History of the New Jersey Devils facts for kids
The New Jersey Devils are a National Hockey League (NHL) team. Their story began in 1982 when the Colorado Rockies team moved to New Jersey. They became known as the Devils. Since 1995, the team has played in the Stanley Cup Finals five times. They won the Cup in 1995, 2000, and 2003.
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Early Days: Kansas City and Colorado
The team's journey started in 1974 in Kansas City, Missouri. They were called the Kansas City Scouts. Their first home game was delayed because of a rodeo! The Scouts won their first game in Kansas City on November 3, 1974. They beat the Washington Capitals 5–4.
The Scouts struggled in their first two seasons. They didn't win many games and missed the playoffs. The team also had money problems. They sold very few season tickets. After just two years, the owners decided to sell the team.
In 1976, the team moved to Denver and was renamed the Colorado Rockies. They played at the McNichols Sports Arena. The Rockies won their first game in Colorado, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–2. In the 1977–78 season, they made it to the playoffs! This was exciting, but their playoff journey was short. The Philadelphia Flyers quickly defeated them in two games.
The team faced many changes during these early years. They had ten different coaches in eight seasons. They also changed owners twice. The team never had a winning season in Kansas City or Colorado.
Before the 1978–79 season, the team was sold to Arthur Imperatore. He wanted to move the team to East Rutherford, near the Meadowlands Sports Complex. This idea faced problems because it was close to three other NHL teams: the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Flyers. Also, there was no suitable arena in New Jersey yet.
The team continued to play in Colorado until 1982. Finally, on May 27, 1982, a new owner, John McMullen, bought the team. He announced that the Rockies would move to East Rutherford. They would play at the new Brendan Byrne Arena. The NHL approved the move.
New Jersey: Building a Strong Team
The Devils Arrive (1982–1993)
On June 30, 1982, the team got its new name: the New Jersey Devils. This name came from the legend of the Jersey Devil, a mysterious creature from the Pine Barrens in South Jersey. More than 10,000 people voted in a contest to choose the name!
The Devils started playing in East Rutherford at the Brendan Byrne Arena. Their first game on October 5, 1982, was a 3–3 tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their first win was a 3–2 victory against the Rangers in New Jersey. The team finished their first season with 17 wins, 49 losses, and 14 ties.
In the next season, the Devils faced a challenge from Wayne Gretzky, a famous player for the Edmonton Oilers. After his team beat the Devils 13–4, Gretzky said the Devils were a "Mickey Mouse operation." He meant they weren't a serious team. Later, Gretzky said his comment was "blown all out of proportion." In response, many Devils fans wore Mickey Mouse gear when the Oilers played in New Jersey again!
The Devils hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 1984. But the team still struggled to win games. They started to build a strong group of young players. These included John MacLean, Bruce Driver, Ken Daneyko, Kirk Muller, and Pat Verbeek. They also had veteran goalie Chico Resch.
In 1987, the team made a big change. They hired Lou Lamoriello as team president. He later became the general manager. Many people felt this was a key moment that helped the team become successful.
The 1987–88 season was special. The Devils had their first winning record in team history. In the very last game of the season, John MacLean scored an overtime goal to beat the Chicago Blackhawks. This sent the Devils to the playoffs for the first time in New Jersey!
They made it all the way to the conference finals but lost to the Boston Bruins. This series had a famous moment when coach Jim Schoenfeld had a disagreement with a referee. The league suspended Schoenfeld for a game. The Devils fought this decision, and it caused a big delay in the next game. The Devils were fined, and Schoenfeld later said he regretted his words.
The team missed the playoffs the next season. Lamoriello then signed two famous Soviet players, Viacheslav Fetisov and Sergei Starikov. The Devils continued to make the playoffs in the early 1990s but were always eliminated in the first round. In 1993, Jacques Lemaire became the new head coach.
Becoming Champions (1993–2000)
Under Coach Lemaire, the Devils became a powerhouse. In the 1993–94 season, they had a fantastic team. Key players included defensemen Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, and Ken Daneyko. Forwards like Stephane Richer, John MacLean, Bobby Holik, and Claude Lemieux were also important. Goalie Martin Brodeur was honored as the league's best rookie.
The Devils had one of the best records in the NHL that season. They faced the New York Rangers in an unforgettable Eastern Conference Finals series. The Devils had lost to the Rangers all season. But they pushed the series to a thrilling Game 7. The Devils tied the game with seconds left, but the Rangers won in double overtime. Many fans still remember this series as one of the best ever.
