Ranking Every New Jersey Devils 1st-Round Draft Pick Part 3: Success Stories

No. 12: Travis Zajac
Center
20th Overall, 2004

One of two active players and most recent to have been drafted in this tier of these rankings, Travis Zajac is one of three (and first to appear on this list) that’s played over 1,000 games in a Devils sweater. He was also the third University of North Dakota player to be drafted by New Jersey in round one from 2000-2004, joining David Hale and Zach Parise (who’s a few spots higher on this list).

As we all know, Zajac was dealt to the New York Islanders, along with Kyle Palmieri at the trade deadline. His 15 seasons and 1024 contests with New Jersey puts him third-all time among skaters in games played, and second for non-goaltender first-round picks. Zajac is also the franchise’s all-time leading scorer among centers with 202 goals and 550 points. He largely served as a 1-2 center since his rookie season in 2006-2007, sometimes arguably slipping through the cracks to maintain his lineup status as a consequence of injuries or subpar depth.

Not only was Zajac the last Devil to have been teammates with Martin Brodeur, but he was also around when New Jersey was a perennial playoff contender and last member of the 2012 Eastern Conference Championship squad. Until his trade, Zajac was the longest-tenured (and by far oldest) player on New Jersey, whose departure signifies a longtime era in team history officially ending.

No. 11: Ken Daneyko
Defenseman
18th Overall, 1982

The infamous Mr. Devil, Ken Daneyko is an iconic household name among fans of all ages. Currently New Jersey’s color commentator for MSG, Daneyko is the first player in these rankings to win a Stanley Cup with the Devils. Having been with New Jersey since day one, Daneyko is the organization’s all-time leader in games played (1283) and penalty minutes (2516). He is largely known for his rugged, physical, stay-at-home playing style.

As mentioned in part one, New Jersey had two first-round picks in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. After selecting Rocky Trottier 8th overall, the Devils used their second one to pick Daneyko at 18th, making him the second player ever to be drafted in Devils history. Along with his three Stanley Cups and 20-year career he spent entirely in New Jersey, Daneyko has also overcome some adversity, when alcohol-related issues caused him to miss much of the 1997-1998 season. With the organization’s backing, Daneyko checked into rehab and made a valiant return in 1998-1999, playing in all 82 contests.

Daneyko’s perseverance was recognized in 2000 when he won the Bill Masterson Trophy, after he played 78 games that season, along with every one of New Jersey’s playoff matches. He’s in an exclusive five-player circle that was on all three Devils Stanley Cup teams, and one of three to be a first-round pick. He’s also the first player in these rankings to have his number retired by New Jersey, becoming the organization’s second individual to receive that honor.

No. 10: Brian Rolston
Center/Left Wing
11th Overall, 1991

New Jersey used their second pick in round one of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft to select Brian Rolston. He’s one of four Devils first-round picks to play two stints for the team, spending parts of nine seasons in New Jersey. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Devils as a rookie in 1995, Rolston developed steadily, getting 24 goals and 57 points in 1998-1999.

After a slow start to his 1999-2000 campaign, Rolston was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in a deal that brought playoff hero Claude Lemieux back to New Jersey. He wound up getting dealt again a few months later to the Boston Bruins in a multiplayer deal. It was the trade that sent Colorado veterans Ray Bourque and Dave Andreychuck. Rolston became a steady offensive presence in Boston. He scored 104 goals and 251 points over 359 games, before signing with the Minnesota Wild in 2004 where he had some of his best seasons. During his time in Minnesota, Rolston had three consecutive 30-goal seasons, including a career-high 34 goals and 79 points in 2005-2006.

At 35 years of age, Rolston signed with New Jersey as a free agent in 2008, whose second go-around wasn’t quite as successful. He tallied no more than 37 points over his final three Devils seasons, during which Rolston suffered redundant injuries, and gradually fell out of favor with New Jersey’s ever-changing coaching staff. Rolston was traded to the New York (Islanders) in 2011, where he split his final season between Long Island and Boston.

Despite his underwhelming second stint with the Devils, Rolston still went on to forge an accomplished career that saw him finish with totals of 342 goals and 761 points in 1256 games. He wasn’t by any means a New Jersey Devils legend, but his 18 years in the NHL is another example of how good an eye for drafting talent Lou Lamoriello had in his early years.

