New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Devils have won the Stanley Cup three times, in 1995, 2000, and 2003. The club was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1974, moved to Denver, Colorado after only two seasons, and then settled in New Jersey in 1982. Under current general manager Lou Lamoriello, the Devils have made the playoffs in 17 out of the last 19 seasons, including each of the last 10.
Since their move to New Jersey, the Devils have played their home games at the Continental Airlines Arena. Before the 2007-08 season started, the team switched arenas to the Prudential Center, which finished construction in the city of Newark. The first game at the new arena took place on October 27, 2007 against the Ottawa Senators, whom the Devils played against in the last home game at Continental Airlines Arena. 
They have rivalries with their trans-Hudson neighbor, the New York Rangers, and with the Philadelphia Flyers, as either the Devils or Flyers have won the Atlantic Division title every season since 1995.
==Franchise history==
===Kansas City and Colorado===
In 1974, the NHL ended its first expansion period by adding teams in Kansas City, Missouri and Washington, D.C. The Kansas City franchise was to be called the Mohawks, since the Kansas City metropolitan area includes portions of Missouri and Kansas. However, the Chicago Black Hawks objected to the similarity. The team was renamed the Scouts after a statue in the city.
 On October 9, 1974, the Scouts took the ice for the first time in Toronto and lost 6-2 to the Maple Leafs. Due to a rodeo being held in Kansas City's brand-new Kemper Arena, the Scouts were forced to wait nine games before making their home debut. Although they lost that game to (ironically) the Black Hawks 4-3, the next night they beat their expansion brethren, the Washington Capitals, 5-4. Like most expansion teams, the Scouts were terrible, garnering only 41 points in their inaugural season. The next season, they won only 12 games—still the worst in franchise history. The Scouts failed to make the playoffs in either season in Kansas City and won only 27 of 160 games.
Although they were better than the Capitals (who won only eight games in their inaugural season), the Scouts began to suffer from an economic downturn in the Midwest. For their second season, the Scouts sold just 2,000 of 8,000 season tickets and was almost $1 million in debt. They finished with only 41 points. Due to these on-and off-ice disappointments, the franchise moved to Denver and was renamed the Colorado Rockies.
The team made a fresh start in Colorado, winning its first game 4-2 over Toronto. They picked up momentum and looked like a possible playoff contender, but things collapsed in February, and the Rockies finished the 1976–77 season with a record of 20-46-14. The next season, despite finishing with fewer wins (they finished 21 games under .500), they managed to edge the Vancouver Canucks out of the last playoff spot by two points, but were quickly eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round.
A lack of stability continually dogged the team; in their first eight years, the Scouts/Rockies went through ten coaches, including eight in their first seven years and none lasting more than one full season. While in Denver, the team changed owners twice.
Prior to the 1978–79 season, owner Jack Vickers sold the team to Arthur Imperatore, who announced that he wished to move the team to the New Jersey Meadowlands. The NHL vetoed the move since the Brendan Byrne Arena was still being built, and there was no suitable temporary facility in the area. In 1979, the team hired Don Cherry as head coach and traded for Maple Leafs star Lanny McDonald, but despite these moves, the Rockies posted the worst record in the league. They played the next two seasons with the possibility of moving until May 27, 1982, when New Jersey shipping tycoon John McMullen purchased the team and announced that the long-expected move to New Jersey would finally come to pass.
The team would now be playing right in the middle of the New York–New Jersey–Connecticut tri-state area, home to the three-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders, as well as the New York Rangers. The Devils had to compensate the Islanders, Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers for "invading" New Jersey.
===New Jersey===
====1982-1993====
The team was renamed the New Jersey Devils on June 30, 1982. Over 10,000 people voted in a contest held by local newspapers to select the name, which is influenced by the legend of the Jersey Devil, an ominous cryptozoological creature supposed to inhabit the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. The Devils' first game ended in a 3-3 tie to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their first win, a 3-2 victory, came in New Jersey at the expense of their new trans-Hudson rivals, the New York Rangers. The team finished with a 17-49-14 record, putting them three points above last place in the Patrick Division.
In the following season, 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:
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.
In the 1983–84 season, the Devils hosted the annual NHL All-Star Game at the Brendan Byrne Arena. Glenn "Chico" Resch was the winning goaltender, and Devils defenseman Joe Cirella tallied a goal as the Wales Conference beat the Campbell Conference 7-6. However, the team did not achieve much success. Head coach Bill MacMillan was fired midway through the season and replaced with Tom McVie, and the Devils won only 17 games. After the season, McVie was replaced by Doug Carpenter.
Meanwhile, the Devils had begun building a nucleus of young players. John MacLean, Kirk Muller, and Pat Verbeek all complemented the veteran leadership of Resch. The team's record improved each season between 1984 and 1987. However, the presence of the powerful Islanders, Flyers and Capitals in the Patrick Division meant that the Devils found themselves in a losing battle with the Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins for the division's last playoff spot. The Devils actually finished last in the Patrick in 1986 and 1987 despite improving their record.
