Welcome to LWOS Hockey’s summer series. After the historic 2016 NHL Free Agency period, it’s a good time to look at the best free agent signing in the history of all 30 NHL franchises. Up next: The all-time best New Jersey Devils free agent signing.
Make sure to check out the previous articles in our 2016 summer series here.
The All-Time Best New Jersey Devils Free Agent Signing
1997 – John Madden: Amateur Free Agency
The Player
John Madden began his unusual hockey career in Toronto, Ontario. Raised in the Parma Housing Projects, he spent time with numerous minor league teams, including the Alliston Hornets and Barrie Colts. In 1992, following a 104-point season with the Colts, he was selected in the 11th round of the OHL Priority Selection by the Niagara Falls Thunder. Instead of reporting to Niagara, however, Madden decided to play another season with Barrie in an attempt to earn an NCAA scholarship. During this season, he managed to amass an impressive 124 points in the span of 43 games. Despite this impressive showing, however, no NHL teams took the risk of drafting him in his third year of draft eligibility in the 1993 Entry Draft.
University of Michigan
With his stellar play in the minors, Madden earned a scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he spent a full four years. In his 160 games with the Wolverines, he tallied 180 total points from 80 goals and 100 assists and added 123 penalty minutes as well. Furthermore, he set an NCAA record with 23 career shorthanded goals, led the Wolverines to the 1995-96 National Championship, and earned the titles of CCHA First All-Star and NCAA All-American.
Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello, who had been watching both Madden and his teammate Brendan Morrison, eventually decided to take the chance. After drafting Morrison in the second round of the 1997 Entry Draft, Lamoriello offered Madden a contract as an amateur free agent, bringing him into the world of professional hockey at the age of 24.
The Team
In the years leading up to Madden’s arrival, the New Jersey Devils had begun to establish themselves as a legitimate playoff contender. Following Lamoriello’s self-appointment to the position of General Manager prior to the 1987-88 season, the Devils finished with a winning record for the first time in franchise history, making it all the way to the conference finals before losing to the Boston Bruins. The Devils finished the following season with a losing record, but went on to make the playoffs in each of the next four seasons, leaving in the first round every time. These four years saw the Devils hire four different coaches, eventually passing the job to Jacques Lemaire prior to the 1993-94 season.
It was under Lemaire’s guidance that the Devils became a championship franchise, and his impact was immediate. During the 1993-94 season, the team soared to new heights on the backs of players such as Scott Niedermayer, John MacLean, and Martin Brodeur. After totaling an impressive 103 points, the Devils finished the regular season second in the Eastern Conference and fought deep into the playoffs. Though they eventually lost to the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals, they had already set a precedent for success.
A Recent Cup Winner
The following season proved to be the best in franchise history. In the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season, the Devils again drove deep into the playoffs, cruising past the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals and sweeping the Detroit Red Wings to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. The team followed this astounding run by missing the playoffs the following year, losing on the final day of the season to the Ottawa Senators. The 1996-97 season saw them total 104 points and return to the playoffs, yet they were unable to make another deep push.
The Result
Despite Lamoriello’s belief in Madden, he spent the majority of his first two years playing for the AHL’s Albany River Rats. During the 1998-99 season, he led the team in scoring, including team records of 60 assists and 98 points. He also earned his first call up during this season, playing four games and tallying an assist. Madden earned his starting spot on the Devils the following season at the tender age of 26.
An Important Piece in Rejuvenating the Team, and The Devils Second Stanley Cup
The 1999-00 served as a sort of resurgence for the Devils, and they once again pushed deep into the playoffs thanks to a deep roster and a great balance between veteran presence and young talent in the forms of Scott Gomez and Patrik Elias. Following another coaching change late in the season, the team pushed through the playoffs, beating the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Philadelphia Flyers en route to the Final. There, they defeated the Dallas Stars in six games to claim the Cup yet again. Throughout this run, Madden contributed 18 regular season points and added seven more in the playoffs.
In the 2000-01 season, the Devils returned to the Stanley Cup final yet again, but lost to the Colorado Avalanche after leading 3-2. While the team failed to recreate the magic of the previous year, Madden put forth an excellent effort. In addition to scoring 38 points and boasting a plus-minus of 24, he became the first Devil’s player to earn the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward in the NHL. The Devils returned to their old ways in the 2001-02 season, in which they finished third in the division yet flamed out in the first round of the playoffs. Madden would contribute 23 points that season.
A Third Cup For Jersey
In response to the disappointing finish of 2001-02, the Devils took the league by storm again the following year. After accumulating 108 points and finishing first in the Atlantic Division, they fought their way to the Stanley Cup final for the third time in four years. After a tough seven-game series against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the Devils emerged victorious yet again, earning their third Cup in less than a decade. Madden contributed 41 regular season points and followed that up with 16 more points across 24 postseason games. He finished second in Selke voting for the season, losing out to Jere Lehtinen of the Dallas Stars.
Madden would spend five more seasons with the Devils before winning his third Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks. In his 712 regular season games in a Devils sweater, John Madden contributed 297 points, including 17 shorthanded goals. Although he was never a top scorer, his role as a defensive forward and expertise on the penalty kill ensured his spot on the Devils roster through the age of 35. His time in New Jersey netted him two Stanley Cups, one Selke Trophy, three Selke runner-ups, and the title of alternate captain for much of his last four years. He also set the NHL record of six shorthanded goals in his first full season with the team.
Legacy
Though his professional career didn’t begin until he was already 26, Madden was the pinnacle of toughness and consistency, missing only 28 games in his 9 years as a starter. He was never one for fancy dekes or pinpoint sniping. Instead, it is his hustle, intelligence, and consistency that has earned John Madden the the title of the Devil’s best free agent signing.
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