Despite that loss, the team came back strong in the 1995 season. They defeated the Philadelphia Flyers. Then, they swept the strong Detroit Red Wings to win New Jersey's first-ever Stanley Cup! This was the first major sports championship for the state. Claude Lemieux was named the playoffs' most valuable player. The Devils also set an NHL record with 11 road wins in one playoff season.
After winning the Cup, there were rumors the team might move again. To keep the champions in New Jersey, the state agreed to help improve the arena.
The Devils missed the playoffs the next season. This was the first time in 26 years that a defending champion didn't make the playoffs. For the rest of the 1990s, the Devils had great regular seasons but struggled in the playoffs. They lost in the second round in 1997 and the first round in 1998 and 1999.
Late in the 1999–2000 season, Lou Lamoriello made a big decision. He changed coaches, bringing in Larry Robinson. This move worked out! New Jersey defeated the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Philadelphia Flyers. They reached the Stanley Cup Finals again.
In the Finals, the Devils won their second Stanley Cup, beating the defending champion Dallas Stars in six games. Many players from the 1995 team were still there, like Scott Stevens, Bobby Holik, Scott Niedermayer, and Martin Brodeur. New stars like Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora, Jason Arnott, and Scott Gomez also helped. Scott Stevens was named the playoffs' most valuable player. A highlight was coming back from being down 3–1 against the Flyers in the Conference Finals. This was the first time a team had done that in the NHL Conference Finals!
Another Cup and a New Home (2001–2007)
Led by their strong players, the Devils reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row in 2001. However, they lost to the Colorado Avalanche.
In 2003, the Devils finished first in their division. Their playoff run was exciting. They beat the Ottawa Senators in a seven-game Conference Final. In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Devils played the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The Devils won their third Stanley Cup in Game 7 in New Jersey! Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko, and Sergei Brylin each won their third Cup. After the series, Ken Daneyko, a long-time fan favorite, retired.
In the 2003–04 season, Martin Brodeur won the Vezina Trophy again as the league's best goalie. The Devils made the playoffs but lost in the first round.
During this time, plans for a new arena in Newark began. After some discussions, the deal was approved. The new arena, named the Prudential Center, opened in 2007.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, many Devils players played in European leagues. Patrik Elias got sick with hepatitis A. The team also lost key players like Scott Niedermayer and Scott Stevens. In 2005, Coach Pat Burns had to step down due to illness. Larry Robinson became coach again.
The Devils struggled early in the 2005–06 season. But when Patrik Elias returned, the team turned things around. They finished the season with an amazing eleven-game winning streak! This set a new NHL record. During this streak, Brian Gionta set a new team record for goals in a season with 48.
On April 29, 2006, the Devils swept the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. This extended their winning streak to 15 games! Their season ended in the next round against the Carolina Hurricanes.
In 2006, Claude Julien was hired as coach. But just before the 2006–07 playoffs, Lamoriello fired Julien and coached the team himself. The Devils won their division. They beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round but lost to the Ottawa Senators. Their final loss on May 5, 2007, was the last game the Devils played at the Continental Airlines Arena.
New Home, New Challenges (2007–2013)
The Devils moved to their new home, the Prudential Center, in Newark. They opened the arena on October 27, 2007, against Ottawa. The Devils won their first game at the Prudential Center on October 31, 2007, beating Tampa Bay 6–1. Martin Brodeur won the Vezina Trophy again for his great play.
In the 2008–09 season, the Devils signed some familiar faces like Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik. Goalie Martin Brodeur was out for four months with an injury. But strong play from Zach Parise and backup goalie Scott Clemmensen kept the team winning. Brodeur returned and made history! On March 17, 2009, he broke the record for most regular season wins by a goalie. Patrik Elias also became the team's all-time leading scorer. In the playoffs, the Devils lost a tough series to the Carolina Hurricanes.
In 2009, Brent Sutter stepped down as head coach. Jacques Lemaire returned for his third time as head coach. Key players like John Madden and Brian Gionta left the team.
On February 4, 2010, the Devils made a big trade. They acquired star player Ilya Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Thrashers. The Devils finished first in their division but lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the playoffs.
After Lemaire retired again, John MacLean became the new head coach. The Devils signed Ilya Kovalchuk to a very long contract. The league initially rejected it, but later approved a 15-year deal.