Hoping to light a spark under the team, McMullen hired Providence College coach and athletic director Lou Lamoriello as team president in April 1987. Lamoriello appointed himself general manager shortly before the 1987–88 season. This move came as a considerable surprise to NHL circles. Although Lamoriello had been a college coach for 19 years, he had never played, coached, or managed in the NHL and was almost unknown outside the American college hockey community.
The 1987–88 Devils garnered the first winning record in the franchise's 13-year history. On the final day of the regular season, they were tied with their nemesis, the Rangers, for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. After New York defeated the Quebec Nordiques 3-0, all eyes were on the Devils, who were playing the Blackhawks in Chicago. The Devils were trailing 3-2 midway through the third period when John MacLean tied the game, and with two minutes left in overtime, he added the winning goal. Although the Rangers and Devils both finished with 82 points, the Devils had one more win, sending them to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history.http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/nj/njdevils.html New Jersey Devils on SportsEcyclopedia
The team made it all the way to the conference finals, but lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. In that series, head coach Jim Schoenfeld verbally abused referee Don Koharski, screaming obscenties and screaming, "Have another doughnut, you fat pig!" The incident resulted in a suspension for Schoenfeld, which the franchise appealed to the New Jersey Superior Court. This unprecedented appeal to authority outside the NHL gave the Devils a preliminary stay of the coach's suspension. In protest, referee Dave Newell and the assigned linesmen boycotted the next game. After more than an hour's delay, amateur officials were tracked down in the stands and worked the game wearing yellow practice sweaters. To resolve the incident, the NHL suspended Schoenfeld for the next game. Schoenfeld later admitted he regretted his comments.
The following season, the Devils once again slipped below .500 and missed the playoffs. Lamoriello made several postseason player changes, notably signing of the first two Soviet stars to play in the NHL: Viacheslav Fetisov and Sergei Starikov. The Devils drafted Fetisov years earlier in the 1983 entry draft, but the Soviet government would not allow Fetisov, who was an army officer as well as a member of the Soviet National Team, to leave the country.http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononep200101.htm One On One with Viacheslav Fetisov Shortly after, the Devils signed Fetisov's defense partner, Alexei Kasatonov.
The team changed coaches midway through each of the next two seasons. Schoenfeld was replaced with John Cunniff in 1989–90, and Tom McVie was re-hired midway through the 1990–91 season and helmed the team through its third-straight first-round elimination in 1991–92. Herb Brooks, who coached the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team, was brought in for the 1992–93 season, but when the team yet again was eliminated in the first round, he was fired and replaced with former Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Lemaire.
====1993-2000====
Under Lemaire, the team roared through the 1993–94 regular season with a lineup including defensemen Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, and Ken Daneyko, forwards Stéphane Richer, John MacLean, Bobby Holik, and Claude Lemieux, and goaltenders Chris Terreri and Martin Brodeur, who was honored as the league's top rookie with the Calder Memorial Trophy. The Devils' first 100-point season earned them the NHL's second-best record behind the New York Rangers. However, due to the NHL's new playoff format, the Devils were seeded third in the East, behind the Rangers and Penguins. The Devils and Rangers met in a memorable Eastern Conference Finals match up, which went seven games. The Devils had lost all six regular season meetings to the Blueshirts, but let the world know they were up for the challenge, after the Devils' Stephane Richer scored the game winning goal in the second overtime. Going into Game 6, the Devils led the series 3-2. Before the game Rangers captain Mark Messier made his famous guarantee that the Rangers would win Game 6. Keeping true to his word, Messier led his team back, netting a natural hat trick, and leading the Rangers to a 4-2 victory (after the Devils were up 2-0). In game seven, the Devils' Valeri Zelepukin tied the deciding game with 7.7 seconds remaining, but the Devils were defeated in double overtime, on a goal by Stéphane Matteau. The series is viewed by many hockey fans as one of the greatest playoff series in NHL history.
Despite the setback, the team returned to the Eastern Conference Finals during the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season and defeated the Philadelphia Flyers four games to two. They swept the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings to win New Jersey's first-ever Stanley Cup, and the first major professional sports championship in the state's history. Claude Lemieux was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP. The Devils established an NHL record by posting 11 road victories in one playoff season. The success came amid constant rumors that the team would move for the third time in its history to Nashville, but the club remained in New Jersey.
The Devils missed the playoffs by 2 points the following season, with a 37-33-12 record. They were beaten by the Tampa Bay Lightning for the last playoff spot in the East on the last day of the season. It marked the first time in 26 years that a defending Cup champion failed to reach the playoffs. Throughout the remainder of the decade, the Devils failed to live up to expectations. They were ousted by the New York Rangers in the second round of the 1997 playoffs, and were eliminated in the first round by the Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins the next two seasons.
