# 1984–85 New Jersey Devils season

The 1984–85 New Jersey Devils season was the 11th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and third season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. For the seventh consecutive season the team did not qualify for the playoffs.

## Offseason

Lou Vairo joined the team as an assistant coach to Carpenter.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 53 | 20 | 7 | 348 | 241 | 113 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 46 | 25 | 9 | 322 | 240 | 101 |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 40 | 34 | 6 | 345 | 312 | 86 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 26 | 44 | 10 | 295 | 345 | 62 |
| New Jersey Devils | 80 | 22 | 48 | 10 | 264 | 346 | 54 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 24 | 51 | 5 | 276 | 385 | 53 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1984–85 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
New Jersey
—3−2−22−52−55−22−4−114−18−3
N.Y. Islanders
2−3−2—4−33−3−15−23−417−15−3
N.Y. Rangers
5−23−4—0−74−32−514−21−0
Philadelphia
5−23−3−17−0—5−25−1−125−8−2
Pittsburgh
2−52−53−42–5—0−6−19−25−1
Washington
4−2−14−35−21–5−16−0–1—20−13−2
Vs. Adams Division
1984–85 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
New Jersey
0−30−30−31−1−11−1−12−11−2
N.Y. Islanders
1−22−11−1−11−20−35−9−1
N.Y. Rangers
0−1−21−1−10−1−20−2−11−22−7−6
Philadelphia
2−11−1−12−0−11−21−1−17−5−3
Pittsburgh
1−20−2−11−21−20−33−11−1
Washington
2−11−21−21−1−12−17−7−1
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1984–85 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
New Jersey
0−31−1−11−1−10−2−13−05−7−3
N.Y. Islanders
3−02−11−1−13−02−111−3−1
N.Y. Rangers
0−31−21−22−0−12−0−16−7−2
Philadelphia
2−12−0−13−03−02−112−2−1
Pittsburgh
1−21−1−11−21−22−16−8−1
Washington
3−02−12−0−12−0−12−0−111−1−3
Vs. Smythe Division
1984–85 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
New Jersey
0−2−11−20−30−30−2−11−12−2
N.Y. Islanders
1−20−2−12−12−12−17−7−1
N.Y. Rangers
0−2−11−1−11−22−10−34−9−2
Philadelphia
2−13−01−1−13−00−39−5−1
Pittsburgh
2−0−11−1−10−32−11−26−7−2
Washington
2−10−1−22−13−01−28−5−2 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 12, 1984 | 7–2 | New York Islanders (1984–85) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 13, 1984 | 1–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1984–85) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 16, 1984 | 4–6 | @ New York Islanders (1984–85) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | W | October 19, 1984 | 4–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1984–85) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 20, 1984 | 3–8 | @ St. Louis Blues (1984–85) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | W | October 24, 1984 | 5–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) | 3–3–0 |
| 7 | L | October 25, 1984 | 2–11 | New York Rangers (1984–85) | 3–4–0 |
| 8 | L | October 27, 1984 | 2–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) | 3–5–0 |
| 9 | L | October 31, 1984 | 6–7 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) | 3–6–0 |
| 10 | T | November 2, 1984 | 2–2 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1984–85) | 3–6–1 |
| 11 | L | November 3, 1984 | 4–6 | @ Washington Capitals (1984–85) | 3–7–1 |
| 12 | L | November 8, 1984 | 2–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) | 3–8–1 |
| 13 | T | November 10, 1984 | 2–2 OT | Washington Capitals (1984–85) | 3–8–2 |
| 14 | L | November 15, 1984 | 3–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1984–85) | 3–9–2 |
| 15 | L | November 17, 1984 | 0–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1984–85) | 3–10–2 |
| 16 | W | November 18, 1984 | 6–0 | @ New York Rangers (1984–85) | 4–10–2 |
| 17 | L | November 21, 1984 | 1–8 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) | 4–11–2 |
| 18 | L | November 23, 1984 | 4–5 OT | @ Minnesota North Stars (1984–85) | 4–12–2 |
| 19 | W | November 24, 1984 | 5–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) | 5–12–2 |
| 20 | W | November 27, 1984 | 3–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1984–85) | 6–12–2 |
| 21 | W | November 29, 1984 | 2–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) | 7–12–2 |
| 22 | L | December 1, 1984 | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1984–85) | 7–13–2 |
| 23 | L | December 4, 1984 | 1–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1984–85) | 7–14–2 |
| 24 | T | December 7, 1984 | 3–3 OT | Calgary Flames (1984–85) | 7–14–3 |
| 25 | L | December 8, 1984 | 3–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1984–85) | 7–15–3 |
| 26 | W | December 11, 1984 | 7–5 | @ New York Islanders (1984–85) | 8–15–3 |
| 27 | T | December 13, 1984 | 4–4 OT | St. Louis Blues (1984–85) | 8–15–4 |
