The New Jersey Devils announced that for the first time since 2017, they will be inducting a new member into the team’s Ring of Honour. The first, and only, member is Dr. John J. McMullen, the man responsible for bringing the club to New Jersey. Since its inception in 2017, the Ring of Honour looked like a great way to celebrate players and people within the organization who won’t have a jersey hanging in the rafters. However, the idea was put on ice for the past six seasons. That is until this season.
The New Jersey Devils have a long, rich history despite only 41 years of existence. Throughout those 41 years, many players, coaches, and management have made their mark on the three-time Stanley Cup champions. With the selection yet to be revealed, plenty of strong options exist for who should be the organization’s second Ring of Honour member.
Potential New Jersey Devils Ring of Honour Inductees
Sergei Brylin
If there were odds on who would be this year’s nominee, Brylin would be the frontrunner. Drafted by the Devils in 1992, Brylin went on to have 13 successful NHL seasons, all with New Jersey. Outside of a few 40+ point seasons, Brylin’s calling card wasn’t his offence. However, what helped him stick in the league for so long was his defensive prowess and hard-nosed, workman-like play style that defined those Devils Stanley Cup winning teams. Brylin also has two big factors working in his favour. The first is that he’s one of five players to have won all three cups with the Devils. The other four all have their jerseys in the rafters. The second factor is that he has also been a coach in the organization since 2013. Sergei Brylin is a New Jersey Devil through and through and should be the frontrunner for this year’s inductee.
John MacLean
John MacLean was the New Jersey Devils first offensive star. In 14 seasons with the Devils, he played in 934 games, scoring 701 points. But none may be more famous than his overtime goal against the Chicago Blackhawks which clinched the organization’s first playoff birth. It is one of the more monumental goals in franchise history, and for that alone, he should be considered for the Ring of Honour. MacLean’s play and offensive ability were a shining light of the organization during its lean years of early existence. He went on to have a not-so-great tenure as the Devils head coach for six months in 2010, but that is a small blemish on what was a great career as a Devil.
Glenn “Chico” Resch
There may not be a more beloved person within the Devils organization and family than “Chico” Resch. After an eight-year run with the New York Islanders, Chico was sent to the then-Colorado Rockies. After two years in Colorado, he stayed with the team during their relocation to New Jersey. His time with the team wasn’t particularly pretty, but his post-playing career is what’s made him a fan favourite. For years he was the right-hand man to one of the greatest sports announcers of all time, Doc Emrick. The two of them were the voice of the Devils for years and it was their quippy, improvisational humour that kept viewers entertained. After briefly retiring, Chico now brings his craft to the radio commentary. His commitment to the Devils fans and community is why he will forever be loved, and well worthy to be inducted into the Ring of Honour.
Travis Zajac
There are loads of players, coaches, and staff from their Stanley Cup era that deserve to be in the Ring of Honour, but there are a handful from the recent iterations of this team that deserve to be in. Travis Zajac was one of those players that exemplified what it meant to be a Devil. Zajac played 15 years with the Devils, totalling 1024 games. He is just the fourth player to play over 1,000 games for the franchise. And during his career, he was one of the hardest workers out there. Zajac made his mark as a defensive centre while also chipping in eight 40+ point seasons. He truly was a player who never got the credit he deserved. He regularly locked down the opposing team’s top players and was a fundamental player for the 2012 Cup Finals team.
Honourable Mentions
The list of names that are deserving is over a dozen. This franchise has been blessed with hardworking, impact players who played a role in winning Stanley Cups. Hopefully, they decide to make this a yearly, or at the very least, bi-annual tradition. Below are a few honourable mentions of who should be inducted into the Ring of Honour in the future.
- Former General Manager and three-time Stanley Cup Champion Lou Lamoriello
- Former Head Coach and 1995 Stanley Cup Champion Jacques Lemaire
- Former Head Coach and 2000 Stanley Cup Champion Larry Robinson
- Former Head Coach and 2003 Stanley Cup Champion Pat Burns
- Former Devils Captain and 2003 Stanley Cup Champion Jamie Langenbrunner
- Former 2000 Stanley Cup Champion and Cup Clinching OT Goal Scorer Jason Arnott
Main Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
