New Jersey Devils: 3 Greatest September Moves in Franchise History
September can mean a lot of things in the hockey world. You’re one month away from the season but several weeks away from having preseason games. Another good thing about September is that it’s still the offseason so that teams can add new players by trade or signing. It gives teams a last chance to make a big splash to shake up the league. For the New Jersey Devils, they’ve certainly made some great moves in September throughout franchise history. These three signings have been legendary since these players have each won a cup with New Jersey in September. So, what are these three moves that were huge during September?
September 4, 1990- Devils Trade Sylvain Turgeon to Canadiens for Claude Lemieux
Before the 1990-91 season, Lou wanted to upgrade the right-winger position on the team. So, Lou worked his magic and got one of the better right-wingers coming into the 90s. On September 4, 1990, the Devils traded for Claude Lemieux from the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens got Sylvain Turgeon in the trade, with 47 points in his only year with the Devils. As for Claude Lemieux, in the last four years in Montreal, he averaged over 50 points in 3 out of those four years. When Lemieux got to New Jersey, he began to have several outstanding seasons.
When Lemieux played in his first-ever Devils season, he managed to get 47 points. Lemieux’s numbers skyrocketed, however, as he became the top scorer on the team in the next two years. His numbers dropped the following season, as he had 44 points in 1993-94 and 19 points in 1994-95. However, where Lemieux shined was the playoffs, and in 1993-94 and 1994-95, he played amazingly. However, the 1995 Stanley Cup run was one of his playoff years as he scored 13 goals in 20 games. During the 1995 Cup Final, Lemieux produced a significant moment in the first game where he scored the winning goal of game one late in the third period. Though he would play for the Colorado Avalanche the following season, he still finished off his first stint with the Devils with a cup. It’s great that fans got to see him play in a Devils sweater when he got traded to them in September 1990 before the season started.
September 3, 1991- Devils awarded Scott Stevens.
It’s hard to believe that one of the best Devils players of all time came to the team in September before the 1991-92 season. The Devils were looking to add a hard hitter to their roster, and Lou fought to get him. It was one of the greatest moves of Lou Lamoriello’s career, getting Stevens as compensation for Brendan Shanahan. It might have been even more impressive he got Stevens to sign on the dotted line to show up.
On September 3, 1991, the history of Scott Stevens in New Jersey began. In Steven’s first year in a Devils uniform, he managed 59 points which led the team in scoring from a defenseman. However, in the 1993-94 season, he decided to branch out and had a 78-point season, which led the team.
While Steven’s scoring numbers declined slightly in the rest of his career, he contributed differently. Stevens would use his body to hit players who attempted to take the puck away from the Devils whenever they had it. Stevens would also create hits to stop other teams from creating chances themselves. This style would become what many people remember about Stevens over his career. Each cup runs the Devils went on and won on had a memorable hit by Stevens. These hits included Vyacheslav Kozlov’s hit in 1995, the Eric Lindros hit in 2000, or the Paul Kariya hit in 2003. Stevens retired after the 2003-04 season, and the Devils had a banner raising ceremony in 2006. Stevens is undoubtedly a Devil’s legend, and you must thank Lou for taking a chance on him in September of 1991.
September 20, 1991- Devils Trade Kirk Muller and Roland Melanson to Canadiens to get Tom Chorske and Stephane Richer
This deal in late September has a fascinating history behind it. Entering the 1991-92 training camp Kirk Muller didn’t want to participate over not getting more money. Lou, of course, didn’t want to put up with it, so he was traded off to the Canadiens. Goalie Roland Melanson, who only played one game for the Devils in his career, also shipped off to the Canadiens. In return, the Devils received left-winger Tom Chorske and right-winger Stephane Richer.
Chorske had just finished off his second year in the NHL with a 20-point season. As for Richer, he completed a 61-point season and scored 14 points in the playoffs. Tom Chorske had several up and down seasons in terms of points. In the 1991-92 season, he scored 36 points, while the very next season, he scored only 18. Chomsky’s best season was in the 1993-94 season with 41 points which were the best in his career. Choose also put up 7 points in the 1993-94 playoffs.
When Stephane Richer played his first three seasons on the Devils, he became one of the best players on the team. He averaged 60-73 points during those years, which made him the best overall player in 2 out of those three seasons. Although his last two seasons saw his points drop to 39 and 32, he still landed in the top 5 in scoring on the team.
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What made it even more impressive is that during the 1994-95 cup run, he led the team in points with 21 points. Though both would go on to win the cup in 1995, both Richer and Chorske would leave. Chorske would go on to play for the Ottawa Senators the following year. Stephan Richer would leave after the 1995-96 season to go back to Montreal in the 1996-97 season. Still, you have to appreciate both of them for their contribution to the team. It’s still unexpected that these two guys will be Devils by the end of September, with the 1991-92 season just 15 days before it started.