| 28 | W | December 15, 1984 | 8–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1984–85) | 9–15–4 |
| 29 | W | December 17, 1984 | 5–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) | 10–15–4 |
| 30 | W | December 19, 1984 | 3–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) | 11–15–4 |
| 31 | L | December 20, 1984 | 4–8 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) | 11–16–4 |
| 32 | L | December 22, 1984 | 3–5 | New York Rangers (1984–85) | 11–17–4 |
| 33 | L | December 26, 1984 | 3–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1984–85) | 11–18–4 |
| 34 | W | December 27, 1984 | 4–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1984–85) | 12–18–4 |
| 35 | L | December 29, 1984 | 1–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1984–85) | 12–19–4 |
| 36 | L | December 31, 1984 | 4–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1984–85) | 12–20–4 |
| 37 | L | January 3, 1985 | 4–6 | Vancouver Canucks (1984–85) | 12–21–4 |
| 38 | W | January 5, 1985 | 5–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1984–85) | 13–21–4 |
| 39 | L | January 6, 1985 | 4–5 OT | @ New York Rangers (1984–85) | 13–22–4 |
| 40 | L | January 10, 1985 | 2–3 | New York Islanders (1984–85) | 13–23–4 |
| 41 | W | January 12, 1985 | 5–3 | Washington Capitals (1984–85) | 14–23–4 |
| 42 | W | January 14, 1985 | 2–1 | @ New York Rangers (1984–85) | 15–23–4 |
| 43 | L | January 15, 1985 | 2–3 | Boston Bruins (1984–85) | 15–24–4 |
| 44 | L | January 18, 1985 | 6–9 | New York Rangers (1984–85) | 15–25–4 |
| 45 | T | January 19, 1985 | 4–4 OT | @ Montreal Canadiens (1984–85) | 15–25–5 |
| 46 | L | January 23, 1985 | 3–6 | @ Calgary Flames (1984–85) | 15–26–5 |
| 47 | L | January 25, 1985 | 2–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) | 15–27–5 |
| 48 | L | January 29, 1985 | 3–6 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) | 15–28–5 |
| 49 | L | January 31, 1985 | 1–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) | 15–29–5 |
| 50 | W | February 1, 1985 | 3–2 | New York Islanders (1984–85) | 16–29–5 |
| 51 | T | February 3, 1985 | 5–5 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1984–85) | 16–29–6 |
| 52 | W | February 7, 1985 | 6–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) | 17–29–6 |
| 53 | T | February 9, 1985 | 2–2 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1984–85) | 17–29–7 |
| 54 | L | February 14, 1985 | 0–4 | Hartford Whalers (1984–85) | 17–30–7 |
| 55 | W | February 16, 1985 | 6–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1984–85) | 18–30–7 |
| 56 | T | February 17, 1985 | 2–2 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) | 18–30–8 |
| 57 | L | February 19, 1985 | 5–7 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1984–85) | 18–31–8 |
| 58 | L | February 21, 1985 | 3–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) | 18–32–8 |
| 59 | L | February 23, 1985 | 1–5 | Calgary Flames (1984–85) | 18–33–8 |
| 60 | L | February 26, 1985 | 3–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1984–85) | 18–34–8 |
| 61 | L | February 27, 1985 | 3–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1984–85) | 18–35–8 |
| 62 | L | March 1, 1985 | 1–4 | Hartford Whalers (1984–85) | 18–36–8 |
| 63 | W | March 3, 1985 | 5–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) | 19–36–8 |
| 64 | L | March 5, 1985 | 1–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1984–85) | 19–37–8 |
| 65 | T | March 7, 1985 | 4–4 OT | New York Islanders (1984–85) | 19–37–9 |
| 66 | W | March 9, 1985 | 8–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1984–85) | 20–37–9 |
| 67 | L | March 10, 1985 | 1–7 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) | 20–38–9 |
| 68 | L | March 12, 1985 | 3–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) | 20–39–9 |
| 69 | L | March 14, 1985 | 4–7 | Boston Bruins (1984–85) | 20–40–9 |
| 70 | L | March 17, 1985 | 3–7 | @ New York Rangers (1984–85) | 20–41–9 |
| 71 | L | March 19, 1985 | 1–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1984–85) | 20–42–9 |
| 72 | L | March 21, 1985 | 2–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1984–85) | 20–43–9 |
| 73 | L | March 23, 1985 | 3–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) | 20–44–9 |
| 74 | L | March 27, 1985 | 3–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) | 20–45–9 |
| 75 | W | March 28, 1985 | 3–2 | Washington Capitals (1984–85) | 21–45–9 |
| 76 | W | March 30, 1985 | 6–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) | 22–45–9 |
| 77 | L | April 2, 1985 | 4–8 | @ St. Louis Blues (1984–85) | 22–46–9 |
| 78 | L | April 3, 1985 | 0–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1984–85) | 22–47–9 |
| 79 | T | April 6, 1985 | 5–5 OT | @ New York Islanders (1984–85) | 22–47–10 |
