Devils 2023 All-Time Team

[Classic Devil]

It's time for my annual Devils All-Time Team challenge!

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.

This year is going to be interesting, because 2022-2023 is one of the best seasons in the franchise's history to pick players from. There are so many candidates on the roster right now. Hischier, Hughes, Hamilton, Bratt, Mercer... but even players like Siegenthaler, Graves, Tatar, Siegenthaler, and Vanecek get over my >5.0 Point Share marker for inclusion in the excel file. And as good as Hughes' season was, Hamilton's season is one of the 15-best regular season performances in franchise history -- the model actually has him outperforming Niedermayer's Norris year. (Hughes comes in at 20.)

I'll post my roster in a few days.

Click to read more...

 

[Classic Devil]

And to help people a little more, or if you just want to see what the results have been in the past, here are the last five years worth of teams:

2022 Devils All-Time Team
2021 Devils All-Time Team
2019 Devils All-Time Team
2018 Devils All-Time Team

Edit: also, Kasatonov wore 7, not 8. Not sure how I was making that mistake for so many years...

 

[Blackjack]

86 and 63 making this exercise a whole lot easier now.

13 won’t hurt either

 

[Classic Devil]

86 and 63 making this exercise a whole lot easier now.

13 won’t hurt either

I'm pretty upset about Meier changing to 28. Not gonna like having to choose between him and Rafalski.

 

[Blackjack]

I'm pretty upset about Meier changing to 28. Not gonna like having to choose between him and Rafalski.

Need another monster year out of Hamilton (or Hughes) so 7 can replace the 28 on the right side.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Always a fun exercise.

Want to take dougie 2023 because it’s SO GOOD but feel like the roster needs Hughes 2023 more (and I can take a PMart year instead)

I’m supposed to be planning a move but I’m gonna stare at this for an hour instead

 

[MB3]

I'm pretty upset about Meier changing to 28. Not gonna like having to choose between him and Rafalski.

wait has this been confirmed? my buddy is about to be so upset lol

 

[Classic Devil]

Need another monster year out of Hamilton (or Hughes) so 7 can replace the 28 on the right side.

I’ve got faith we’re gonna get more out of Hughes. Hamilton is my pick from this year’s team. You start looking at the numbers and as ridiculous as Hughes was, Hamilton was even better.

 

[Classic Devil]

Need another monster year out of Hamilton (or Hughes) so 7 can replace the 28 on the right side.

We're deep on defense, but not so deep that Rafalski's best seasons aren't shoo-ins. Rafalski vs. Meier could be another Driver vs. Gomez choice, where which one you choose is largely dependent on what position you want to emphasize. Meier is a LW, which is also our deepest position as a franchise from top to bottom.

 

[Hollywood Nosebleed]

08-09 Parise #9 21-22 Hughes #86 11-12 Kovalchuk #17
(45g 49a 94pts 1.14pts/pg) (26g 30a 56pts 1.14pts/pg) (37g 46a 83pts 1.07pts/pg)

99-00 Elias #26 98-99 Arnott #25 00-01 Mogilny #89
(35g 37a 72pts 1pts/pg) (27g 27a 54pts .72pts/pg) (43g 40a 83pts 1.10pts/pg)

89-90 Maclean #15 05-06 Gomez #23 92-93 Lemieux #22
(41g 38a 79pts .98pts/pg) (33g 51a 84pts 1.02pts/pg) (30g 51a 81pts 1.05pts/pg)

90-91 Shanahan #11 97-98 Holik #16 05-06 Gionta #14
(29g 37a 66pts .88pts/pg) (29g 36a 65pts .79pts/pg) (48g 41a 89pts 1.08pts/pg)

09-10 Zajac #19 92-93 Richer #44
(25g 42a 67pts .81pts/pg) (38g 35a 73pts .94pts/pg)


93-95 Stevens #4 22-23 Hamilton #7
(18g 60a 78pts .93pts/pg) (22g 52a 74pts .90pts/pg)

02-03 Neidermayer #27 06-07 Rafalski #28
(14g 40a 54pts .66pts/pg) (8g 47a 55pts .67pts/pg)

12-13 Greene #6 88-89 Kurvers #5
(4g 12a 16pts .33pts/pg ) (16g 50a 66pts .89pts/pg)

13-14 Zidlicky #2
(12g 30a 42pts .51pts/pg)

96-97 Brodeur #30
(37-14-13 1.88ga .927s% 10 SO)

15-16 Schneider #35
(27-25-6 2.15ga .924s% 4 SO)
​

Really wanted Hughes last year, and Elias 00-01, but felt this helped round the team out better. I have no doubt Hughes, Nico, and Bratt will have a few years that could replace these. I also see Luke taking a spot in the future too.