But in the 1999–00 season, however, they reached the top again, defeating the defending champion Dallas Stars in six games to win the Stanley Cup for the second time. Stevens, Holik, Lemieux, Niedermayer, and Brodeur, all integral parts of the 1995 team, were augmented with new players acquired in the intervening five years including Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora, Jason Arnott, Alexander Mogilny, and rookies Brian Rafalski, John Madden, and Calder Trophy recipient Scott Gomez. A highlight of the Devils' second championship run was their come-from-behind victory in the conference finals. They trailed the Philadelphia Flyers three games to one, but rebounded to win the series. This was both the first time in Devils playoff history and in NHL Conference Finals history that a 3-1 deficit was surmounted. Team captain Scott Stevens was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, and assisted on Jason Arnott's Stanley Cup clinching goal in double-overtime of Game 6 in Dallas.
Shortly before this victory, McMullen sold the team to Puck Holdings, an affiliate of YankeeNets, for $175 million. The owners wanted to use the Devils and the New Jersey Nets (also a tenant at CAA) for programming on the YES Network and move both teams to a new arena in Newark. (Neither of these proposals would become reality under Puck Holdings' ownership.) The new owners largely left the Devils' operations in Lamoriello's hands. For the start of the next season, Lamoriello was appointed CEO of both the Devils and Nets. He would remain at the helm of the basketball team until it was sold with the intention of moving it to Brooklyn.
====2001-2004====
Led by the Elias-Arnott-Sykora line and the stellar play of goaltender Martin Brodeur, the Devils reached the Finals for the second straight year in 2001. They lost the series to the Colorado Avalanche despite leading 3-2 and having game six on home ice. The team's strong regular season was recognized at the NHL's annual awards that year, with Madden becoming the first player in franchise history to win the Frank J. Selke Trophy (for top defensive forward), along with Brodeur and Stevens named as finalists for the Vezina Trophy (top goalie) and Norris Trophy (top defensemen) awards respectively.
In the 2001–02 season, they were expected to be contenders once again. The team finished the season as the 3rd best team in the Atlantic Division, with 95 points. The Devils entered the playoffs as a 6 seed, but lost in the first round to the number 3 seed Carolina Hurricanes.
 
In 2003, the Devils finished first in the Atlantic Division with 108 points, earning the number 2 seed in the East. Their playoff run included a seven game conference final series victory, decided in the final three minutes on a goal by newly accquired forward Jeff Friesen, over the Ottawa Senators, who won the President's Trophy that season. In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Devils and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim had a back and forth battle, with both teams winning only their home games. The Devils brought the Stanley Cup to New Jersey a third time, defeating the Ducks in the 7th game of the Finals in New Jersey. Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko, and Sergei Brylin each won their third Cup, and after the series, Daneyko, a long-time fan favorite, announced his retirement. Despite Anaheim's loss, the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP was awarded to their goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere who was the first player not on the championship team to be named playoff MVP since Ron Hextall in 1987. Some hockey writers speculated a New Jersey player did not win because there were multiple candidates, resulting in a split vote among the sportswriters who select the winner. However, Brodeur was awarded the Vezina Trophy as outstanding goaltender in the regular season for the first time in his career.
In the 2003–04 season, Martin Brodeur would take home the Vezina Trophy again. That season, the Devils finished 2nd in the Atlantic Division with 100 points, earning the 6th seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Like in 2002, the team bowed out in the first round, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers 4 games to 1. In March of 2004, near the end of the season, Lehman Brothers executive Jeffrey Vanderbeek purchased a controlling interest from Puck Holdings and resigned from Lehman Brothers to assume full-time ownership. He had been a minority owner since the 2000 sale.
Vanderbeek was a strong proponent of the proposed arena in Newark, which first received funding from the city council during Puck Holdings' ownership in 2002. After legal battles over both eminent domain and the city's financial participation in the arena project, the final deal was approved by council in October 2004, and the groundbreaking occurred almost exactly a year later. Nonetheless, in January 2006 financial issues threatened to halt the deal, as the Devils did not provide the city with a required letter of credit until the last possible day. 
Though construction was well underway, in late summer 2006, Cory Booker, who had recently taken office as Mayor of Newark, promised to reevaluate the deal and considered backing out. In October Booker conceded there would be "a first-class arena built in the city of Newark, whether we like it or not", and soon after the Devils struck a deal including both property and monetary givebacks that appeased city officials. The arena, which was named the Prudential Center when Newark-based Prudential Financial purchased naming rights in early 2007, is scheduled to open for the start of the 2007–08 season, with the first game scheduled for October 27th.
====2004-present====
During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, many Devils players played in European leagues and in the hockey world championships. Patrik Elias, who was playing in the Russian Superleague, contracted hepatitis A by eating poorly cooked fish. Faced with Elias' indefinite recovery timetable, plus the loss of defensive stalwarts Scott Niedermayer to free agency and Scott Stevens to retirement, Lamoriello signed veteran defenseman Dan McGillis and two former Devils — winger Alexander Mogilny and defenseman Vladimir Malakhov, none of whom would finish the season on the ice. In July 2005, the team announced that head coach Pat Burns would not return for the 2005-2006 season after being diagnosed with cancer for the second time in little more than a year. Assistant coach Larry Robinson, the team's head coach from 2000 to 2002, was promoted to start the season.
