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