 

[Lou is God]

I'm pretty upset about Meier changing to 28. Not gonna like having to choose between him and Rafalski.

Ugh, I didn't know that. I thought he looked like a badass wearing 96.

 

[My3Sons]

08-09 Parise #9 21-22 Hughes #86 11-12 Kovalchuk #17
(45g 49a 94pts 1.14pts/pg) (26g 30a 56pts 1.14pts/pg) (37g 46a 83pts 1.07pts/pg)

99-00 Elias #26 98-99 Arnott #25 00-01 Mogilny #89
(35g 37a 72pts 1pts/pg) (27g 27a 54pts .72pts/pg) (43g 40a 83pts 1.10pts/pg)

89-90 Maclean #15 05-06 Gomez #23 92-93 Lemieux #22
(41g 38a 79pts .98pts/pg) (33g 51a 84pts 1.02pts/pg) (30g 51a 81pts 1.05pts/pg)

90-91 Shanahan #11 97-98 Holik #16 05-06 Gionta #14
(29g 37a 66pts .88pts/pg) (29g 36a 65pts .79pts/pg) (48g 41a 89pts 1.08pts/pg)

09-10 Zajac #19 92-93 Richer #44
(25g 42a 67pts .81pts/pg) (38g 35a 73pts .94pts/pg)


93-95 Stevens #4 22-23 Hamilton #7
(18g 60a 78pts .93pts/pg) (22g 52a 74pts .90pts/pg)

02-03 Neidermayer #27 06-07 Rafalski #28
(14g 40a 54pts .66pts/pg) (8g 47a 55pts .67pts/pg)

12-13 Greene #6 88-89 Kurvers #5
(4g 12a 16pts .33pts/pg ) (16g 50a 66pts .89pts/pg)


96-97 Brodeur #30
(37-14-13 1.88ga .927s% 10 SO)

15-16 Schneider #35
(27-25-6 2.15ga .924s% 4 SO)
​

Really wanted Hughes last year, and Elias 00-01, but felt this helped round the team out better. I have no doubt Hughes, Nico, and Bratt will have a few years that could replace these. I also see Luke taking a spot in the future too.

Not enough Lovejoy

 

[Better Call Sal]

I heard the same about Timo, but will just make my 96 jersey with the 40th patch on the shoulder more vintage.

 

[Guttersniped]

I'm pretty upset about Meier changing to 28. Not gonna like having to choose between him and Rafalski.

Where has that been confirmed?

He was asked about it when he signed, and said he would think about it, but the team announces all the new numbers and they didn’t announce that one.

I don’t think he switched.

 

[njdevils1982]

I heard the same about Timo, but will just make my 96 jersey with the 40th patch on the shoulder more vintage.

vintage? i think the word you're looking for is rare or obsolete

and now i wonder which nhl player went the longest amount of games with one number before a change to another......hmm

 

[FinnishDevil]

Janne Kuokkanen #59 (‪2020-21‬) - Erik Haula #56 "C" (2022-23) - Tuomo Ruutu #15 (‪2013-14‬)
Tuomas Pihlman #19 (2005-06) - Janne Ojanen #34 (1992-93) - Esa Tikkanen #10 (‪1995-96‬)
Harri Pesonen #9 (‪2012-13‬) - x - Ilkka Pikkarainen #17 "A" (2009-10)
x - x - x

Tapio Levo #8 (‪1982-83‬) - Sami Vatanen #45 (‪2017-18‬)
Anssi Salmela #25 "A" (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)

Lenni and Samu need to make the team asap. And wouldnt hurt if Topias switched to forward cause that left side D is kinda stacked as of now.

 

[Better Call Sal]

This is always one of my favorite exercises to take on, I'll get to it inevitably.

Weighing between Dougie and Jack will be hard this year. Might be leaning Dougie solely for the fact that I think Jack will have even better years ahead.

 

[Bleedred]

Not enough Lovejoy

Or Blackwood

19-20 Blackwood = best goalie in the league after Hynes was fired and 19-20 Blackwood >>>>>>>>> 15-16 Schneider and probably even 96-97 Brodeur.

 

[My3Sons]

Or Blackwood

19-20 Blackwood = best goalie in the league after Hynes was fired and 19-20 Blackwood >>>>>>>>> 15-16 Schneider and probably even 96-97 Brodeur.

You really need to let that go. We all know you are Blackwood's biggest supporter and constantly hype him up, but the kid just could never put it back together after his injuries started. You've said over and over "he's really a .920 goalie" and "since returning from injury he's better than Vanacek" (your exact words from your posts) but nobody is buying what you are selling. Blackwood has just trailed off into inconsistency and not just over the course of a season, but over the course of a period. He will make a startling save one minute and then let in a seeing eye goal because his basic positioning was off. His off ice Dr. Facebook stuff didn't help his image and he seemingly got worse over time, not better. Beyond that, he's not even with the Devils anymore. If he's so appealing to you just be glad you can watch him patrol the crease for the Sharks.

