Martin Brodeur, Jack Hughes highlight Devils’ NHL quarter-century team

On Wednesday night, the NHL revealed the New Jersey Devils‘ quarter-century team.

Representing the best players who have ever donned the black and red in the Garden State over the past 25 years, the first team features forwards Patrick Elias, Jack Hughes and Zach Parise, with defensemen Scott Niedermayer and Scott Stevens in front of goaltender Martin Brodeur.

Elias was one of the more underappreciated scorers in his time, and the best offensive player in the past 25 years in Devils’ history. The Czech star played more games (1,047) than any other Devil, scoring 382 goals and 552 assists for 914 points. He also played a big part in helping New Jersey lift Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2000 and 2003.

Zach Parise was one of the hottest prospects in hockey and lived up to the hype in his days with the organization. In eight seasons, the Minnesota native scored 194 goals and 216 assists for 410 points in 502 games. While as team captain during the 2011-12 season, the Devils made it to the team’s last appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

Jack Hughes has been part of the renaissance after years of New Jersey being an afterthought in the NHL. The 2019 first-overall pick has become one of the most exciting players in the league with his speed and skill. Hughes has scored 129 goals and 198 assists for 327 points in 346 career appearances.

Stevens and Niedermayer were arguably the best defense pair from the ’90s into the new millennium. Stevens, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007, was one of the most feared hitters the NHL has ever seen. Even though he wasn’t known as a great offensive threat, his presence and leadership made him one of the best at his position, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2000.

Niedermayer was part of the new wave of blueliner. Fast, skilled and efficient at both ends of the rink. The 2013 Hall of Fame inductee notched 46 goals and 131 assists for 177 points in 329 games with N.J. this century before going on to have success with the Anaheim Ducks, winning three Cups since 2000.

Marty Brodeur is considered by some to be the best goaltender to ever play the game. The Quebec native set many records during his illustrious career, all broken during his years with the Devils. Along with the team’s success, Brodeur became the all-time winningest goaltender in NHL history, winning 467 games since the turn of the century.

The second team includes forwards Scott Gomez, Jamie Langenbrunner and Travis Zajac, with defensemen Andy Greene and Brian Rafalski being alongside goaltender Cory Schneider.

Gomez burst onto the scene with the Devils during the 1999-00 season, winning the Calder Trophy along with his first of two Stanley Cups. Langenbrunner might not be remembered as a Devil, but his clutch goals powered New Jersey through the 2003 playoffs, clinching the lone championship in his NHL career.

Zajac was (almost) a Devils lifer. The first-round pick from the 2004 NHL Draft played all but 13 games of his 1,037-game career with New Jersey. His 1,024 games are the second-most this century behind Elias, with Zajac scoring 202 goals and 348 assists for 550 points.

Rafalski was one of Stevens’ other prominent d-partners in his final years in the NHL. The dynamic defenseman was a solid player in his own zone, with his vision making him a useful member on the power play. The two-time Stanley Cup champion has registered more assists (255) and points (298) than any other New Jersey blueliner since 2000.

Greene was a solid two-way d-man over 14 seasons with the Devils. Along with captaining the team for five seasons, he was also a key piece in the team’s run to the Final in 2012. He played more games than any other franchise blueliner this century, playing in 923 games with the club.

The Devils didn’t have much to choose from in terms of goaltending after Brodeur. However, Schneider had a couple of good years with the team. He had a 115-133-50 record from 2013 to 2020, posting 17 shutouts that’s only second to old No. 30.