Devils 2022 All-Time Team

[Classic Devil]

It's time for my annual Devils All-Time Team challenge! Usually we get about three submissions a year, including mine... hoping we can beat that this year!

It's basically a puzzle challenge: make the best roster you can out of players in Devils' team history.

But there are a few rules to make this harder than it might immediately seem:

(1) You're selecting players by season. So, for instance, you can take Patrik Elias' 2000-2001 season. But you can only take one player per season. If you take Elias 2000-2001, you cannot take Mogilny 2000-2001; the 2000-2001 team only gets one player to represent it.

(2) You can only select a player once. So, if you take Elias 2000-2001, you can't have Elias 2005-2006 also.

(3) You cannot have two players wearing the same number. If you take Bruce Driver, you cannot also take Scott Gomez (each gets assigned #23). For players who wore more than one number in Devils history, they're assigned the one they wore for longer (so, if you're taking Rolston, he wears #14, which he wore for 7 seasons, and not #12, which he wore for 3 seasons, regardless of which season you're taking him for).

You can otherwise make selections based on any criteria you want. You can choose players based off their regular season performances, or playoff performances; you can focus on choosing only long-time Devils or go for best single-season performances . Whatever feels right to you, go ahead and run with it.

Also choose a head coach and two assistant coaches. No restrictions on these, you can pick anyone from the team's history.

Once you have your team selected, assemble a lineup (lines and pairings, reserve forwards and defense) and post!

Suggestions:
I'm providing something to make this a little easier this year. Because I'm a nerd and do this challenge for fun in my free time, I've put together a Microsoft Excel file complete with all the players I think are genuine candidates for the team. (If you think there are players that should be added to this list, just tell me and I'd be happy to incorporate them.) The list is based on the statistics found at NHL Stats, History, Scores, & Records | Hockey-Reference.com, and takes adjusted scoring and goal contributions, to make it easier to compare statistics across eras. Every row is a player-year, with their number and position, so if you're trying to sort through all the options for a given number, player, or season, the excel file should make it easy.

You can sort it by season point-share, to see which players this particular statistical method thinks were the best in Devils team history.

Note: because of the way these statistics are calculated, and because I shortsightedly did not include Games Played when I made the sheet, players who had shortened seasons are underrated. In particular, everyone in 1994-1995 is underrated by the model (Richer has a ridiculous season that year), as is Elias in his shortened 2005-2006 season, and Hughes in this past year.

Also, all statistics are for the regular season only, which is a shame. There's definitely room for improvement.

My suggestion for how to go about starting your team: start by picking players who are going to be represented on basically every team: Brodeur, Stevens, Elias, Niedermayer have lots of good years to pick from and no competition for their numbers (Peter Stastny notwithstanding). Then pick between #9s (Parise/Muller/Hall), #23s (Gomez/Driver), #17s (Sykora/Kovalchuk/Sundstrom), #15s (Langenbrunner/MacLean), etc; these numbers are all also likely to get representation.

Click to read more...

 

[Cheddabombs]

Can't help but draw some sort of connection to the timing of this and the Clarkson discussion in the team thread

 

[Classic Devil]

Can't help but draw some sort of connection to the timing of this and the Clarkson discussion in the team thread

Clarkson's 34 goal season did make it into my list of candidates... but he wore #23, so he'll never make it with these rules.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

00-01 Elias (26) - 99-00 Arnott (25) - 11-12 Kovalchuk (17)
21-22 Bratt (63) - 03-04 Gomez (23) - 89-90 MacLean (15)
08-09 Parise (9) - 02-03 Madden (11) - 05-06 Gionta (14)
87-88 Broten (10) - 09-10 Zajac (19) - 94-95 Richer (44)

93-94 Stevens (4) - 97-98 Niedermayer (27)
88-89 Kurvers (5) - 06-07 Rafalski (28)
15-16 Greene (6) - 13-14 Zidlicky (2)

07-08 Brodeur
14-15 Schneider

 

[Classic Devil]

00-01 Elias (26) - 99-00 Arnott (25) - 11-12 Kovalchuk (17)
20-21 Bratt (63) - 03-04 Gomez (23) - 89-90 MacLean (15)
08-09 Parise (9) - 02-03 Madden (11) - 05-06 Gionta (14)
87-88 Broten (10) - 09-10 Zajac (19) - 94-95 Richer (44)

93-94 Stevens (4) - 97-98 Niedermayer (27)
88-89 Kurvers (5) - 06-07 Rafalski (28)
15-16 Greene (6) - 13-14 Zidlicky (2)

07-08 Brodeur
14-15 Schneider

I like it! It has similarities to the one I'm working on right now. Bratt also made my current version... and so, interestingly, has Adam Larsson.

 

[MasterofGrond]

I'm actually gonna do one this year.

By posting this I am holding myself accountable.