The Devils struggled early in the 2005–06 season, ending the 2005 calendar year with a 16-18-5 record. Robinson resigned as head coach on December 19, and Lamoriello moved down to the bench. Once Elias returned from his bout with hepatitis, the team quickly turned around, finishing 46-27-9 after a season-ending eleven-game winning streak capped with a dramatic 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. During that final victory, which clinched the Devils' sixth division title, Brian Gionta set a new team record for goals in a season with 48, topping Pat Verbeek's 46. The win streak to close the year was also an NHL record.
On April 29, 2006, the Devils won their first round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Rangers four games to none, extending their winning streak to fifteen games and marking the first time the Devils defeated their cross-river rival in a playoff series. The team's season ended in the next round with an 4-1 Game 5 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, who would go on to win the Stanley Cup.
In the offseason, the Devils hired former Montreal Canadiens coach Claude Julien to replace Lamoriello behind the bench. However, in the last week of the 2006–2007 Devils season, with just three games left, Julien was fired, and Lamoriello once again reprised his coaching role. The move is reminiscent of Robbie Ftorek's firing with eight games left in the 1999–00 season, after which the Devils won the Stanley Cup. Lamoriello defended the move saying, "I don't think we're at a point of being ready both mentally and [physically] to play the way that is necessary going into the playoffs." The Devils went on to win their seventh Atlantic Division title and earn the second seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins by two points. They defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the first round, but struggled against the fourth seeded Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals and lost to them in five games. Their final loss of the series on May 5, 2007 marked the final game of the Devils' 25-year history at Continental Airlines Arena.
The early playoff exit led to some speculation that this was the "end of an era" for the Devils. This proved to be correct, as on July 1, 2007, long-time Devils Scott Gomez and Brian Rafalski left the team as unrestricted free agents; Gomez to the rival New York Rangers and Rafalski to his hometown Detroit Red Wings. Back-up goalie Scott Clemmensen went to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and local favorite forward Jim Dowd went to the other rival Philadelphia Flyers. However, the Devils signed Sabre forward Dainius Zubrus and Ranger defenseman Karel Rachunek shortly after. On July 5, the Devils signed Rangers goalie Kevin Weekes as a backup to Brodeur, as well as Predators defenseman Vitali Vishnevski on July 10. Devils' Zach Parise, Patrik Elias, and Paul Martin all signed six year deals each, later that month also. On July 13, 2007, Brent Sutter was named the 14th head coach of the team, along with previous coach Larry Robinson, to aide John Maclean as the second assistant coach. On August 7, 2007, the Devils signed former Islander Arron Asham. After the Devils preseason came to an end, Devils prospects Nicklas Bergfors and David Clarkson made the final roster. The Devils opened their new arena, the Prudential Center, on October 27, 2007 against the Ottawa Senators after opening the season with a nine game road trip. The game ended with a 4-1 win for Ottawa. On October 31, 2007, the New Jersey Devils won their first home game at the Prudential Center by beating the Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-1. Jay Pandolfo was the first Devils player to score a hat trick at the Prudential Center. The Devils advanced to the playoffs once more, playing in the first round against their cross-river rivals, New York Rangers. They lost the series 4-1.
In the 2008-09 season, Bobby Holik and Brian Rolston returned to the team for their second stint. However, New Jersey was forced to play without Martin Brodeur for over three months since he sustained a torn biceps injury. But thanks to the strong play of backup goaltender, Scott Clemmensen, the Devils stayed atop of the Atlantic Division. Following his return, on March 17, Brodeur broke Patrick Roy's record of being the winningest goaltender of all time. On that same night, Patrik Elias became the franchise's all-time leading scorer with his 702nd point. While the Devils won the division, they were eliminated in the first round once again, but this time, by the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. 
The following season, the team signed Ilya Kovalchuk. But Brent Sutter stepped down from the coaching position and Jacques Lemaire was rehired for his second coaching stint with the team. The Devils won their second consecutive division championship with another playoff birth, but fell again in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1.
The 2010-11 season saw former Devil John MacLean become the head coach, replacing Lemaire. In addition, Kovalchuk was signed to a 15-year contract extension. However, the Devils had an appalling 9–22–2 start. As a result, MacLean was fired and Lemaire was re-hired. Under Lemaire's tenure, the Devils improved to 29-17-3. However, on April 2, 2011, the Devils were eliminated from the playoffs following a 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, ending a thirteen season playoff streak. This marked the first time since the 1995-96 season that New Jersey missed the playoffs.
Thanks to the leadership of Kovalchuk, Elias, Clarkson, and Parise, along with strong goaltending from Martin Brodeur, the Devils reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012. They lost in the Finals to the Los Angeles Kings in six games. 
Between the 2012-13 and the 2016-17 seasons, the Devils missed the playoffs, which was an exact pattern of the way they missed the playoffs in their first five years as a franchise. It wasn't until the 2017-18 season when the Devils returned to the playoffs. However, they lost the opening round in five games to the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Devils failed to return to the playoffs the next season in 2018-19, which was primarily caused by injuries, including reigning MVP Taylor Hall being sidelined with a knee injury for nearly 50 games. 
