Devils All-Time Team, 2015 Edition

[Classic Devil]

So, I do this every year: of the players in Devils team history, what is the best team we can assemble? This is a complicated question, of course, since "best" is subjective without actually being able to have the teams play each other.

I'll set up two sets of rules, one that can be done quickly, one that takes a fair bit of effort:

(1) Create a lineup, using whatever rules you want to follow, and post it here!

or

(2) Create a lineup, using the following rules:

A. You're selecting a player from a given season (so, for instance, Patrik Elias from 1999-2000)
B. You cannot select the same player from two different seasons (so, can't have four Patrik Eliases)
C. You cannot have two players from the same year (so, if you take Elias from 1999-2000 you can't take Stevens from 1999-2000)
D.1. You cannot have two players who wore the same number (so, you can't have Langenbrunner and MacLean, and you cannot have Driver and Gomez)
D.2. Players are considered to have the number they are best remembered for wearing (so, Gomez wears 23 and not 21, which is still just weird)

Click to read more...

 

[Classic Devil]

Using the more complicated rules, I came up with this this weekend:

#17 Ilya Kovalchuk (2011-2012) - #10 Aaron Broten (1986-1987) - #15 John MacLean 'A' (1988-1989)
#26 Patrik Elias 'A' (2000-2001) - #25 Jason Arnott (1999-2000) - #44 Stephane Richer (1994-1995)
#9 Zach Parise (2008-2009) - #19 Travis Zajac (2009-2010) - #22 Claude Lemieux (1992-1993)
#11 John Madden (2007-2008) - #16 Bobby Holik (1998-1999) - #21 Randy McKay (1997-1998)
#93 Doug Gilmour (1996-1997) - #14 Brian Gionta (2005-2006)

#4 Scott Stevens 'C' (1993-1994) - #28 Brian Rafalski (2006-2007)
#3 Ken Daneyko (1989-1990) - #27 Scott Niedermayer (2003-2004)
#6 Andy Greene (2013-2014) - #23 Bruce Driver (1987-1988)
#7 Alexei Kasatonov (1990-1991)

#30 Martin Brodeur (2002-2003)
#35 Cory Schneider (2014-2015)
​

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

 

[Wingman77]

Only made 1 change from last time, that being Schneider.

#26 Patrik Elias (2005-2006) (A) - #25 Jason Arnott (1999-2000) - #17 Petr Sykora (2000-2001)
#44 Stephane Richer (1994-1995) - #10 Aaron Broten (1987-1988) - #15 John MacLean (1988-1989)
#11 Brendan Shanahan (1989-1990) - #16 Bobby Holik (1998-1999) - #22 Claude Lemieux (1992-1993)
#12 Jeff Friesen (2002-2003) - #19 Travis Zajac (2009-2010) - #21 Randy McKay (1997-1998)
#14 Brian Gionta (2007-2008) - #18 Sergei Brylin (2005-2006)

#4 Scott Stevens (C) (1993-1994) - #28 Brian Rafalski (2006-2007)
#2 Joe Cirella (1983-1984) - #27 Scott Niedermayer (2003-2004)
#3 Ken Daneyko (A) (1986-1987) - #23 Bruce Driver (1990-1991)
#24 Bryce Salvador (2011-2012)

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

Head Coach: Pat Burns
Assistant Coach: Larry Robinson
Assistant Coach: Viacheslav Fetisov
Goalie Coach: Jacques Caron

General Manager: Lou Lamoriello​

 

[NJDevs26]

I'll try 2 for the heck of it

LW - 2000-01 #26 Patrik Elias (40-56-96 +45)
C - 1987-88 #9 Kirk Muller (37-57-94 +19)
RW - 2005-06 #14 Brian Gionta (48-41-89 +18)
D - 1993-94 #4 Scott Stevens (18-60-78 +53) - Shoulda been a Norris season
D - 2003-04 #27 Scott Niedermayer (14-40-54 +20) - Norris season
G - 2002-03 #30 Martin Brodeur (41 wins, 2.02 GAA, 9 SHO) - based on totality including playoff run
Coach - 1994-95 Jacques Lemaire

(oh we have to do four lines? Well I'm out then lol)

 

[Classic Devil]

Only made 1 change from last time, that being Schneider.