 

[MasterofGrond]

00-01 Elias (26) - 05-06 Gomez (23) - 11-12 Kovalchuk (17)
17-18 Hall (9) - 97-98 Holik (16) - 08-09 Langenbrunner (15)
94-95 Richer (44) - 09-10 Zajac (19) - 21-22 Bratt (63)
87-88 Broten (10) - 02-03 Madden (11) - 91-92 Lemieux (22)
15-16 Henrique (14) 98-99 Arnott (25)

LD RD
93-94 Stevens (4) - 03-04 Niedermayer (27)
07-08 Martin (7) - 01-02 Rafalski (28)
89-90 Daneyko (3) - 13-14 Zidlicky (2)
88-89 Kurvers (5)

G
06-07 Brodeur (30)
90-91 Tererri (31)

As a first pass.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I like it! It has similarities to the one I'm working on right now. Bratt also made my current version... and so, interestingly, has Adam Larsson.

I was between Bratt and Hughes for this past season, but ultimately went with Bratt.

I considered Adam Larsson! But chose to use #5 on 88-89 Kurvers.

It felt weird not using 17-18 Hall, or 20-21 Hughes, but I felt an 08-09 Parise brings more of a two way game than 17-18 Hall.

 

[Classic Devil]

I was between Bratt and Hughes for this past season, but ultimately went with Bratt.

I considered Adam Larsson! But chose to use #5 on 88-89 Kurvers.

It felt weird not using 17-18 Hall, or 20-21 Hughes, but I felt an 08-09 Parise brings more of a two way game than 17-18 Hall.

It's interesting, but statistically Parise is actually solidly ahead of Hall across the board, adjusted for era. That Parise 08-09 season has become my default #9; there isn't a lot else I'd want from that year.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

It's interesting, but statistically Parise is actually solidly ahead of Hall across the board, adjusted for era. That Parise 08-09 season has become my default #9; there isn't a lot else I'd want from that year.

Good point.

I had 98-99 Sykora penciled in to one of my RW spots. But then realized I couldn't have 11-12 Kovalchuk. So I went with 11-12 Kovalchuk over Sykie. Sucks I couldn't have the A line.

 

[Classic Devil]

Good point.

I had 98-99 Sykora penciled in to one of my RW spots. But then realized I couldn't have 11-12 Kovalchuk. So I went with 11-12 Kovalchuk over Sykie. Sucks I couldn't have the A line.

This is one of the harder choices for me, too. Mogilny's 2000-01 season is so good and he wears #89, which there's no competition for. So I take that Almo season, which is also Sykora's best (not necessarily knocking Sykora out of the competition). And then in the 2011-2012 cup run season there are a few good choices, including Elias (who had a deceptively great season), but Kovalchuk stands easily at the top. Ultimately I go with Kovy so I can then use the late-90s for other players.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Yeah I’m not sure I could pass on 11-12 kovy as a full package, so I didn’t.

I went with hall’s hart because I suspect most people will (rightfully) take Parise 08-09 and taking hall also let me have langenbrunners best year

 

[Stephen Gionta]

This is one of the harder choices for me, too. Mogilny's 2000-01 season is so good and he wears #89, which there's no competition for. So I take that Almo season, which is also Sykora's best (not necessarily knocking Sykora out of the competition). And then in the 2011-2012 cup run season there are a few good choices, including Elias (who had a deceptively great season), but Kovalchuk stands easily at the top. Ultimately I go with Kovy so I can then use the late-90s for other players.

So does this mean you're going to use 03-04 Elias? (if you're using 00-01 Mogilny)

 

[Classic Devil]

So I'm still debating this one, or one that uses Driver, Hughes, and Gionta instead of Bratt, Gomez, and Larsson.

#26 Elias (A) (2003-2004) - #25 Arnott (1999-2000) - #63 Bratt (2021-2022)
#17 Kovalchuk (2011-2012) - #23 Gomez (2005-2006) - #89 Mogilny (2000-2001)
#9 Parise (A) (2008-2009) - #19 Zajac (2009-2010) - #15 MacLean (1988-1989)
#44 Richer (1994-1995) - #16 Holik (1997-1998) - #22 Lemieux (1992-1993)
#11 Shanahan (1990-1991), #10 Broten (1987-1988)

#4 Stevens (1993-1994) (C) - #28 Rafalski (2006-2007)
#27 Niedermayer (2002-2003) - #5 Larsson (2015-2016)
#6 Greene (2013-2014) - #7 Martin (2007-2008)
#3 Daneyko (1989-1990)

#30 Brodeur (1996-1997)
#35 Schneider (2014-2015)

Head Coach: Jacques Lemaire
Assistant Coach: Larry Robinson
Assistant Coach: Viaschlav Fetisov​

 

[MasterofGrond]

The one year I’m sad about not putting in is mogilny 01

What a season

 

[nugg]

It's time for my annual Devils All-Time Team challenge! Usually we get about three submissions a year, including mine... hoping we can beat that this year!

It's basically a puzzle challenge: make the best roster you can out of players in Devils' team history.

But there are a few rules to make this harder than it might immediately seem:

(1) You're selecting players by season. So, for instance, you can take Patrik Elias' 2000-2001 season. But you can only take one player per season. If you take Elias 2000-2001, you cannot take Mogilny 2000-2001; the 2000-2001 team only gets one player to represent it.