In the 2019 offseason, the Devils acquired PK Subban and Wayne Simmonds. The Devils began the 2019-20 season with a six game losing streak going 0–4–2. Then, after the team had a 9–13–4 record in December, head coach John Hynes was fired and replaced by interim head coach Alain Nasreddine. However, the Devils did not improve and kept struggling as Taylor Hall was traded to the Arizona Coyotes, longtime captain Andy Greene being traded to the New York Islanders, and Wayne Simmonds being traded to the Buffalo Sabres. Ray Shero was then fired on January 12, 2020, and replaced by interim GM Tom Fitzgerald. On March 12, 2020, the regular season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Then, on May 26, the regular season was declared finished and the Devils missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. 
In the 2020-21 season, Lindy Ruff was named head coach of the New Jersey Devils. However, with Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri being traded to the New York Islanders, the Devils kept struggling and failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive year. 
The 2021-22 season saw the Devils still struggling as assistant coaches Alain Nasreddine and Mark Recchi were fired once the season ended. 
In the 2022-23 season, the Devils significantly improved and made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. They also won a playoff series for the first time since 2012 by defeating the New York Rangers in seven games. However, they lost in the second round to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games. 
While the Devils played in the Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium against the Flyers in the 2023-24 season, they unfortunately missed the playoffs that year. 
==Style of play==
The Devils have been known as a defense-first team since Jacques Lemaire's tenure, when he implemented a system commonly called the neutral zone trap. This system is designed to force teams to turn over the puck in the neutral zone leading to a counterattack. This style of play, coupled with poor attendance and television ratings, led the team to be chastised by the media and hockey fans for "making the NHL boring". Nevertheless, the Devils were successful using this style of play, and Devils coach Larry Robinson asserted that the Montreal Canadiens (who also won the Cup many times) he played on in the 1970s used a form of the trap, though it did not have a name.
Under Jacques Lemaire, the team adopted less of a trap and more of a transitional, "run and gun" style of play. Players such as John Madden, who excels at shorthanded goals, have led the team in placing a greater emphasis on speed and forechecking for the puck. Likewise Brian Gionta and Patrik Elias are known as strong playmakers on the offensive side of the ice. Newcomers Zach Parise and Travis Zajac emphasize speed and solid puck handling.
==Team colors and mascot==
 
The Devils' logo is a monogram of the letters "N" and "J", rendered with two devil horns at the top of the "J" and a pointed tail at the bottom. The monogram is red with a black outline, and sits inside an open black circle. The logo lays on a field of white in the middle of the chest on both uniforms. Prior to the 1992 season, the black circle and outline were green.
The current team colors are red, black and white, and they can be seen on both the home and road jerseys. The New Jersey Devils home jersey is red shirts, black shorts, and red sockst, The road jersey is white shirts, black shorts, and white socks.
The current mascot is "NJ Devil", a 7-foot tall devil who plays into the myth of the Jersey Devil. NJ Devil keeps the crowd excited, signs autographs, participates in entertainment during the intermissions, skates across the ice, and runs throughout the aisles of the arena to high five fans.
Prior to 1993, the mascot was "Slapshot", a large Devils hockey puck that would also interact with the fans. However, the man inside the costume resigned after he was accused of improperly touching three women while in costume. The lawsuit and all charges were dropped as nothing could be proven. However, To remove the stigma of the lawsuit, Slapshot was retired and has not returned since
==Year by year==
Stanley Cup champions	Conference champions *	Division champions ^	Led league in points #
NHL season 	Devils season 	Conference 	Division 	Regular season 	Regular season 	Regular season 	Regular season 	Regular season 	Regular season 	Regular season 	Regular season 	Regular season 	Postseason 	Postseason 	Postseason 	Postseason 	Postseason 	Postseason 	Postseason 	Postseason	Postseason
NHL season 	Devils season 	Conference 	Division 	Finish 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OT 	Pts 	GF 	GA 	GP 	W 	L 	GF 	GA 	Result 	 	 	