 

[Classic Devil]

Janne Kuokkanen #59 (‪2020-21‬) - Erik Haula #56 "C" (2022-23) - Tuomo Ruutu #15 (‪2013-14‬)
Tuomas Pihlman #19 (2005-06) - Janne Ojanen #34 (1992-93) - Esa Tikkanen #10 (‪1995-96‬)
Harri Pesonen #9 (‪2012-13‬) - x - Ilkka Pikkarainen #17 "A" (2009-10)
x - x - x

Tapio Levo #8 (‪1982-83‬) - Sami Vatanen #45 (‪2017-18‬)
Anssi Salmela #25 "A" (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)

Lenni and Samu need to make the team asap. And wouldnt hurt if Topias switched to forward cause that left side D is kinda stacked as of now.

It's a shame we haven't had more Finns. A few more would be nice.

 

[Classic Devil]

08-09 Parise #9 21-22 Hughes #86 11-12 Kovalchuk #17
(45g 49a 94pts 1.14pts/pg) (26g 30a 56pts 1.14pts/pg) (37g 46a 83pts 1.07pts/pg)

99-00 Elias #26 98-99 Arnott #25 00-01 Mogilny #89
(35g 37a 72pts 1pts/pg) (27g 27a 54pts .72pts/pg) (43g 40a 83pts 1.10pts/pg)

89-90 Maclean #15 05-06 Gomez #23 92-93 Lemieux #22
(41g 38a 79pts .98pts/pg) (33g 51a 84pts 1.02pts/pg) (30g 51a 81pts 1.05pts/pg)

90-91 Shanahan #11 97-98 Holik #16 05-06 Gionta #14
(29g 37a 66pts .88pts/pg) (29g 36a 65pts .79pts/pg) (48g 41a 89pts 1.08pts/pg)

09-10 Zajac #19 92-93 Richer #44
(25g 42a 67pts .81pts/pg) (38g 35a 73pts .94pts/pg)


93-95 Stevens #4 22-23 Hamilton #7
(18g 60a 78pts .93pts/pg) (22g 52a 74pts .90pts/pg)

02-03 Neidermayer #27 06-07 Rafalski #28
(14g 40a 54pts .66pts/pg) (8g 47a 55pts .67pts/pg)

12-13 Greene #6 88-89 Kurvers #5
(4g 12a 16pts .33pts/pg ) (16g 50a 66pts .89pts/pg)

13-14 Zidlicky #2
(12g 30a 42pts .51pts/pg)

96-97 Brodeur #30
(37-14-13 1.88ga .927s% 10 SO)

15-16 Schneider #35
(27-25-6 2.15ga .924s% 4 SO)
​

Really wanted Hughes last year, and Elias 00-01, but felt this helped round the team out better. I have no doubt Hughes, Nico, and Bratt will have a few years that could replace these. I also see Luke taking a spot in the future too.

I'm leaning towards using 1999-2000 for Elias also this year. Which is a shame, because he has a few other seasons where he was superstar grade and 1999-2000 he was merely star grade. Having Kurvers and Niedermayer on the same team makes me laugh, too, but between him and Zidlicky you're not really missing Driver, so that solves the #23 problem. I'm also going to take 21-22 Hughes for my team this year.

 

[Classic Devil]

Well, I've been fussing with this one a lot. After a few changes, I've decided to incorporate a player I don't think I've ever included before, and one who I'd previously cut but now makes his triumphant return.

Forwards
#26 Patrik Elias (A) [1999-2000] - #23 Scott Gomez [2005-2006] - #89 Alexander Mogilny [2000-2001]
#9 Zach Parise [2008-2009] - #19 Travis Zajac (A) [2009-2010] - #22 Claude Lemieux [1991-1992]
#17 Ilya Kovalchuk [2011-2012] - #86 Jack Hughes [2021-2022] - #15 John MacLean [1988-1989]
#44 Stephane Richer [1994-1995] - #16 Bobby Holik [1998-1999] - #21 Randy McKay [1997-1998]
#13 Nico Hischier [2017-2018] - #11 John Madden [2002-2003]​

The first line takes advantage of some of Gomez's best career chemistry, pairing him with both Elias and Mogilny. The second line is Parise and Zajac, combined with one of the best grinding/forechecking wingers in the Devils' team history. The third line is the only line that's pure offense, and the idea of putting Kovalchuk with Hughes is tantalizing. And the fourth line is two-thirds of the Crash line, with Richer (who had an exceptional season in 1994-1995) there to add some additional scoring punch. Hischier is a great reserve forward, and Madden makes the team for the first time ever. In a few more years, I hope that we can have even more dominating Hughes and Hischier seasons.

