Hockey and sports in general can be broken down into moments. Some moments are bigger than others and chart the course of a franchise and an entire league. These moments can define a team’s destiny for years to come. For this installment, we bring you the defining moments of the New Jersey Devils.
The Defining Moments of the New Jersey Devils
After stints in Kansas City and Colorado, the franchise moved to New Jersey in 1982 and was renamed the Devils. In their time in New Jersey, the Devils have been a successful franchise. They have won the Stanley Cup three times and have been to the Final an additional two times. In addition, the franchise has won nine division titles.
The Devils are also known for having one of the best goaltenders of all time, Martin Brodeur. Brodeur owns numerous records, and his resume even includes a few goals.
The Devils are a successful franchise, making it hard to choose what defining moments stand out from the rest.
The Brodeur Era Begins
After eight years in New Jersey, the Devils made a move that changed the course of not only their history, but NHL history. The story starts during the 1990 NHL Draft.
Run-Up
With the 20th pick of the draft, the Devils selected Brodeur. The Quebec native was making a name for himself in the Quebec Major Junior League. Brodeur was known for using multiple techniques while between the pipes, a skill he had learned from former Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak.
Brodeur made his NHL debut during the 1991-92 season. However, he only played four games. Brodeur did not appear in any NHL games during the 1992-93 season.
The Moment
Brodeur became the full-time starter for the 1993-94 season. Many did not have Brodeur on their “rookies to watch list,” but Brodeur made sure he was noticed. In 47 games, Brodeur went 27-11-8 alongside a .915 save percentage and a 2.40 goals against average. Behind Brodeur, the Devils finished the season with the second-best record in the NHL. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Devils advanced to the Eastern Conference Final but fell short of reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
However, Brodeur did not walk away from his rookie season empty-handed. The young goalie was awarded the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
This was an exciting year for the Devils. As it turns out, this season marked the beginning of a significant era for the team. The “Brodeur Era” had begun.
The Aftermath
Brodeur would ultimately play 21 seasons in New Jersey, winning 688 games. Brodeur would go on to set records in wins, shutouts, and games played. He would finalize these records after a brief stint with the St. Louis Blues in 2014 before retiring.
With Brodeur between the pipes, the Devils would win the Stanley Cup three times. Brodeur himself would win the Vezina Trophy four times and be named to the All-Star team nine times.
A legend in every sense. Brodeur revolutionized the game of hockey. Devils fans continue to celebrate that they drafted this Quebec native.
Other Devil Defining Moments
It was impossible to start this list without mentioning Brodeur. Now, let’s see what other defining moments there are within the Devils organization.
Arnott Dethrones the Stars
The Devils won their first Stanley Cup in 2001 and were seeking their second when they advanced to the Final in 2000. Their opponent would be the defending Stanley Cup Champion Dallas Stars. This series made NHL history as it was the first time two relocated teams met in the Final.
The Devils won three of the first four games and took a commanding 3-1 series lead home for Game 5. However, the Stars won Game 5 in triple overtime, sending the series back to Dallas. Like Game 5, Game 6 needed overtime.
In double overtime, Jason Arnott received a pass in front of the net. He immediately put the puck past Ed Belfour to win the series and the Stanley Cup. Unlike the previous year, there was no controversy surrounding this goal.
Arnott and the Devils had dethroned the Stars. For the second time in franchise history, the Devils were Stanley Cup Champions.
Lou
On April 30, 1987, the Devils hired Lou Lamoriello to be the team’s president. Just a few days later, Lamoriello named himself the general manager. This was unusual at the time, as Lamoriello had no prior NHL management experience and had previously served as an athletic director and hockey coach at Providence College.
At the time of the hiring, the Devils were not a respected organization. They had only made the playoffs once since relocating to New Jersey. To make matters worse, they were subject to criticism by Edmonton Oilers star Wayne Gretzky, who referred to the Devils as a “Mickey Mouse organization” following an Oilers 13-4 victory over the Devils. The Devils needed to prove to the league that they were a legitimate organization.
Lamoriello helped accomplish that and more. Within the organization, Lou demanded professionalism, accountability, and discipline across all levels, setting expectations for players, coaches, and staff. When it came to constructing a roster that could contend, Lamoriello immediately went to work, drafting Brendan Shanahan second overall in 1987. As the years went on, Lamoirello brought more talent into New Jersey, like Brodeur, Scott Stevens (with a bit of help), Scott Niedermayer, and Ken Daneyko.
Under Lamoriello, the Devils won the Stanley Cup three times. They became one of the most respected franchises in the NHL. They were certainly no longer a “Mickey Mouse organization.”
Main Photo: Ed Mulholland- Imagn Images
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