Relocated from Colorado	Relocated from Colorado	Relocated from Colorado	Relocated from Colorado	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	Relocated from Colorado 	 	 	
1982–83 	1982–83 	Wales 	Patrick 	5th 	80 	17 	49 	14 	— 	48 	230 	338 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
1983–84 	1983–84 	Wales 	Patrick 	5th 	80 	17 	56 	7 	— 	41 	231 	350 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
1984–85 	1984–85 	Wales 	Patrick 	5th 	80 	22 	48 	10 	— 	54 	264 	346 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
1985–86 	1985–86 	Wales 	Patrick 	6th 	80 	28 	49 	3 	— 	59 	300 	374 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
1986–87 	1986–87 	Wales 	Patrick 	6th 	80 	29 	45 	6 	— 	64 	293 	368 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
1987–88 	1987–88 	Wales 	Patrick 	4th 	80 	38 	36 	6 	— 	82 	295 	296 	20 	11 	9 	67 	71 	Won in Division Semifinals vs. New York Islanders, 4–2 Won in Division Finals vs. Washington Capitals, 4–3Lost in Conference Finals vs. Boston Bruins, 3–4 	 	 	
1988–89 	1988–89 	Wales 	Patrick 	5th 	80 	27 	41 	12 	— 	66 	281 	325 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
1989–90 	1989–90 	Wales 	Patrick 	2nd 	80 	37 	34 	9 	— 	83 	295 	288 	6 	2 	4 	18 	21 	Lost in Division Semifinals vs. Washington Capitals, 2–4 	 	 	
1990–91 	1990–91 	Wales 	Patrick 	4th 	80 	32 	33 	15 	— 	79 	272 	264 	7 	3 	4 	21 	21 	Lost in Division Semifinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 	 	 	
1991–92 	1991–92 	Wales 	Patrick 	4th 	80 	38 	31 	11 	— 	87 	289 	259 	7 	3 	4 	25 	28 	Lost in Division Semifinals vs. New York Rangers, 3–4 	 	 	
1992–93 	1992–93 	Wales 	Patrick 	4th 	84 	40 	37 	7 	— 	87 	308 	299 	5 	1 	4 	13 	23 	Lost in Division Semifinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 1–4 	 	 	
1993–94 	1993–94 	Eastern 	Atlantic 	2nd 	84 	47 	25 	12 	— 	106 	306 	220 	20 	11 	9 	52 	49 	Won in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Buffalo Sabres, 4–3 Won in Conference Semifinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–2Lost in Conference Finals vs. New York Rangers, 3–4 	 	 	
1994–95 	1994–95 	Eastern * 	Atlantic 	2nd 	48 	22 	18 	8 	— 	52 	136 	121 	20 	16 	4 	67 	34 	Won in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–1 Won in Conference Semifinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 4–1 Won in Conference Finals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–2 Won in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Detroit Red Wings, 4–0 	 	 	
1995–96 	1995–96 	Eastern 	Atlantic 	6th 	82 	37 	33 	12 	— 	86 	215 	202 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
1996–97 	1996–97 	Eastern 	Atlantic ^ 	1st 	82 	45 	23 	14 	— 	104 	231 	182 	10 	5 	5 	27 	21 	Won in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Montreal Canadiens, 4–1Lost in Conference Semifinals vs. New York Rangers, 1–4 	 	 	
1997–98 	1997–98 	Eastern 	Atlantic ^ 	1st 	82 	48 	23 	11 	— 	107 	225 	166 	6 	2 	4 	12 	13 	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Ottawa Senators, 2–4 	 	 	
1998–99 	1998–99 	Eastern 	Atlantic ^ 	1st 	82 	47 	24 	11 	— 	105 	248 	196 	7 	3 	4 	18 	21 	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 	 	 	
1999–2000 	1999–2000 	Eastern * 	Atlantic 	2nd 	82 	45 	24 	8 	5 	103 	251 	203 	23 	16 	7 	61 	37 	Won in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Florida Panthers, 4–0 Won in Conference Semifinals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 4–2 Won in Conference Finals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–3 Won in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Dallas Stars, 4–2 	 	 	
2000–01 	2000–01 	Eastern * 	Atlantic ^ 	1st 	82 	48 	19 	12 	3 	111 	295 	195 	25 	15 	10 	69 	52 	Won in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 4–2 Won in Conference Semifinals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 4–3 Won in Conference Finals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 4–1 Lost in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Colorado Avalanche, 3–4	 	 	
2001–02 	2001–02 	Eastern 	Atlantic 	3rd 	82 	41 	28 	9 	4 	95 	205 	187 	6 	2 	4 	11 	9 	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 2–4 	 	 	
2002–03 	2002–03 	Eastern * 	Atlantic ^ 	1st 	82 	46 	20 	10 	6 	108 	216 	166 	24 	16 	8 	63 	38 	Won in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–1 Won in Conference Semifinals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–1Won in Conference Finals vs. Ottawa Senators, 4–3 Won in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 4–3 	 	 	
2003–04 	2003–04 	Eastern 	Atlantic 	2nd 	82 	43 	25 	12 	2 	100 	213 	164 	5 	1 	4 	9 	14 	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 1–4 	 	 	
