New Jersey Devils: Five Best Lou Lamoriello Re-Acquisitions

5. Brendan Shanahan

To be clear, Shanahan’s return in the 2008-09 season was not all that spectacular. He did not sign until January of that season, but there is a special reason as to why he is on this list. Shanahan was the Devils’ first-round pick, second overall in the 1987 NHL Draft and contributed almost immediately. In his first four seasons, Shanahan scored 88 goals and recorded 214 points in 281 games.

Shanahan became a restricted free agent. What happened next would change the trajectory of the Devils’ organization forever. Famously, Shanahan would sign a deal with the St. Louis Blues. As compensation, the Devils would receive Scott Stevens, who would captain the Devils to three championships and establish the team’s identity for years to come.

Shanahan would play for the Blues for four seasons before being traded to the Hartford Whalers for another Hall of Fame defenseman, Chris Pronger. Shanahan would then play the next nine years in Detroit, carving himself a solid Hall of Fame career for himself. He would also make a stop with the Rangers before setting a new NHL record when he signed with the Devils in January of 2009.

Shanahan would set the NHL record for longest gap between stints with one team. It took 17 years before Shanahan would return to the black and red. At 40 years old, Shanahan would contribute to the team. Having 14 points in 34 games, Shanahan would provide veteran leadership to a transitioning team. He would re-sign to play in the 2009-10 season, but retired before the season started.