5 Hall of Famers You Forgot Played For New Jersey Devils

5. Joe Nieuwendyk 2002-03

Joe Nieuwendyk was somehow the least remembered player of a four-player trade right before the 2002 NHL Trade Deadline. The Devils traded two legends to the Dallas Stars for a future captain and a future Hall of Famer. Randy McKay was a fan favorite, but he was getting old. Jason Arnott was once the center of one of the most electric lines in the league. The “A” line broke up after three fabulous seasons and one Stanley Cup, including a championship-winning goal in Game 6 overtime against these Stars.

In exchange, the Devils got Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner. Nieuwendyk was 35 at the time of the trade, and he was enjoying another decent season. He had 47 points at the time of the trade including 22 goals. Nieuwendyk was the player who won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the Stars’ 1999 Stanley Cup championship. The Devils were getting a certified winner on the ice.

Nieuwendyk was fine in his year and a half with the Devils. He only had one point as the Devils went down in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes. The next season, he had nine points in 17 playoff games as the Devils won its third and as of right now last Stanley Cup Championship in 2003.

After that season, Nieuwendyk signed a one-year deal to play with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was able to finally play for his home-province team, although that was another short-lived stop before he finished his career with the Florida Panthers.