2004–05 	2004–05 	Eastern 	Atlantic 	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout	Season not played due to lockout 	Season not played due to lockout	 	
2005–06 	2005–06 	Eastern 	Atlantic ^ 	1st 	82 	46 	27 	— 	9 	101 	242 	229 	9 	5 	4 	27 	21 	Won in Conference Quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers, 4–0Lost in Conference Semifinals vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 1–4 	 	 	
2006–07 	2006–07 	Eastern 	Atlantic ^ 	1st 	82 	49 	24 	— 	9 	107 	216 	201 	11 	5 	6 	30 	29 	Won in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–2Lost in Conference Semifinals vs. Ottawa Senators, 1–4 	 	 	
2007–08 	2007–08 	Eastern 	Atlantic 	2nd 	82 	46 	29 	— 	7 	99 	206 	197 	5 	1 	4 	12 	19 	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers, 1–4 	 	 	
2008–09 	2008–09 	Eastern 	Atlantic ^ 	1st 	82 	51 	27 	— 	4 	106 	244 	209 	7 	3 	4 	15 	17 	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 3–4 	 	 	
2009–10 	2009–10 	Eastern 	Atlantic ^ 	1st 	82 	48 	27 	— 	7 	103 	216 	186 	5 	1 	4 	9 	15 	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 1–4 	 	 	
2010–11 	2010–11 	Eastern 	Atlantic 	4th 	82 	38 	39 	— 	5 	81 	174 	209 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
2011–12 	2011–12 	Eastern * 	Atlantic 	4th 	82 	48 	28 	— 	6 	102 	228 	202 	24 	14 	10 	51 	42 	Won in Conference Quarterfinals vs. Florida Panthers, 4–3Won in Conference Semifinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–1Won in Conference Finals vs. New York Rangers, 4–2Lost in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Los Angeles Kings, 2–4 	 	 	
2012–13 	2012–13 	Eastern 	Atlantic 	5th 	48 	19 	19 	— 	10 	48 	112 	129 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
2013–14 	2013–14 	Eastern 	Metropolitan 	6th 	82 	35 	29 	— 	18 	88 	197 	208 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
2014–15 	2014–15 	Eastern 	Metropolitan 	7th 	82 	32 	36 	— 	14 	78 	181 	216 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
2015–16 	2015–16 	Eastern 	Metropolitan 	7th 	82 	38 	36 	— 	8 	84 	184 	208 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
2016–17 	2016–17 	Eastern 	Metropolitan 	8th 	82 	28 	40 	— 	14 	70 	183 	244 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
2017–18 	2017–18 	Eastern 	Metropolitan 	5th 	82 	44 	29 	— 	9 	97 	248 	244 	5 	1 	4 	12 	18 	Lost in First Round vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 1–4 	 	 	
2018-19 	2018-19 	Eastern 	Metropolitan 	8th 	82 	31 	41 	— 	10 	72 	222 	275 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Did not qualify 	 	 	
Totals 	Totals 	Totals 	Totals 	Totals 	2,868 	1,347 	1,152 	219 	150 	3,063 	8,452 	8,466 	257 	137 	120 	689 	613 	 	 	 	
==Franchise records==
===Scoring leaders===
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game * = still active with the team
Updated at completion of 2008–2009 season
Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders	Devils' all-time scoring leaders
Player 	Pos 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	P/G 	 	 	 	 	
Patrik Eliáš* 	LW 	822 	295 	411 	706 	.86 	 	 	 	 	
John MacLean 	RW 	934 	347 	354 	701 	.75 	 	 	 	 	
Kirk Muller 	LW 	556 	185 	335 	520 	.94 	 	 	 	 	
Scott Niedermayer 	D 	892 	112 	364 	476 	.53 	 	 	 	 	
Bobby Holík 	C 	760 	202 	268 	470 	.64 	 	 	 	 	
Aaron Broten 	C 	641 	162 	307 	469 	.73 	 	 	 	 	
Scott Gomez 	C 	548 	116 	334 	450 	.82 	 	 	 	 	
Scott Stevens 	D 	956 	93 	337 	430 	.44 	 	 	 	 	
Bruce Driver 	D 	702 	83 	316 	399 	.57 	 	 	 	 	
Petr Sýkora 	RW 	445 	145 	205 	350 	.79 	 	 	 	 	
===Franchise records===
*Most goals in a season: Brian Gionta, 48 (2005–06)
*Most assists in a season: Scott Stevens, 60 (1993–94)
*Most points in a season: Patrik Elias, 96 (40g,56a)(2000–01)
*Most penalty minutes in a season: Krzysztof Oliwa, 295 (1997–98)
*Most points in a season by a defenseman: Scott Stevens, 78 (1993–94)
*Most points in a season by a rookie: Scott Gomez, 70 (1999–00)
*Most wins in a season: Martin Brodeur, 48 (2006–07) (also the NHL record)
*Most shutouts in a season: Martin Brodeur, 12 (2006–07)
*Most power play goals in a season: Brian Gionta, 24 (2005–06)
*Most goals in a playoff season: Claude Lemieux, 13 (1994–95)
*Most goals by a defenseman in a playoff season: Brian Rafalski, 7 (2000–01)
*Most assists in a playoff season: Scott Niedermayer, 16 (2002–03)
*Most points in a playoff season: Patrik Elias, 23 (9g,14a) (2000–01)
*Most points by a defenseman in a playoff season: Brian Rafalski and Scott Niedermayer, 18 (2000–01, 2002–03)
*Most penalty minutes in a playoff season: Perry Anderson, 113 (1987–88)
*Most points in a season: 111 (2000–01)
*Most wins in a season: 49 (2006–07)
*Longest season-ending win streak: 11 (2005–06) (also the NHL record)
