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10 Interesting Facts About the New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils franchise originally joined the NHL as part of the 1974 expansion as the Kansas City Scouts, and then relocated a couple seasons later to Colorado, becoming the Colorado Rockies. They remainded in Colorado until 1982, when the team moved to New Jersey and were renamed the New Jersey Devils, after the legend of the Jersey Devil, an ominous cryptozoological creature supposed to inhabit the Pine Barrens of South Jersey. Over 10,000 people voted in a contest held by local newspapers to select the New Jersey Devils name.
Don Lever, who was the first ever captain for the New Jersey Devils,also scored the first goal in Devils franchise history on October 5, 1982 in a 3-3 tie against Pittsburgh Penguins. The Devils got off to a strong start their first season in New Jersey with only one loss in their first seven games, however the good times were not to last as they went on to finish the season with a 17-49-14 record.
In 1983, after a few embarrasing seasons in the NHL, the Devils were publicly humiliated by Wayne Gretzky after they were blown out 13-4 by his team, the Edmonton Oilers. Gretzky was upset that former teammate Ron Low played for what he considered an inferior team, and in a post-game interview said:“ Well, its time they got their act together, folks. They are ruining the whole league. They had better stop running a Mickey Mouse organization and put somebody on ice.” Later, Gretzky publicly admitted that his comment went too far, but privately maintained that his comment was accurate.In response, many Devils fans wore Mickey Mouse apparel when the Oilers returned to New Jersey.
After many lack-lustre seasons in the NHL, things were going to get a whole lot better for New Jersey Devils fans. Under the leadership of General Manager Lou Lamoriello, the Devils became one of the leagues most consistently strong teams, and between 1988-2008 the New Jersey Devils made the playoffs an impressive 18 out of 20 seasons!
On June 26, 1989, Lou Lamoriello signed Soviet defensemen Viacheslav Fetisov and Sergei Starikov to NHL contracts in a move that many believe started the flow of Russian players to the NHL.
Scott Stevens is the longest serving captain of the New Jersey devils, holding that role from 1992 to 2004. During his tenure as captain the team held an impressive record of 486-283-123 in the regular season and going 87-59 in the playoffs. Stevens was also team captain for all three of the New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup championships.
After a lockout-shortened season in 1995 the Devils went on a tear in the playoffs setting a record for most play-off road victories with 11 and eventually sweeping the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings for the franchises first-ever Stanley Cup. Claude Lemieux was awarded the Conn Smythe tophy as the playoff MVP.
In 1999-00 the Devils were on top again defeating the defending champion Dallas Stars in six games to win the Stanley Cup for the second time in the clubs history. The roster featured an impressive line-up of experienced veterans Scott Stevens, Bobby Holik, Scott Niedermayer, Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora, Jason Arnott, Alexander Mogilny, and talented rookies Brian Rafalski, John Madden, and Calder Trophy recipient Scott Gomez.
In 2000/2001 New Jersey posted their highest point total in a season with 111 also winning the eastern conference championship. The team did not win the Stanley Cup that season but not to worry, because in 2002-03 they would win their 4th conference championship and continue on to bring home their 3rd Stanley Cup.
On December 19,2005 Lou Lamoriello was forced back into the role as coach of New Jersey Devils, a position he hadnt held since the 1982-83 season, when Larry Robinson stepped down from coaching duties. The Devils rallied behind Lamoriello, winning 32 of the final 50 regular-season games and went on an impressive run in the playoffs until they eventually lost to the Carolina Hurricanes who went on to win the Stanley cup that season.
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