Some made a profound impact in New Jersey. Conversely, others flourished outside the Garden State. No matter where they prospered in the NHL, these players were all drafted by the New Jersey Devils. This list includes two goaltenders, six defencemen and 12 forwards.
For part five, we move on over to the right side.
- Right Wing:
- Pat Verbeek (1982, Third Round, Pick 43 Overall) – An original Devil was Verbeek. Until Brian Gionta netted 48 goals in 2005-06, Verbeek long held the record for goals in a season, netting 46 in the 1987-88 season. In his Devils career, Verbeek pocketed 170 goals in 463 games. Playing in 1,424 NHL contests, Verbeek registered 522 goals, 541 assists and 1,063 points. Additionally, Verbeek was a two-time All-Star and was four-time 40-goal scorer. Verbeek was also a member of the 1998-99 Stanley Cup champion Dallas Stars.
- Steve Sullivan (1994, Ninth Round, Pick 233 Overall) – Always a spark plug, Steve Sullivan book ended his career with the Devils, appearing in 58 games, totaling 36 points. Sullivan helped guide the 1994-95 AHL Albany River Rats to a Calder Cup championship. Sullivan was an excellent all-around player, appearing in 1,011 NHL games, scoring 290 goals, adding 457 helpers and totaling 747 points. Sullivan notched double digits 15 times in his career, twice recording a 30-goal campaign. During the 2000-01 campaign, Sullivan paced the NHL with eight short-handed tallies. Also, the 2008-09 season saw Sullivan earn the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
- John MacLean (1983, First Round, Pick 6 Overall) – Much like Ken Daneyko and Bruce Driver, John MacLean played through the lean years but also had his taste of glory with the Devils, winning the Stanley Cup in 1995. MacLean scored one of the most important goals in franchise history, helping New Jersey qualify for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 1988. Along with being a three-time 40-goal scorer, MacLean was also a two-time All-Star. In his 1,194 game career, MacLean netted 413 goals, dished out 429 assists and totaled 842 points. In the playoffs, MacLean notched 83 points in 104 contests. While with the Devils, MacLean racked up 701 points in 934 games.
- Bill Guerin (1989, First Round, Pick 5 Overall) – Often times I wonder how many goals Guerin would’ve had if he didn’t play in the Devils’ trapping system. As it was, Guerin was still able to score 429 goals, along with 427 assists and 856 points in 1,263 games. Guerin posted a pair of 40-goal campaigns and was a four-time All-Star. Posting 74 points in 140 playoff games, Guerin won the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 1995 and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008-09. During his 380 game Devil tenure, Guerin put up 214 points. Guerin is also a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Honorable Mentions: Petr Sykora, Brian Gionta.