#26 Patrik Elias (2005-2006) (A) - #25 Jason Arnott (1999-2000) - #17 Petr Sykora (2000-2001)
#44 Stephane Richer (1994-1995) - #10 Aaron Broten (1987-1988) - #15 John MacLean (1988-1989)
#11 Brendan Shanahan (1989-1990) - #16 Bobby Holik (1998-1999) - #22 Claude Lemieux (1992-1993)
#12 Jeff Friesen (2002-2003) - #19 Travis Zajac (2009-2010) - #21 Randy McKay (1997-1998)
#14 Brian Gionta (2007-2008) - #18 Sergei Brylin (2005-2006)

#4 Scott Stevens (C) (1993-1994) - #28 Brian Rafalski (2006-2007)
#2 Joe Cirella (1983-1984) - #27 Scott Niedermayer (2003-2004)
#3 Ken Daneyko (A) (1986-1987) - #23 Bruce Driver (1990-1991)
#24 Bryce Salvador (2011-2012)

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

Head Coach: Pat Burns
Assistant Coach: Larry Robinson
Assistant Coach: Viacheslav Fetisov
Goalie Coach: Jacques Caron

General Manager: Lou Lamoriello​

Salvador 2011-2012 is a great season to stick into the lineup, just because his playoffs were so spectacular. I decided to use Kovalchuk this time instead of Sundstrom, I almost never use Sykora as my 17.

For me though, the hardest decision is always which #23 do I use - Gomez or Driver? In the end, I almost always use Driver.

Kasatonov vs. Cirella is a good one, though. I should probably include Cirella more than I do.

 

[Wingman77]

Salvador 2011-2012 is a great season to stick into the lineup, just because his playoffs were so spectacular. I decided to use Kovalchuk this time instead of Sundstrom, I almost never use Sykora as my 17.

For me though, the hardest decision is always which #23 do I use - Gomez or Driver? In the end, I almost always use Driver.

Upon initially going to post my lineup I had no intentions of adding Cory because I initially laughed when going to post it because there weren't going to be any changes since what good could there have been from this season . Easy to forget much that went on!

When making my lineups, I've always taken into account how the player went out/will be remembered. The Kovalchuk and Parise situations I'm not in the least bitter about, but just on the principle I like to follow, they are no gos for me.

 

[Classic Devil]

I'll try 2 for the heck of it

LW - 2000-01 #26 Patrik Elias (40-56-96 +45)
C - 1987-88 #9 Kirk Muller (37-57-94 +19)
RW - 2005-06 #14 Brian Gionta (48-41-89 +18)
D - 1993-94 #4 Scott Stevens (18-60-78 +53) - Shoulda been a Norris season
D - 2003-04 #27 Scott Niedermayer (14-40-54 +20) - Norris season
G - 2002-03 #30 Martin Brodeur (41 wins, 2.02 GAA, 9 SHO) - based on totality including playoff run
Coach - 1994-95 Jacques Lemaire

(oh we have to do four lines? Well I'm out then lol)

The first time I did this it was back in 2005, and at the time there was literally no room for error: I had to pick one player from every season in the team's history. It's much easier now, the added seasons give a whole lot more flexibility.

 

[Classic Devil]

Upon initially going to post my lineup I had no intentions of adding Cory because I initially laughed when going to post it because there weren't going to be any changes since what good could there have been from this season . Easy to forget much that went on!

When making my lineups, I've always taken into account how the player went out/will be remembered. The Kovalchuk and Parise situations I'm not in the least bitter about, but just on the principle I like to follow, they are no gos for me.

That's been something I've done the last few years, I cut them on principle - and that's not hurt too much, since it strengthens the center position a lot by creating room for Muller and Sundstrom. This year I decided to include them really just to try something different.

 

[Wingman77]

That's been something I've done the last few years, I cut them on principle - and that's not hurt too much, since it strengthens the center position a lot by creating room for Muller and Sundstrom. This year I decided to include them really just to try something different.

I like your Andy Greene inclusion and it is definitely somemthing I will be considering for future teams. I think this was yet another example of me not looking to take much or anything from the last 2 seasons

I for the most over the years of putting my lineup for this together tried to include as many guys that I actually saw play as possible (not during the specific seasons listed, but at any point in their career) and I think Greene for Cirella could be a substitution going forward.

 

[Classic Devil]

I like your Andy Greene inclusion and it is definitely somemthing I will be considering for future teams. I think this was yet another example of me not looking to take much or anything from the last 2 seasons

I for the most over the years of putting my lineup for this together tried to include as many guys that I actually saw play as possible (not during the specific seasons listed, but at any point in their career) and I think Greene for Cirella could be a substitution going forward.

Greene has really played his way into serious contention the last few seasons, but I expect if I'd been old enough to see Cirella play I might feel the same about him.

 

[NJDevs26]

I too tried to restrict it to guys I saw play and years I saw them play so I had Muller in my initial list to improve at center but nixed him to put Parise in at LW and Gilmour at C. I only 'cheated' with Dano in I put him in his best statistical year before I watched the Devils play (also put Richer in a year early for that matter, but he was my first favorite Devil so I had to get him in anyway) but I did want to get all the retired number guys in as well as iconic type seasons like Nieds winning the Norris, Claude with the Smythe, Friesen and Sal's unexpected playoff heroics and Marty setting the season wins record. I put these in numerical, not line order to make it easier to keep track.