No. 9: Zach Parise
Left Wing
17th Overall, 2003

Many New Jersey Devils fans are still sour over Zach Parise’s free agent departure, which coincided with this team’s rapid regression. After being named Devils captain before the 2011-2012 season, Parise was expected to be the franchise’s next face, making his loss especially crushing from a cultural and identity standpoint. This of course occurred while the Devils were coming off their Stanley Cup Finals playoff run, giving many reasons to believe this team was marginally close to becoming serious contenders.

Despite being one of two players in these ranking’s top 12 to never win a Stanley Cup, Parise left his mark in team history. He was the last Devil to score 40 goals over a full season, netting 45 in 2008-2009. It was a career year for Parise, whose 94 points also ties for second-most (in one year) by a Devils player. He scored 31+ goals in five of his seven seasons with New Jersey, respectively ranking fifth and 10th all-time in goals and points for the organization.

Parise signed a 13-year, $98 million deal in his home state with the Minnesota Wild, where he’s spent the last nine seasons. Despite battling constant injuries, Parise was a consistent goal-scorer for Minnesota, who made playoff appearances eight of the last nine years. Minnesota never got beyond the Conference Semifinals, however, and only advanced past round one twice since 2013. Having recently been bought out by the Wild, Zach Parise enters this summer as an unrestricted free agent. While a Devils reunion is unlikely, it’ll be interesting to see who takes a stab at the veteran forward.

No. 8: Petr Sykora
Right Wing
18th Overall, 1995

It was hard putting Petr Sykora ahead of Zach Parise and even Brian Rolston, but his playoff resume put him over the top. Remembered for his role on the infamous A-Line, where he played alongside Jason Arnott and Patrik Elias, the trifecta guided New Jersey in 2000 and 2001 to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances. Although their line would score the timeless cup-clinching goal in double overtime of game six of the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals, they did so without Sykora, who was taken out of the game after receiving a vicious hit from Dallas Stars defenseman Darien Hatcher.

New Jersey traded Sykora to the Anaheim Ducks in 2002 for forward Jeff Friesen and defenseman Oleg Tdervovsky. With Anaheim, Sykora would face his former team in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, losing to them in seven games. Between his two stints with the New Jersey Devils, Sykora played for five teams—Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild. After a down year in 2009-2010, Sykora spent the following season in Europe, and it appeared his NHL career had concluded. He made the Devil’s 2011-2012 team out of training camp as a tryout, where he appeared in all 82 games and scored 21 goals.

Remarkably, Sykora played in six Stanley Cup Finals over his NHL career—the most of anyone on this list—including a pair of consecutive appearances with New Jersey (2000, 2001) and Pittsburgh (2008, 2009). Sykora’s 394 points and 166 goals with New Jersey respectively put him second and third all-time among Devils right wings. He had 10 consecutive seasons where he scored 21+ goals from 1999-2009 and netted at least that many in 11 of his 15 NHL seasons.

No. 7: Scott Gomez
Center
27th Overall, 1998

Scott Gomez is New Jersey’s all-time leader among US-born players with 484 points in 606 games. New Jersey selected Gomez with their second of consecutive first-round picks they had in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Gomez won the 2000 Calder Trophy as NHL’s rookie of the year on top of winning the Stanley Cup. Quickly becoming a cornerstone on the Devil’s offense, Gomez won two championships and made an additional Stanley Cup Finals run over his first four seasons.

For a time, Gomez was one of the league’s top playmaking centers. He was instrumental in Brian Gionta’s 48-goal season (2005-2006), during which he had a career year of his own, netting 33 goals and 84 points. Gomez outraged Devils fans after signing a seven-year deal with the New York Rangers in 2007, where he only lasted for two seasons, before getting traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He had one decent season in Montreal, where his play subsequently declined.

After bouncing around the league for a few years, Gomez made New Jersey’s 2014-2015 team out of training camp and despite them missing the playoffs, posted redemptive numbers that season—seven goals and 34 points in 58 contests. Despite his career’s latter half largely resembling a fall from grace and never replicating the playoff success in New Jersey anywhere else, Gomez had a fulfilling NHL career. He respectively ranks third and second all-time in assists (361) among Devils players and forwards. It’s hard to say how things would have panned out if Gomez stayed, but despite the nature of his initial departure, seemed to make amends with Devils fans after his modestly successful second stint.

