Greatest New Jersey Devils player of all time: 18. Jason Arnott
From one “A” line member to the other, Jason Arnott centered one of the best lines in hockey. He spent parts of five seasons with the Devils, his best obviously coming in 1999-00 and 2000-01. He had more than a point per game in 2000-01 despite spending some time on the injured list.
Of course, Arnott is most known for one of the most important goals in NHL history. There are only so many walk-off Stanley Cup winners. It’s happened three times since the new millennium. Arnott’s winner was amazing. Patrik Elias found the puck in the corner and found Arnott rushing toward the net. He did not miss, beating the great Ed Belfour and putting a second Stanley Cup banner into the Continental Airlines Arena (and now the Prudential Center).
Obviously, Arnott did more than just that one goal, but also obviously, nothing can touch that one goal. Arnott had at least 20 goals in every season he started with the Devils in his first stint. He broke 50 points in every full season. Then, he was surprisingly traded in a blockbuster that brought Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner to New Jersey.
Arnott returned to the Devils in 2010. It was mostly nostalgia at that point. Arnott only had 24 points in his final season in New Jersey before being traded to the Capitals before the trade deadline. We still fondly look at his time in New Jersey, and it mostly comes down to being at the right place at the right time.