Top 10 Best New Jersey Devils Players of All Time

One of the more successful NHL teams of the early 2000s, the New Jersey Devils are an expansion team that has been around since 1974. They were the Kansas City Scouts for two seasons (1974-1976) and the Colorado Rockies for six seasons (1976-1982) before becoming the Devils in 1982. They have won three Stanley Cups, all as the Devils, in their history (1995, 2000, 2003). To win those titles, they have had to have some incredible players. Listed below are the ten greatest players in franchise history.

Who Are the New Jersey Devils Hockey Players of All Time?

1. Martin Brodeur
2. Scott Stevens
3. Patrik Elias
4. Scott Niedermayer
5. John MacLean
6. Scott Gomez
7. Brian Rafalski
8. Bobby Holik
9. Zach Parise
10. Petr Sykora

1. Martin Brodeur

• Four-time Vezina Trophy winner
• 1994 Calder Memorial Trophy winner
• Three-time Stanley Cup Champion (1995, 2000, 2003)
• 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee

One of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history, Martin Brodeur deserves the nod as greatest Devils player of all-time. In the 1990 NHL Draft, the Devils took Brodeur with the 20th overall pick. He went on to play an incredible 21 seasons with the team from 1991-2014. In that time, he won five Williams Jennings Trophies (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2010), four Vezina Trophies (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008), made seven All-Star teams (1997, 1998, 2003-2008), won the 1994 Calder Memorial Trophy, and helped the Devils win three Stanley Cups in 1995, 2000, and 2003.

As for his career Devils numbers, Brodeur ranks number one in most goalie categories, including wins (688), saves (28,766), goals against average (2.24), and shutouts (124) as well ranking second in career percentage (91.2%). After his outstanding career with the Devils, Brodeur was rightfully inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

2. Scott Stevens

• Three-time All-Star
• 2000 Conn Smythe Trophy winner
• Three-time Stanley Cup Champion (1995, 2000, 2003)
• 2007 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee

While he did not start his career with the Devils, Scott Stevens is still a legendary player in franchise history. After playing for the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues for several years, Stevens came to the Devils in 1991. He went on to play the final 13 years of his career with the Devils (1991-2004), and in that time he was selected to three All-Star teams (1994, 1997, 2001), won the 2000 Conn Smythe Trophy, and was a part of all three Devils Stanley Cup-winning teams (1995, 2000, 2003).

When looking at the Devils all-time statistical leaders, Stevens ranks sixth in assists (337), ninth in points (430), first in plus/minus (282), fifth in shots taken (1,779), and fifth in games played (956). Like Brodeur before him on this list, Stevens earned his way into the Hockey Hall of Fame a few years after his career in 2007.

3. Patrik Elias

• 1998 All-Rookie Selection
• 2001 All-Star Selection
• Two-time Stanley Cup Champion (2000, 2003)

The all-time leading goal scorer in Devils history is Patrik Elias. Elias was a second round pick in the 1994 Draft by the Devils, and he played his entire 20-year career (1995-2015) with the team. After sparse playing time his first couple years, he made the All-Rookie team in 1998 during his first full season of play. He would go on to make the All-Star team in 2001 and help the Devils win two Stanley Cups in 2000 and 2003.

As was mentioned above, Elias is the Devils all-time leading goal scorer with 408 goals. He also comes in at number one in assists with 617, number one in points with 1,025, tied for second in plus minus at 172, number one in game winning goals with 80, and number three in games played with 1,240. While he did not quite do enough to make the Hockey Hall of Fame, Elias is still one of the most legendary Devils of all-time.

4. Scott Niedermayer

• 1993 All-Rookie Team Selection
• Two-time All-Star
• Three-time Stanley Cup Champion (1995, 2000, 2003)
• 2013 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee

The final Hockey Hall of Famer on this list is Scott Niedermayer. Taken with the number three overall pick by New Jersey in 1991, Niedermayer would eventually play the first 13 years of his career with the team (1991-2004). In his first full season in 1993, he was selected to the All-Rookie team, and he went on to make two All-Star teams (1998, 2004) as well as help the Devils win all three of their Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, 2003). 

When it comes to his career numbers with New Jersey, Niedermayer dished out the second most assists with 364, registered the sixth most points with 476, tied for the second best plus/minus at 172, tied for the tenth most game winning goals with 26, and played in the eighth most games with 892. As was mentioned above, Niedermayer earned his way into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

5. John MacLean

• Led NHL in Games Played in 1990
• Finished in Top 15 in Selke Trophy Voting twice
• 1995 Stanley Cup Champion

One of the first great players in Devils history was winger John MacLean, and he rounds out the first half of this list. The Devils took him with the sixth overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft. In his 14 seasons with the team (1983-1997), MacLean finished in the top 15 in the Selke Trophy Voting on back to back occasions (1996, 1997), led the NHL in games played in 1990 with 80 games played, and helped the Devils win the 1995 Stanley Cup in one of his final seasons.

