Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

50 Greatest New Jersey Devils Players Of All Time

By Nick Villano

Former New Jersey Devils players (L-R) Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens during Patrik Elias #26 jersey retirement ceremony prior to a game against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on February 24, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)"n
Former New Jersey Devils players (L-R) Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens during Patrik Elias #26 jersey retirement ceremony prior to a game against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on February 24, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)"n /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
14 of 21
Next
New Jersey Devils
Kirk Muller #9 of the New Jersey Devils (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Greatest New Jersey Devils player of all time: 8. Kirk Muller

Kirk Muller was one helluva consolation prize. The Devils missed out on Mario Lemieux by one point, but Kirk Muller was the second-overall pick in 1984. He was still an incredibly skilled forward who could be a key contributor to a future contender. Muller joined the Devils the year he was drafted, playing all 80 games in his rookie season. He put up 54 points in a formidable effort on a young team that needed more seasoning.

Muller would play the next seven seasons in New Jersey, putting up great offensive numbers. He had three straight 30-goal seasons from 1987 to 1990. In that 1988 season, when the Devils finally made the playoffs, Muller scored 94 points. It was the first notion he could be a superstar.

This was the start of Devils hockey. Despite his offensive capabilities, Muller never let the defensive side of things fall to the wayside. He became known for his two-way play, and he was even the team’s captain for four seasons. When you look up “heart-and-soul” player in the dictionary, you’ll see Muller in his Devils jersey.

Ever the opportunist, Lamoeriello traded Muller in the middle of a contract dispute before the 1991-92 season. It ended an era of Devils hockey, officially putting the high-scoring 80s in the rearview mirror.

Home/Editorials