No. 6: Kirk Muller
Left Wing
2nd Overall, 1984

Kirk Muller’s story begins before he was drafted by the New Jersey Devils. While playing in juniors, there was a dispute between Muller’s junior team and the Canadian Olympic Team, who wanted him to play in the 1984 games. Despite some reservations from Muller’s team (Guelph Platers), they ultimately made a deal that allowed him to participate in the games.

New Jersey drafted Muller second overall in the 1984 NHL Draft, his selection being preceded by Mario Lemieux, who was taken first. One of New Jersey’s earliest franchise faces, Kirk Muller was the third captain in team history. He was beloved by New Jersey Devils fans and led the team with 94 points in 1987-88 when they made their first postseason appearance. After seven seasons with the Devils and a fallout with team management, Muller was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens for Stephane Richer and Tom Chorske. He won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993, and became team captain in 1994-1995, where he earned the nickname “Captain Kirk.” Muller played his best years with Montreal and New Jersey, where he had seven consecutive 70+ point seasons and 10 straight with 54+ points.

He only spent parts of three seasons in Montreal, before being part of another multiplayer deal that sent him to the New York Islanders. Muller was surprised by the deal and made no effort at hiding his unwillingness to play in Long Island, which eventually prompted them to trade the disgruntled forward. He was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1996, who then traded him one year later to the Florida Panthers. Muller spent his final four years with the Dallas Stars. He was on the 1999-2000 Western Conference Championship teams that were defeated by New Jersey in the Stanley Cup Finals, where he posted bleak numbers but was a serviceable player until retiring in 2003 after 19 seasons.

No. 5: Bill Guerin
Right Wing
5th Overall, 1989

Despite playing for eight organizations, Bill Guerin always had a key role on every team he’s played for over his 18-season career. Before getting into his back story, it’s worth mentioning that Guerin (current general manager of the Minnesota Wild) is responsible for recently buying out the player ranked ninth on this list—Zach Parise.

The New Jersey Devils drafted Guerin fifth overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, who played two years at Boston College before turning pro. Guerin made his NHL debut in 1992, scoring three goals in six postseason games. He quickly became a key asset in New Jersey’s lineup, helping them win their 1995 Stanley Cup championship. Guerin tallied 108 goals and 214 points in 380 games with the New Jersey Devils, where he scored 23+ goals three times and established himself as an effective power forward.

Guerin held out to start the 1997-1998 season over a contractual dispute, before eventually signing a three-year deal. Just 19 games into his campaign, Guerin and forward Valeri Zelepukin were traded to the Edmonton Oilers for center Jason Arnott and defenseman Bryan Muir. Guerin played some of his best hockey the following years, having back-to-back 40-goal seasons with the Oilers and Boston Bruins. Following his time in Boston, Guerin had stints with the Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, and New York Islanders, who dealt him to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2009 deadline. Guerin won his second Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh that year, where he spent one more season before ending his career.

No. 4: John MacLean
Right Wing
6th Overall, 1983

Second all-time and the leader among first-round picks in franchise scoring, many make a strong argument that John MacLean’s No. 15 should hang in the Prudential Center rafters. MacLean scored one of the most iconic goals in franchise history on April 3, 1988—an overtime winner against the Chicago Blackhawks that secured New Jersey’s first playoff berth. In addition to winning the Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 1995, MacLean had three consecutive 40-goal seasons, five with 30+, and netted at least 20 in 11 of his first 14 years.

Going into 1997-1998, MacLean (around the same time as Bill Guerin) publicly demanded a trade and proclaimed he would not re-sign with New Jersey in the offseason. In addition to his uncharacteristically slow start that year, MacLean was allegedly dissatisfied with his relegated role on the team, and would be dealt to the San Jose Sharks. He signed with the New York Rangers that summer, where he scored 28 goals and finished second in points during his first year. MacLean’s production subsequently declined with New York, who eventually traded him to the Dallas Stars for future considerations.

Following his NHL career, MacLean served various coaching roles for 14 seasons, spending eight with the Devils. He won the Stanley Cup as an assistant with New Jersey in 2003, along with having brief head coaching stints with their NHL and AHL teams. John MacLean was one of New Jersey’s most prolific goal scorers, who helped put the organization on the map. New Jersey didn’t have many star-caliber forwards in their early years, but MacLean was one of them, whose contributions to this organization were invaluable and will be forever ingrained in team history.