C - #11 John Madden (2007-2008)
C - #16 Bobby Holik (1996-1997)
C - #23 Scott Gomez (1999-2000)
C - #93 Doug Gilmour (1997-1998)

LW - #9 Zach Parise (2008-2009)
LW - #12 Jeff Friesen (2002-2003)
LW - #26 Patrik Elias (2000-2001)
LW - #44 Stephane Richer (1992-1993)

RW - #14 Brian Gionta (2005-2006)
RW - #17 Petr Sykora (1998-1999)
RW - #22 Claude Lemieux (1994-1995)
RW - #68 Jaromir Jagr (2013-2014)

D - #3 Ken Daneyko (1989-1990)
D - #4 Scott Stevens (1993-1994)
D - #6 Andy Greene (2009-2010)
D - #24 Bryce Salvador (2011-2012)
D - #27 Scott Niedermayer (2003-2004)
D - #28 Brian Rafalski (2001-2002)

G - #30 Martin Brodeur (2006-2007)
G - #35 Cory Schneider (2014-2015)

Coach - Jacques Lemaire
Assistant - Larry Robinson
Assistant - Slava Fetisov
Goaltending Coach - Jacques Caron
GM - Lou Lamoriello

 

[Classic Devil]

I too tried to restrict it to guys I saw play and years I saw them play so I had Muller in my initial list to improve at center but nixed him to put Parise in at LW and Gilmour at C. I only 'cheated' with Dano in I put him in his best statistical year before I watched the Devils play (also put Richer in a year early for that matter, but he was my first favorite Devil so I had to get him in anyway) but I did want to get all the retired number guys in as well as iconic type seasons like Nieds winning the Norris, Claude with the Smythe, Friesen and Sal's unexpected playoff heroics and Marty setting the season wins record. I put these in numerical, not line order to make it easier to keep track.

C - #11 John Madden (2007-2008)
C - #16 Bobby Holik (1996-1997)
C - #23 Scott Gomez (1999-2000)
C - #93 Doug Gilmour (1997-1998)

LW - #9 Zach Parise (2008-2009)
LW - #12 Jeff Friesen (2002-2003)
LW - #26 Patrik Elias (2000-2001)
LW - #44 Stephane Richer (1992-1993)

RW - #14 Brian Gionta (2005-2006)
RW - #17 Petr Sykora (1998-1999)
RW - #22 Claude Lemieux (1994-1995)
RW - #68 Jaromir Jagr (2013-2014)

D - #3 Ken Daneyko (1989-1990)
D - #4 Scott Stevens (1993-1994)
D - #6 Andy Greene (2009-2010)
D - #24 Bryce Salvador (2011-2012)
D - #27 Scott Niedermayer (2003-2004)
D - #28 Brian Rafalski (2001-2002)

G - #30 Martin Brodeur (2006-2007)
G - #35 Cory Schneider (2014-2015)

Coach - Jacques Lemaire
Assistant - Larry Robinson
Assistant - Slava Fetisov
Goaltending Coach - Jacques Caron
GM - Lou Lamoriello

I always wonder if I should put guys in for heroic playoff performances or for best regular season ones. I usually default to best regular season just because it tends to offer more flexibility overall, than being stuck with Stevens in 1999-2000 and Lemieux in 1994-1995. But maybe I'll try that next, it's been some years since I did and it's so much easier to do this now than it used to be.

On the other hand, I take Brodeur 2002-2003 because of his playoff heroics.

 

[NJDevs26]

I always wonder if I should put guys in for heroic playoff performances or for best regular season ones. I usually default to best regular season just because it tends to offer more flexibility overall, than being stuck with Stevens in 1999-2000 and Lemieux in 1994-1995. But maybe I'll try that next, it's been some years since I did and it's so much easier to do this now than it used to be.

On the other hand, I take Brodeur 2002-2003 because of his playoff heroics.

I didn't really do classic third/fourth lines either although on mine you could have Richer-Holik-Lemieux as a monster third line, but only one of Madden-Friesen-Jagr belongs on a 'fourth' all-time line. Or make it Richer-Holik-Jagr and Friesen-Madden-Lemieux. More or less I have Elias-Gilmour-Gionta and Parise-Gomez-Sykora as smallish top sixes. I didn't quite get the D quite balanced out cause both Sal and Greene play the left side primarily.

I didn't do Stevens' Conn Smythe season, I figured his 'shoulda been Norris' season in '93-94 deserved even more recognition. I kind of wanted to do Gomez 2005-06 instead of Gionta but I didn't want to leave the all-time single-season scoring leader off so I picked Gomez's ROY season instead.