The team struggled under MacLean. He was replaced by Jacques Lemaire again in December. The Devils had a tough season with injuries to Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur. However, they had an amazing turnaround, winning many games in a row. They almost made the playoffs but were eliminated on April 2, 2011. This was their first losing season since 1990–91.
In 2011, Peter DeBoer became the new head coach. The Devils drafted defenseman Adam Larsson. The team's offense was strong, led by Ilya Kovalchuk, Patrik Elias, and Zach Parise. They had seven players score over 40 points! Their special teams were also excellent. Kovalchuk and Elias were among the league's top scorers. Rookie Adam Henrique had a great season.
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The Devils made the playoffs as the sixth seed. They beat the Florida Panthers in seven games. Then, they faced their rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers. Many thought the Flyers would win, but the Devils surprised everyone! They won four games in a row to beat the Flyers. This sent them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2003.
The Devils then played the Rangers in the Conference Finals. This was a rematch of the famous 1994 series. The Devils won the series in Game 6, with Adam Henrique scoring another overtime goal! This sent the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings won the first three games. The Devils fought back, winning Games 4 and 5. But Los Angeles won Game 6 to claim the Stanley Cup. Martin Brodeur, who turned 40 during the playoffs, signed for two more years.
The 2012 off-season was busy. Zach Parise left the Devils to sign with the Minnesota Wild. Former captain Scott Stevens returned as an assistant coach.
The 2012–13 NHL season was shorter due to a lockout. Bryce Salvador was named the new captain. The Devils struggled with injuries to Brodeur and Kovalchuk. They missed the playoffs.
In the next off-season, the Devils got goalie Cory Schneider. Lou Lamoriello said Brodeur would still be the main goalie, but Schneider would play a lot. David Clarkson left the team. But the Devils signed veteran stars like Jaromir Jagr, Ryane Clowe, and Michael Ryder. Then, Ilya Kovalchuk surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from the NHL to play in Russia.
New Owners and Recent Years (2013–Present)
The Devils had money problems in 2013. The team was sold to Josh Harris and David S. Blitzer. This sale helped the team clear its debts.
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In the 2013–14 season, the Devils missed the playoffs again. They had trouble winning shootouts. Jaromir Jagr, at 41 years old, led the team in scoring. The Devils played their first outdoor game at Yankee Stadium against the Rangers, but they lost. The NHL also reduced a penalty against the Devils for Kovalchuk's contract.
The 2014–15 season started with injuries. Coach Peter DeBoer was fired in December. Former Devils captain Scott Stevens and Adam Oates took over as coaches. The team had its worst record since 1988–89 and missed the playoffs. After the season, Lou Lamoriello stepped down as general manager. Ray Shero was hired to replace him.
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John Hynes became the new head coach for the 2015–16 season. The Devils missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. In the following season, they finished last in the Eastern Conference. However, they won the draft lottery! This gave them the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. They used it to pick Nico Hischier.
In the 2017–18 season, the team had its best start ever. Star forward Taylor Hall set a team record by getting points in 26 straight games. Hall was one of the league's top scorers. With help from goalie Keith Kinkaid and rookie Hischier, the Devils made the playoffs for the first time since 2012! They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. After the playoffs, Taylor Hall became the first Devils player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the league's most valuable player.
The Devils missed the playoffs in the 2018–19 season. Injuries, including Taylor Hall's knee injury, hurt the team. But they won the draft lottery again! For the second time in three years, they had the first overall pick. They used it to select Jack Hughes.
In the 2019 off-season, the Devils added new players like P. K. Subban, Nikita Gusev, and Wayne Simmonds. The 2019–20 season started tough. Coach John Hynes was fired and replaced by Alain Nasreddine. Taylor Hall, Andy Greene, and Wayne Simmonds were traded. General manager Ray Shero was also fired. The season was stopped early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Devils missed the playoffs again.
Lindy Ruff was named the new head coach in 2020. The team had a good start but then faced a COVID-19 outbreak. This sidelined the team for two weeks. Long-time Devil Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri were traded. The Devils missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.
In the 2021 off-season, the Devils signed defenseman Dougie Hamilton. They also added goalies Jonathan Bernier and Tomas Tatar. However, the 2021–22 NHL season was also tough, and the Devils missed the playoffs again.
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