I'm giving the New Jersey Devils four stars because, at the time of writing this review, the team ranks 10th among active NHL teams in number of Stanley Cup championships won in the Stanley Cup Finals era (since 1915). The Devils won the Cup three times: 1995, 2000, and 2003. They have also appeared in the Finals two other times: 2001 and 2012.
Here's an interesting statistic for a team that has won three Stanley Cups: Currently, New Jersey ranks 28th out of 31 teams, all time, in points percentage. In other words, since the Devils' first season in the NHL in 1974-75, they've been the fourth-worst performing team during the regular season. No other team in the National Hockey League has won more than one Stanley Cup and has a worse all-time points percentage than the New Jersey Devils. The Los Angeles Kings (two Stanley Cups) are close.
The Devils have retired five numbers:
3 - Ken Daneyko
4 - Scott Stevens
26 - Patrik Elias
27 - Scott Niedermayer
30 - Martin Brodeur
Of these five players, four were members of all three Stanley Cup championship teams: Daneyko, Stevens, Niedermayer, and Brodeur. Despite being drafted by New Jersey in 1994, Elias was only a member of the last two title-winning teams (2000, 2003). However, he also holds the team records for goals, assists, and points.
Of the five players, three have been inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame: Stevens, Niedermayer, and Brodeur. Four were drafted by the Devils: Daneyko, Elias, Niedermayer, and Brodeur. Brodeur was one of the all-time great goalies in hockey. As a goalie, he is the NHL leader in wins, losses, shutouts, and games played. Brodeur now works in the Devils' front office while Daneyko works as a broadcast analyst for Devils games on MSG+.
While there was continuity among the players during the three Stanley Cup championships, New Jersey had a different coach each time: Jacques Lemaire in 1995, Larry Robinson in 2000, and Pat Burns in 2003.
A little history: The New Jersey Devils didn't always used to be the New Jersey Devils. They started out as the Kansas City Scouts (1974-1976) and then became the Colorado Rockies (1976-1982) before moving to East Rutherford in 1982. The Devils were named after the Jersey Devil, an American folklore creature from the Pine Barrens of South Jersey.
I learned about the Pine Barrens from The Sopranos, Season 3 Episode 11 (2001), "Pine Barrens." Chris and Paulie hilariously got lost in the Pine Barrens. I later learned that one of my favorite YouTubers, James Rolfe (the Angry Video Game Nerd), lived in the Pine Barrens growing up: https://youtu.be/EAULam4L1eA?t=1200. Another one of my favorite YouTubers, Kevin Strahle (the L.A. Beast), is a Devils fan and, from time to time, Devils apparel appears in his videos: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=344790259399965. If someone actually read this paragraph, I'm surprised you made it this far. Let me know by sending me a compliment. And don't forget to hit that thumbs up, subscribe, and tap the bell for notifications. read more