games.

Then, there is a forward like Patrik Elias that is the team’s all-time leading scorer. Hehas his number retired and is the best forward the team has ever had. Between the goalie, three defensemen, and one forward, it is an all-time great core that should be celebrated forever.

A documentary that is centered around the team from 1994-2003 would be so interesting. It would have to start before all of that in the days of Wayne Gretzky calling them a “Mickey Mouse organization” and show how that insult evolved into them becoming a perennial contender. Losing to the New York Rangers in game seven of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals after holding a 3-2 series lead would also have to be featured in the film.

From there, it would go on to show how the Devils persevered to win the Stanley Cup in 1995, sweeping the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings. Five years later, they added Elias and won again. Three seasons after that, winning in 2003 capped off a great dynasty. They didn’t win three times in four years but three Cups in nine years is pretty good for one core in a time where not many teams won multiple championships anymore.

The Devils are the third leg of the Metropolitan Division’s New York area teams but they have had the most recent Stanley Cup success. If they ever turned this into a series or movie documentary on ESPN’s 30 for 30, a lot of loyal hockey fans would be all over it. There are a lot of little cool stories that can be told about these players and teams. It would also be a nice way to tell a great story about a team in the great game of hockey which might help grow the sport.