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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 /
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New Jersey Devils
Right wing Brian Gionta #14 of the New Jersey Devils (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Greatest New Jersey Devils player of all time: 17. Brian Gionta

Brian Gionta still to this day holds the Devils single-season goals record. That record survived an MVP season, multiple number-one overall picks, and some incredibly skilled offensive players coming through New Jersey. Gionta broke that record, scoring 48 goals in the 2005-06 campaign. Gionta may have never hit those heights again, but he was really good for his entire Devils tenure.

We’ve seen stories similar to Gionta’s time and time again. A highly-skilled player falls in the NHL Draft because of his size. Gionta was just 5’7, and he fell to the third round of the 1998 draft. It was one of the best picks of Lou Lamoriello at the time. After a few years at Boston College, Gionta was ready for the NHL.

He got a great experience immediately. In his rookie season, he made the playoff roster. The Devils won two games in the first round against the Carolina Hurricanes. Gionta has the game-winning goal in both games. The next season, he was ready for the playoffs, and the Devils had one of the best teams in the NHL. Gionta was able to get a Stanley Cup ring in just his second season in the league.

Gionta would play seven years with the Devils, putting up 312 points and only having one year with a negative +/-. He was incredibly consistent. The Devils knew they could rely on his abilities. He had this one great season and never hit 30 goals again, but he was always right on the cusp.

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