| 80 | L | April 7, 1985 | 1–6 | Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) | 22–48–10 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mel Bridgman | C | 80 | 22 | 39 | 61 | 105 | -16 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Aaron Broten | LW/C | 80 | 22 | 35 | 57 | 38 | -18 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| Dave Pichette | D | 71 | 17 | 40 | 57 | 41 | -20 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| Kirk Muller | LW | 80 | 17 | 37 | 54 | 69 | -31 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Tim Higgins | RW | 71 | 19 | 29 | 48 | 30 | -10 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Paul Gagne | LW | 79 | 24 | 19 | 43 | 28 | -11 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Doug Sulliman | RW | 57 | 22 | 16 | 38 | 4 | -11 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Pat Verbeek | RW | 78 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 162 | -24 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| John MacLean | RW | 61 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 44 | -11 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Bruce Driver | D | 67 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 36 | -22 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Jan Ludvig | RW | 74 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 53 | -19 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Rick Meagher | C | 71 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 22 | -13 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Uli Hiemer | D | 53 | 5 | 24 | 29 | 70 | -14 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Preston | RW | 75 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 26 | -24 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Joe Cirella | D | 66 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 141 | -45 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Adams | LW | 36 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 14 | -14 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Russell | D | 66 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 110 | -14 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Don Lever | LW | 67 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 31 | -29 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Dave Lewis | D | 74 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 78 | -29 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rocky Trottier | RW | 33 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Lorimer | D | 46 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Hoffmeyer | D | 37 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 65 | -15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary McAdam | LW | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Chernomaz | RW | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitch Wilson | C | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hannu Kamppuri | G | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Daneyko | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alan Hepple | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Low | G | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glenn Resch | G | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Glenn Resch | 2884 | 51 | 15 | 27 | 5 | 200 | 4.16 | 0 |
| Ron Low | 1326 | 26 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 85 | 3.85 | 1 |
| Hannu Kamppuri | 645 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 54 | 5.02 | 0 |
| Team: | 4855 | 80 | 22 | 48 | 10 | 339 | 4.19 | 1 |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals  MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts;

## Draft picks

New Jersey's draft picks at the 1984 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 2 | Kirk Muller | Canada | Laval Voisins (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 23 | Craig Billington | Canada | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 3 | 44 | Neil Davey | Canada | Michigan State (CCHA) |
| 4 | 74 | Paul Ysebaert | Canada | Petrolia Jets (WOJBHL) |
| 5 | 86 | Jon Morris | United States | Chelmsford High School (USHS-MA) |
| 6 | 107 | Kirk McLean | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 7 | 128 | Ian Ferguson | United States | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 8 | 149 | Vladimir Kames | Czechoslovakia | HC Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia) |
| 9 | 170 | Mike Roth | United States | Hill-Murray High School (USHS-MN) |
| 10 | 190 | Mike Peluso | United States | Greenway High School (USHS-MN) |
| 11 | 211 | Jarkko Piiparinen | Finland | Kiekko-Reipas (Finland) |
| 12 | 231 | Chris Kiene | United States | Springfield Olympics (NEJHL) |