==Players==
===Current roster===
As of October 10, 2009.Devils roster
Goaltenders
# 		Player 	Catches	Acquired	Place of birth
1 		Johan Hedberg 	L 	2010 	Leksand, Sweden
30		Martin Brodeur C	L 	1990 	Montreal, Quebec
Defensemen
# 		Player 	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth
2 		Vitaly Vishnevski	L 	2007 	Kharkov, U.S.S.R.
5 		Colin White 	L 	1996 	New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
6 		Andy Greene 	L 	2006 	Trenton, Michigan
7 		Paul Martin 	L 	2000 	Minneapolis, Minnesota
8 		Sheldon Brookbank	R 	2007 	Lanigan, Saskatchewan
27		Bryce Salvador 	L 	2008 	Brandon,Manitoba
11		Stephen Gionta 	R 	2010 	Rochester, New York
29		Johnny Oduya 	L 	2006 	Stockholm, Sweden
Forwards
# 		Player 	Position	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth
17		Ilya Kovalchuk
A 	C 	L 	2010 	Kalinin Soviet Union
10		Rod Pelley 	C 	L 	2006 	Kitimat, British Columbia
11		John Madden 	C 	L 	1997 	Barrie, Ontario
15		Stefan Matteau 	LW/C 	R 	2012 	Chicago,Illinois
15		Jamie Langenbrunner 	RW 	R 	2002 	Cloquet, Minnesota
16		Dainius Zubrus – A (ir)	C/RW 	L 	2007 	Elektrėnai, U.S.S.R.
14		Adam Henrique 	RW 	L 	2008 	Brantford, Ontario
9 		Bobby Butler 	RW 	L 	2012 	Marlbrough,Massachusetts
19		Travis Zajac 	C 	R 	2004 	Winnipeg, Manitoba
20		Jay Pandolfo 	LW 	L 	1993 	Winchester, Massachusetts
22		Arron Asham 	RW/LW 	R 	2007 	Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
23		David Clarkson 	RW 	R 	2005 	Mimico, Ontario
25		Alexei Ponikarovsky 	RW 	R 	2013 	Kiev, Soviet Union
26		Patrik Elias – A 	LW 	L 	1994 	Třebíč, Czechoslovakia
===Honored members===
thumb|225px|Stevens' number is raised to the rafters.
Retired Numbers: The Devils have five retired numbers. In 2006, Scott Stevens and Ken Daneyko had their numbers retired. In 2011, Scott Neidermeyer's number was retired. In 2016, Martin Brodeur's number was retired. And in 2018, Patrik Elias' number was retired. On February 3, 2006, they retired the number 4 of longtime defenseman and captain Scott Stevens, who spent 13 seasons with the Devils. Career Devil Ken Daneyko's number 3 was retired on March 24, 2006. Daneyko, a defenseman, was drafted in 1982 and spent 22 seasons in a Devils uniform. They retired Scott Neidermeyer's number 27 on December 16, 2011. Martin Brodeur's number 30 was retired on February 9, 2016. And on February 24, 2018, Patrik Elias' number 26 was retired.
Hall of Famers: Three Devils players have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov, one of the first two Soviet players in the NHL, played for the Devils from 1989 to 1995 and was an assistant coach from 1999 to 2002; he was inducted in 2001. Peter Stastny, a former center and one of the top goal scorers in the 1980s, played for the Devils from 1990 to 1993 and was inducted in 1998. Scott Stevens was inducted in 2007, his first year of eligibility. Former Devils head coaches Jacques Lemaire (1993-1998) and Larry Robinson (2000-2002, 2005) had been elected as players prior to joining the Devils organization. Herb Brooks (1992-1993), who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic team to victory in the "Miracle on Ice", was inducted in 2006.
==Leaders==
===Team captains===
*Don Lever, 1982–84
*Mel Bridgman, 1984–87
*Kirk Muller, 1987–91
*Bruce Driver, 1991–92
*Scott Stevens, 1992-2005
*Scott Niedermayer, 2004 
*No captain, 2005–06
*Patrik Elias, 2006-07
* Jamie Langenbrunner 2007-11
* Zach Parise 2011-12
* Bryce Salvador 2013-15
* Andy Greene 2015-2020
This list does not include the former captains of the Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies.
===Head coaches===
*Bill MacMillan, 1982–83
*Tom McVie, 1983–84
*Doug Carpenter, 1984–88
*Jim Schoenfeld, 1988–89
*John Cunniff, 1989–91
*Tom McVie, 1991–92
*Herb Brooks, 1992–93
*Jacques Lemaire, 1993–98
*Robbie Ftorek, 1998–00
*Larry Robinson, 2000–02
*Kevin Constantine, 2002
*Pat Burns, 2002–05
*Larry Robinson, 2005 
*Lou Lamoriello, 2005–06
*Claude Julien, 2006–07
*Lou Lamoriello, 2007
*Brent Sutter, 2007-2009
* Jacques Lemaire, 2009–2011
* John MacLean, 2010
* Peter DeBoer, 2011-2014
* John Hynes 2015-2019
* Alain Nasserdine 2019-present
This list does not include the former coaches of the Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies.
==References==
=== General ===
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
=== Footnotes ===
==See also==
* List of NHL players
* List of NHL statistical leaders
* List of NHL seasons
* Atlantic Division rivalries
==External link==
* New Jersey Devils Official Site
* New Jersey Devils Wiki Site
Category:Established in 1982
Category:New Jersey Devils
Category:American ice hockey teams
Category:National Hockey League team
Category:National Hockey League teams