Time line chronicling major events in this franchise's history.
Created by mcaffr03 on Feb 23, 2009
Last updated: 11/08/09 at 03:32 PM
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October 3, 2005 marked the beginning of a new era for the Devils. The construction crew broke ground in Newark, New Jersey and worked for two full years. On October 25, 2007 the Prudential Center, or “The Rock,” was opened to the public. It is located two blocks from Newark Penn Station making it easily accessible via New Jersey Transit, PATH, Newark Light Rail, and Amtrak. The Prudential Center is the first major league sports arena to be built in the metropolitan area since the Brendan Byrne Arena, the Devils' former home which was opened in 1981. This image represents the team’s new home as well as progress for revitalizing Newark. Newark pledged to contribute $210 million to the construction effort in hopes that the Devil’s would help bring an era of prosperity back to the area. The red and gray exterior is inspired by Newark’s bricklaying heritage as well as homage to the colors of the Devils. The Prudential Center also serves as usage for the New Jersey Devils, the Seton Hall Pirates men’s college basketball team, NJSIAA Public A State Finals for high school ice hockey, and numerous concerts.
The 1994-1995 NHL season may first be remembered by the lockout which shortened the season to 48 games instead of the usual 84. The 104 day lockout last from October 1, 1994 to January 11, 1995. A total of 468 games were lost due to this dispute. The big issue was the implementation of a salary cap, which NHL owners were strongly in favor of while the players were opposed to it. However, the Devils returned to the Eastern Conference Finals and defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. After a heartbreaking loss the previous season in seven games, this was just the fuel needed to sweep the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in the championship for their first ever Stanley Cup. Pictured here is Devil’s captain Scott Stevens during the traditional kissing of the cup. Once the winner is decided, the cup is brought out and passed among each teammate who has a short time alone to skate around kissing and showing it off. Many legends and traditions surround the cup, the oldest of which is the celebratory drinking of champagne out of it by the winning team. The Stanley Cup is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, and unlike other trophies awarded in the major sports across North America, a new cup is not made each year. It is also the only trophy in professional sports that has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved on it.
Martin Brodeur, son of exceptional goalie and 1956 Olympic bronze medal winner for Team Canada, was drafted 20th overall in the first round of the 1990 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils. In the 1991-1992 season he was called up to play during the regular season after Chris Terreri and Craig Billington were injured. In his 1994 season Brodeur won the Calder Trophy for the best rookie in the NHL, an impressive achievement for a goalie. From that season on, Brodeur became a feared goalie and a player that many teams planned their strategy around. Currently, Brodeur’s career has attained second place on the all-time NHL record list for most wins and most shutouts, among other notable achievements. Martin Brodeur is also the only goalie in NHL history to score a game winning goal. This video clip is a highlight reel of some of the greatest saves Martin Brodeur has had to date. Leading a team to three Stanley Cup championships and appearances in the playoffs all but once during his fifteen year tenure is something that cannot be achieved without excellence. He is considered a hybrid style goalie, which differs from the typical butterfly style that most goalies stick to. As one can see from the video, Brodeur is touted for his reflexes, especially with his glove hand, his puck handling and his positional play. All these characteristics combined make him one of the best, if not the best, goalie ever to grace the NHL.
On May 27, 1982 New Jersey resident and shipping tycoon John McMullen purchased the team, at the time named the Colorado Rockies, and announced that relocation to New Jersey along with a name swap would shortly follow. Over 10,000 people participated in a contest held by local newspapers to select a name for the team. On June 30, 1982 the team was renamed the New Jersey devils. The team would now be participating directly in the middle of the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tri-state area, at the time one of the most competitive spots as well as home to the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the New York Islanders. Relocation also brought on their new rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers. The image depicted here represents the team’s new and final home. Following the tradition of naming the franchise after something unique to its location, the team became known as the New Jersey Devils. The inspiration for the name comes from the legend of the Jersey Devil. Legend has it that this ominous creature inhabits the Pine Barrens of South Jersey, and in Bernards Township (just five minutes away from my house) is the notorious “Devil’s Tree” which is allegedly cursed and anyone who damages it will soon thereafter come to some harm. The logo also includes a devil tail and horns symbolizing the teams’ fierceness and desire to aggressively overcome the opposing team.
The National Hockey League, which was formed in 1917 in Canada, had its first expansion period in 1974. Teams were added in Kansas City, Missouri, and Washington D.C. The club in Kansas City was first known as the Mohawks, however this named resembled the Chicago Black Hawks too closely and the franchise was forced to rename itself to the Scouts after a statue in the city. October 9, 1974 marked the first time in which the team took the ice. As many expansion teams are in their inaugural season, the Scouts had a weak performance and failed to make the playoffs. The image seen here is the franchise’s first logo. As with many sports teams, they derive their name from something unique to the city or state. This franchise was inspired by the Kansas City scout statue which overlooks the city. The scout on a horse gazing outward suggests power and clarity of vision. These characteristics are important to hockey particularly because it is a sport that must be played aggressively and altruistically to be successful.
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