August 28th may not hold much significance to Devils fans at first glance, but when you take a look at what occurred on that day in 1992, you begin to realize how important that date is for the history of the franchise.
Before the Carolina Hurricanes became a fierce divisional rival of the New Jersey Devils, they were the Whalers. Hartford's beloved franchise completed a trade with New Jersey in the summer of 1992, with the Whalers acquiring goaltender Sean Burke and defenseman Eric Weinrich. In turn, Hartford would send a 1993 second-round pick, as well as a young Czechoslovakian forward named Bobby Holik to New Jersey. Only in the league for two years at that point, Holik would go on to have a career with the Devils that would cement him as one of the team's all-time greats.
This transaction was pivotal for the success of the team throughout the mid 90's and early 2000's. With a team slowly coming into contention for their first Stanley Cup, Holik immediately made an impact on the team. In the 1993-94 season, the Devils debuted a historic fourth line known as the "Crash Line." Consisting of Mike Peluso and Randy McKay on the wings, with Holik playing center, this line became infamous for their tenacious forecheck.
With each player standing over six feet tall and weighing over 200lbs, the Crash Line was a nightmare for NHL defenses. By using their frames to wear down opposing teams, they created scoring opportunities on a line that typically isn't associated with offensive production. This two-way depth on a heavy defensive-minded team foreshadowed the era of success that came in the following seasons.
The trade bringing Bobby Holik to New Jersey is an underrated piece of their Stanley Cup history
From his first season with the Devils (1992-93) to the 2001-02 season, Holik played in 724 games while getting 198 goals and 265 assists for a total of 463 points. The numbers may seem average, but his true contribution came from that intense forecheck produced by him and his fellow linemates. The pressure they created in the offensive end would often be too much to handle for the other team, allowing the rest of the offense to capitalize. During the 1995 Stanley Cup run, the Crash line accounted for 23 combined points, helping New Jersey capture the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
August 28, 1992 is a date forgotten by time, but Holik's contribution to the Devils will always be remembered. Although he ultimately signed with the biggest rivals of the Devils, the New York Rangers, in the offseason of 2002-03, Holik returned to the Devils in 2008-09 and remains one of the best to ever don the red and black.
Oh, and that second-round pick the Devils received in the deal also? That pick would become the 32nd overall pick in the 1993 NHL Draft, where the Devils would select Jay Pandolfo, another key player for their era of success who spent 13 seasons with the team. In all, the trade paid off very well for New Jersey to say the least.
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