2024-25 New Jersey Devils Season Opener Countdown: #28 Brian Rafalski, #27 Scott Niedermayer, and #26 Patrik Elias

The 2024-25 New Jersey Devils season opens very soon. On October 4, the Devils will take on the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia. To get ready for the season, we're doing a daily piece countdown of all the numbers of the Devils sweaters and moments in Devils franchise history. We continue with three exceptional players in the Devils organization: Brian Rafalski, Scott Niedermayer, and Patrik Elias.

Brian Rafalski

Believe it or not, former Devils player Brain Rafalski went undrafted in the 1994 NHL Draft. Rafalski had just recently finished his college tenure with the Wisconsin Badgers and would play in three Swedish leagues from 1995-1999. In the summer of 1999, the Devils signed him as a 25-year-old free agent. Lou clearly saw his talent.

He matched up perfectly with Scott Stevens. Rafalski scored 32 points in his first season and earned his place on the All-Rookie team, along with teammate and that year’s Calder winner Scott Gomez. Both of them would end up winning the Stanley Cup that season. Rafalski’s numbers improved significantly, with a 52-point season the following season. Throughout the next five seasons in NJ, he would remain as one of the league’s best-scoring defensemen, averaging 40 points per season.

After the 2006-07 season ended, Rafalski signed with the Detroit Red Wings at 34 years old, where his stats were better as a veteran, scoring 55 points. He was one of the core pieces to help the Red Wings win the 2008 Stanley Cup. The following season was his best, as he scored 59 points. However, just like in New Jersey in 2000-01, he failed to get his second straight Stanley Cup. Rafalski’s final two seasons in the NHL, at age 36 and 37, were solid, with 42 and 48-point seasons. Rafalski would retire at the end of the 2010-11 season. Rafalski would get one more chance at pro hockey in the 2013-14 season with the Florida Everblades but only played three games. If you want an in-depth look at Brian Rafalski, read Matthew Junio's piece here.

Scott Niedermayer

It’s unbelievable to think about, and everyone has mentioned this before. Still, it’s wild that Hall of Famer Scott Niedermeyer was drafted all because of two components: the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tom Kurvers. Kurvers, when he was a Devil in 1987-90, was very solid, and Maple Leafs general manager Floyd Smith agreed. That’s why, on October 16, 1989, the Maple Leafs acquired Kurvers for their first-round pick of the 1991 NHL Draft. The Maple Leafs of the 1990-91 season were awful, with 57 points, and thanks to that trade, the Devils had the 3rd pick in that draft, which, of course, they used to select Scott Niedermayer. In his 13 years as a Devil, he’s had his best games and moments when the Devils needed it most.

A great example is in the 1995 Stanley Cup Final in Game 2, where he bounced the puck off the boards, got his rebound, and buried it past Mike Vernon to tie the game at two. Neidermayer would help shape the Devils franchise by winning three Stanley Cups and would get his 4th with the Anaheim Ducks in the 2006-07 season. The Devils would retire Scott Nidermayer’s number in 2011, and despite some anger from fans, the Ducks in 2018 would also retire his number.

Patrik Elias

Patrik Elias is another player you consider when you see the New Jersey Devils logo. Elias has become such a figure not just with the Devils but also in hockey. In 1997-98, in his first season as a Devil, he scored 37 points, which was great for a rookie left wing at the time. He was selected to the All-Rookie team that year.

Elias was part of the memorable A-line that helped the Devils win the 2000 Stanley Cup, along with one other player who will be mentioned in the next piece. Elias also broke the Devils’ record for the most points in franchise history, initially set by John MacLean on March 17, 2009, which was a unique game for many reasons. Elias was a particular player, so the Devils retired his number in 2018.

But why did Elias choose 26 as his number? In an ESPN interview with reporter Greg Wyshynski, he said in the quote, “I didn't. It was given to me. We really didn't have a choice of numbers. I had a couple of numbers before that, and every time someone was traded here that wore the number that I had, I had to give it up. I was a rookie, obviously. I would have worn No. 24. I had that as a kid, a little bit in the minors. But No. 26 is me. No. 24 is no more. It went out of the window pretty quickly."

One thing is missing from his resume, and this is a hall of fame induction. It’s been the argument for years that Elias has all the criteria of a Hall of Famer, but he keeps getting off the ballot. Soon enough, he should be on that ballot, and whenever it does happen, it should cement Elias’s legacy as one of the best players in the game.