With Hamilton in the fold, the age-old Driver or Gomez debate seems less pressing... we don't need Driver as badly as we used to with a Norris-caliber Hamilton season. 23 probably goes to Gomez much more often, but having Gomez here means dropping Gionta...

Defense
#4 Scott Stevens (C) [1993-1994] - #28 Brian Rafalski [2006-2007]
#27 Scott Niedermayer [2003-2004] - #5 Adam Larsson [2015-2016]
#3 Ken Daneyko [1989-1990] - #7 Dougie Hamilton [2022-2023]
#6 Andy Greene [2013-2014]​

The aim here was a balance of offensive and defensive defensemen, as well as having enough physicality. Stevens and Rafalski obviously were one of, if not the best, pairing in our franchise's history. Niedermayer and Larsson is two mobile defenseman who can skate, and Larsson can let Niedermayer be a dominant offensive presence. And Daneyko can anchor for Hamilton to tear teams apart. Greene can fit into the lineup anywhere. I hope someday Hughes and Nemec displace Larsson and Daneyko/Greene.

Goaltending
#30 Martin Brodeur [2007-2008]
#35 Cory Schneider [2014-2015]​

Not much to say here. Two of the best goaltending years in Devils team history.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Janne Kuokkanen #59 (‪2020-21‬) - Erik Haula #56 "C" (2022-23) - Tuomo Ruutu #15 (‪2013-14‬)
Tuomas Pihlman #19 (2005-06) - Janne Ojanen #34 (1992-93) - Esa Tikkanen #10 (‪1995-96‬)
Harri Pesonen #9 (‪2012-13‬) - x - Ilkka Pikkarainen #17 "A" (2009-10)
x - x - x

Tapio Levo #8 (‪1982-83‬) - Sami Vatanen #45 (‪2017-18‬)
Anssi Salmela #25 "A" (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)

Lenni and Samu need to make the team asap. And wouldnt hurt if Topias switched to forward cause that left side D is kinda stacked as of now.

 

[Guttersniped]

All-Time Devils Team under 6’0”

Where my shorties at!?!

#10 Aaron Broten/86-87 - #86 Jack Hughes/22-23 - #16 Pat Verbeek/87-88

#9 Zach Parise/08-09 - #23 Scott Gomez/03-04 - #14 Brian Gionta/05-06

#63 Jesper Bratt/21-22 - #20 Alexander Semak/92-93 - #21 Kyle Palmieri/15-16

#32 Steve Thomas/95-96 - #11 John Madden/02-03 - #18 Sergei Brylin/01-02

#6 Andy Greene/13-14 - #28 Brian Rafalski/06-07

… ok… ok…

#8 Will Butcher/18-19 - #2 Marek Zidlicky/14-15
#45 Sami Vatanen/17-18 - #29 Reijo Ruotsalainen/89-90

#31 Chris Terreri/93-94
#40 Yann Danis/09-10

The choices for defensemen were not very choice as Housley wore #6 and Lever wore #9. (And Matt Taormina’s #32 is blocked by Steve Thomas lol.)

So…
LHD #26 Mike Kitchen/82-83
RHD #22 Robert Palmer/82-83
Then…

 

[Classic Devil]

All-Time Devils Team under 6’0”

Where my shorties at!?!

#10 Aaron Broten/86-87 - #86 Jack Hughes/22-23 - #16 Pat Verbeek/87-88

#9 Zach Parise/08-09 - #23 Scott Gomez/03-04 - #14 Brian Gionta/05-06

#63 Jesper Bratt/21-22 - #20 Alexander Semak/92-93 - #21 Kyle Palmieri/15-16

#32 Steve Thomas/95-96 - #11 John Madden/02-03 - #18 Sergei Brylin/01-02

View attachment 733833

#6 Andy Greene/13-14 - #28 Brian Rafalski/06-07

View attachment 733834

… ok… ok…

#8 Will Butcher/18-19 - #2 Marek Zidlicky/14-15
#45 Sami Vatanen/17-18 - #29 Reijo Ruotsalainen/89-90

#31 Chris Terreri/93-94
#40 Yann Danis/09-10

The choices for defensemen were not very choice as Housley wore #6 and Lever wore #9. (And Matt Taormina’s #32 is blocked by Steve Thomas lol.)

So…
LHD #26 Mike Kitchen/82-83
RHD #22 Robert Palmer/82-83
Then…
View attachment 733843

Hah, I love it!

(Surely Chico would be better than Danis?)