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