(2) You can only select a player once. So, if you take Elias 2000-2001, you can't have Elias 2005-2006 also.

(3) You cannot have two players wearing the same number. If you take Bruce Driver, you cannot also take Scott Gomez (each gets assigned #23). For players who wore more than one number in Devils history, they're assigned the one they wore for longer (so, if you're taking Rolston, he wears #14, which he wore for 7 seasons, and not #12, which he wore for 3 seasons, regardless of which season you're taking him for).

You can otherwise make selections based on any criteria you want. You can choose players based off their regular season performances, or playoff performances; you can focus on choosing only long-time Devils or go for best single-season performances . Whatever feels right to you, go ahead and run with it.

Also choose a head coach and two assistant coaches. No restrictions on these, you can pick anyone from the team's history.

Once you have your team selected, assemble a lineup (lines and pairings, reserve forwards and defense) and post!

Suggestions:
I'm providing something to make this a little easier this year. Because I'm a nerd and do this challenge for fun in my free time, I've put together a Microsoft Excel file complete with all the players I think are genuine candidates for the team. (If you think there are players that should be added to this list, just tell me and I'd be happy to incorporate them.) The list is based on the statistics found at NHL Stats, History, Scores, & Records | Hockey-Reference.com, and takes adjusted scoring and goal contributions, to make it easier to compare statistics across eras. Every row is a player-year, with their number and position, so if you're trying to sort through all the options for a given number, player, or season, the excel file should make it easy.

You can sort it by season point-share, to see which players this particular statistical method thinks were the best in Devils team history.

Note: because of the way these statistics are calculated, and because I shortsightedly did not include Games Played when I made the sheet, players who had shortened seasons are underrated. In particular, everyone in 1994-1995 is underrated by the model (Richer has a ridiculous season that year), as is Elias in his shortened 2005-2006 season, and Hughes in this past year.

Also, all statistics are for the regular season only, which is a shame. There's definitely room for improvement.

My suggestion for how to go about starting your team: start by picking players who are going to be represented on basically every team: Brodeur, Stevens, Elias, Niedermayer have lots of good years to pick from and no competition for their numbers (Peter Stastny notwithstanding). Then pick between #9s (Parise/Muller/Hall), #23s (Gomez/Driver), #17s (Sykora/Kovalchuk/Sundstrom), #15s (Langenbrunner/MacLean), etc; these numbers are all also likely to get representation.

 

[MasterofGrond]

I’m probably going to take a second attempt later if I have some time.

Do the same exercise but without anybody’s “best” season.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

So I'm still debating this one, or one that uses Driver, Hughes, and Gionta instead of Bratt, Gomez, and Larsson.

#26 Elias (A) (2003-2004) - #25 Arnott (1999-2000) - #63 Bratt (2020-2021)
#17 Kovalchuk (2011-2012) - #23 Gomez (2005-2006) - #89 Mogilny (2000-2001)
#9 Parise (A) (2008-2009) - #19 Zajac (2009-2010) - #15 MacLean (1988-1989)
#44 Richer (1994-1995) - #16 Holik (1997-1998) - #22 Lemieux (1992-1993)
#11 Shanahan (1990-1991), #10 Broten (1987-1988)

#4 Stevens (1993-1994) (C) - #28 Rafalski (2006-2007)
#27 Niedermayer (2002-2003) - #5 Larsson (2015-2016)
#6 Greene (2013-2014) - #7 Martin (2007-2008)
#3 Daneyko (1989-1990)

#30 Brodeur (1996-1997)
#35 Schneider (2014-2015)​

Love it!

I think you made the same mistake I did on Bratt though. It's his 2021-22 season, not 2020-21... I did the same thing lol.

 

[Classic Devil]

Love it!

I think you made the same mistake I did on Bratt though. It's his 2021-22 season, not 2020-21... I did the same thing lol.

WHAT YEAR IS IT

 

[MasterofGrond]

I also had 20-21 written down for Bratt before changing it lmao

 

[Stephen Gionta]

WHAT YEAR IS IT

LOL. I know!

 

[Classic Devil]

Bumping this up once so it doesn't vanish too quickly.

 

[FinnishDevil]

Janne Kuokkanen #59 (‪2020-21‬) - Janne Ojanen #34 (‪1992-93‬) - Tuomo Ruutu #15 (‪2013-14‬)
Tuomas Pihlman #19 (2005-06) - x - Esa Tikkanen #10 (‪1995-96‬)
Harri Pesonen #9 (‪2012-13‬) - x - Ilkka Pikkarainen #17 (2009-10)
x - x - x

Tapio Levo #8 (‪1982-83‬) - Sami Vatanen #45 (‪2017-18‬)
Anssi Salmela #25 (2008-09) - Reijo Ruotsalainen #29 (‪1989-90‬)
Olli Malmivaara #24 (2007-08) - Timo Blomqvist #5 (‪1986-87‬)

Hannu Kamppuri #33 (‪1984-85‬)
Ari Ahonen #31 (2002-03)

Shouldve drafted Kakko.

 

[Alex NJD]

Really tough time deciding who to pick from 21-22

Gillies or Geertsen

 

[Richer's Ghost]