Some of MacLean’s notable career numbers with the Devils include having the second most goals scored (347), the fourth most assists (354), the second most points (701), the second most power play goals (92), the second most shots taken (2,715), and the sixth most games played (934). He may not be a Hall of Famer, but MacLean certainly left his mark on the Devils.

6. Scott Gomez

• 2000 Calder Memorial Trophy winner
• 2000 All-Rookie Team selection
• Two-time Stanley Cup Champion (2000, 2003)

Another legendary early 2000s player for the Devils, Scott Gomez kicks off the second half of this list. Gomez was the 27th overall pick in the 1998 NHL Draft by New Jersey and wound up being a part of their franchise for eight seasons (1999-2007). His rookie season was outstanding, and he was named to the All-Rookie team and won the Calder Memorial Trophy award. He would go on to help the Devils win two Stanley Cups as well, as they took home the trophy in 2000 and 2003.

On the Devils all-time leaderboards, Gomez comes in at number three in assists (361), number five in points (484), number seven in goals created (161.2), and number four in assists per game (0.60). In 2004, he led the NHL in assists with 56. He went on to have nine more great years after leaving the Devils with six different teams.

7. Brian Rafalski

• 2000 All-Rookie Team selection
• Three Top-15 Finishes in All-Star Voting
• Two-time Stanley Cup Champion (2000, 2003)

Next up on this legendary Devils player list is Brian Rafalski. In a rarity for all-time greats, Rafalski actually went undrafted out of college before the Devils signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He went on to quickly prove all the doubters wrong, as he was named to the 2000 All-Rookie team, and went on to have three top fifteen finishes in the end of the year All-Star voting (2001, 2002, 2007) in his seven seasons (1999-2007). Like so many of these players, Rafalski helped the Devils win a couple of Stanley Cups in 2000 and 2003.

Rafalski’s career totals with the Devils include having the sixth best plus/minus at 100, the fifth most points shares at 60.8, the sixth most defensive point shares at 37.8, and was on the ice for the eighth most power play goals scored by the team with 252. Although he was not a Hall of Famer, Rafalski still had an amazing career for an undrafted player.

8. Bobby Holik

• Four Top-15 Finishes in Selke Trophy Voting
• Led NHL in Games Played in 1997
• Two-time Stanley Cup Champion (1995, 2000)

One of the better Devils players on their great 1990s teams, Bobby Holik certainly contributed to their Stanley Cup winning teams. Holik joined the Devils in 1992 after playing two seasons for the Hartford Whalers. In his eleven NHL seasons with the team (1992-2002, 2008-09), he finished in the top fifteen in Selke Trophy voting four years in a row (1999-2002) and led the NHL in games played in 1992 with 82. He also helped the Devils win two Stanley Cups in 1995 and 2000.

In his Devils career, Holik scored the third most goals in team history (202), dished out the tenth most assists (270), had the seventh most points (472),  registered the fourth best plus/minus (134), scored the third most game winning goals (43), and played in the tenth most games (786) in team history. After leaving the team in 2002 to play three seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers, Holik played his final season with the Devils, a feat he and the fans surely both enjoyed.

9. Zach Parise

• 2009 All-Star Selection
• Three Top-15 Finishes in All-Star Voting
• Two Top-15 Finishes in Selke Trophy Voting

The only active player on this list, Zach Parise is the ninth best Devils player of all time. Parise was the 17th overall pick way back in the 2003 NHL Draft by the Devils. He played his first seven NHL seasons with the team from 2005-2012, and he made one All-Star team in 2009 along with three other top-15 finishes (2008, 2010, 2012). He also finished in the top-15 on two occasions in the Selke Trophy voting.

Throughout his time with the Devils, Parise scored the fifth most goals with 194, had the tenth most points with 410, scored the fourth most game winning goals with 37, took the sixth most shots with 1,699, and created the eighth most goals with 160. Eleven years after leaving the Devils, Parise is still going strong, spending the past two seasons with the rival New York Islanders after nine with the Minnesota Wild.

10. Petr Sykora

• 1996 All-Rookie Team Selection
• Top Ten in 1996 Calder Memorial Trophy Voting
• 2000 Stanley Cup Champion

Another 2000 Stanley Cup Champion, Petr Sykora finishes off this list. In 1995, New Jersey used the 18th overall pick in the draft to take Sykora. In his first total NHL seasons with the Devils (1995-2002, 2011-12), Sykora made the 1996 All-Rookie First Team, finished in the top ten in the 1996 Calder Memorial Trophy voting, and helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2000, as previously mentioned.

In Devils history, Sykora has the eighth most goals scored (166), the seventh best plus/minus (91), the sixth most game winning goals (31), the tenth most power play goals (48), and the tenth most goals created (150.5). Like Holik a few years earlier, Sykora came to play one final season with the Devils in the 2011-12 season after having his best days with them in the late 90s and early 2000s. He did still manage to have 21 goals and 23 assists in that finals season at age 35.

Honorable Mentions

• Jason Arnott
• Bruce Driver
• Ken Daneyko
• Jamie Langenbruner
• Claude Lemieux
• Kirk Muller
• Stephane Richer
• Cory Schneider
• Pat Verbeek
• Travis Zajac

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