No. 3: Brendan Shanahan
Left Wing
2nd Overall, 1987

Mostly known for his years with the Detroit Red Wings, Brendan Shanahan was the first player Lou Lamoriello ever drafted as General Manager in New Jersey. The highest-ranked player to be a Stanley Cup champion that never won one with New Jersey, Shanahan is also one of three Hall of Famers to appear on this list. His first stint with the Devils only lasted four seasons, during which he tallied 94 goals and 228 points in 315 games.

The circumstances behind Shanahan’s departure are a little dicey. He signed with the St. Louis Blues as a restricted free agent in 1991, which (according to the collective bargaining agreement) meant New jersey was entitled to compensation. Ordinarily, a team would be reciprocated with draft picks, but St. Louis’ next few first-round selections were owed to the Washington Capitals for pulling a similar stunt with defenseman Scott Stevens. Despite offering a package of Curtis Joseph, Rod Brind’Amour, and future draft picks, the Devils requested Stevens and were awarded the rugged defenseman by an arbitrator.

Shanahan had two 50-goal seasons in St. Louis, making him the only Devils first-round pick to hit that threshold. After four years in St. Louis, Shanahan was dealt to the Hartford Whalers for defenseman Chris Pronger, where he played one full season before going to the Detroit Red Wings. Shanahan spent nine years in Detroit, winning three Stanley Cups, and had seven 30+ goal seasons, including three with at least 40 tallies. Shanahan spent two years with the New York Rangers, where he had totals of 52 goals and 108 points in 140 contests, before playing a final season for New Jersey.

No. 2: Scott Niedermayer
Defenseman
3rd Overall, 1991

Before selecting Brian Rolston, the New Jersey Devils selected hall-of-fame defenseman Scott Niedermayer with the third overall pick—which they acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Tom Kurvers. Having won championships at every competitive level he’s played, Niedermayer became a longtime staple on the Devil’s blue line, helping them win three Stanley Cups and usher in a golden age where New Jersey became a perennial playoff contender.

Aside from the three Stanley Cups with New Jersey, was with them when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in 2001, and captured a fourth title in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks. Wanting to fulfill his desire of playing with younger brother Rob, Niedermayer signed with the Ducks as a free agent in 2005, where he played for five seasons.

Internationally, Niedermayer won two gold medals with Team Canada in the 2002 and 2010 Olympic Games. He’s one of three players on this list to have his number retired by the New Jersey Devils, and the only individual to receive that honor from more than one team (the other being the Anaheim Ducks). He’s also the only New Jersey Devils defenseman to win the Norris Trophy—awarded to the league’s top defenseman—which he won in 2004. Niedermayer is New Jersey’s all-time leading scorer among defensemen, collecting 112 goals and 476 points. Players like Niedermayer don’t come around often, and while he sometimes fell in the shadows of Scott Stevens or Martin Brodeur, the Devils don’t enjoy their golden age without him on their backend.

No. 1: Martin Brodeur
Goaltender
20th Overall, 1990

Remarkably, New Jersey traded back nine spots before selecting Martin Brodeur. The Calgary Flames used New Jersey’s original 11th overall pick to take goaltender Trevor Kidd, who appeared in 387 NHL games. For context, Brodeur had 691 career wins, almost twice as many games Kidd played. There isn’t much to say about Brodeur’s accolades we don’t already know. He’s the all-time winner in games played, wins, shutouts (playoffs and regular season), won three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, four Vezina Trophies, single-season victories, and has more 40-win seasons than any other goaltender.

Brodeur was successful in both the NHL’s current and pre-salary cap eras, winning two consecutive Vezinas in 2007 and 2008. He made two additional Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 2001 and 2012, respectively losing to the Colorado Avalanche in seven and Los Angeles Kings in six games. Brodeur is on a shortlist of goaltenders in the post-expansion NHL to appear in five Stanley Cup Finals, and the only goaltender (along with Marc-Andre Fleury) to achieve that feat in the last 26 seasons.

Simply put, no player has had a more profound impact on the New Jersey Devils than Martin Brodeur. A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Brodeur’s No. 30 hangs from the Prudential Center rafters. Many of Brodeur’s records won’t be approached any time soon, and some might remain unbroken for decades. It goes without saying why Brodeur tops our rankings of every New Jersey Devils first-round pick, in addition to being the greatest player in franchise history.