Greatest New Jersey Devils player of all time: 41. Damon Severson
Here comes a controversial one. Damon Severson is a very good defenseman. He was a second-round pick who stuck around with the Devils through good times and bad. He joined the Devils as a full-time defenseman in 2014. Back then, he was beloved by all Devils fans. At that point, it was rare to have a drafted player actually join the roster and contribute. He played through his entry-level contract, and he eventually signed a six-year contract with a very fair AAV.
Severson has been everything on the right side of the defense. He’s often thrust into a first-line role when someone gets hurt or a player isn’t playing up to the first-line standards. Severson has been the reliable force on a blueline who’s had so few of them in this era.
Does he make mistakes? Sure, nobody is going to deny that. However, the hate for Severson has always been overstated. In a different era, Severson would thrive. He has the skill set to do it. He has enough defensive acumen and a great offensive game that he would have been an incredible asset to a contending team.
The Devils said goodbye to Severson this offseason, trading his rights to the Columbus Blue Jackets. We shouldn’t forget everything he did for this franchise as it attempted to get through tough times. He was always there for the Devils when he needed them. Now, he looks to do the same for the Columbus Blue Jackets.