On
October 9, 1974, the Kansas City Scouts took to the ice for
the first time in Kansas City, Missouri, losing 6-2 to the
Toronto Maple Leafs. The Scouts' lack of success on the ice
and financial problems forced them to move to Denver, Colorado
after only two years.
In Denver, where they were known as the Colorado Rockies,
they also failed to attract fans, and in their six-year tenure
in Colorado they only made the playoffs once. Not even the
hiring of popular, flamboyant coach Don Cherry could save
the Rockies, and they moved to the new Meadowlands complex
in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1982.
Between 1990 and 1993, the Devils made the playoffs each year,
only to bow out in the first round each time. In 1994, the
Devils started gaining respectability in NHL circles. A team
headlined by defenseman Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer;
Claude Lemieux, Bobby Holik, Valeri Zelepukin, Stephane Richer
and John MacLean on offense; and goaltenders Martin Brodeur
and Chris Terreri steamrolled through the regular season,
only to lose to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New York
Rangers in the Eastern conference final.
Despite the setback, the damage was done. The following year,
the same team would win their first-ever Stanley Cup in a
lockout-shortened season, sweeping the Detroit Red Wings in
four games.
The Devils missed the playoffs in 1996, and failed to live
up to expectations through the remainder of the 1990s. In
1999–2000, however, they reached the top again. Stevens,
Holik, Lemieux, Niedermayer, and Brodeur, all integral parts
of the 1995 team, won their second Cup rings, but they were
backed up by new blood that the Devils had acquired in the
intervening five years: Patrick Elias, Petr Sykora, Jason
Arnott, Brian Rafalski, Alexander Mogilny, and rookies Scott
Gomez and John Madden to name a few.
The team fell short of winning their third Stanley Cup in
2001, losing to the Colorado Avalanche in seven games. In
2002, they were thought to be contenders once again, but lost
to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. In 2003, they
returned to the top, beating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for
the Stanley Cup, four games to three. Martin Brodeur, Scott
Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko, and Sergei Brylin
each won their third cup and Jeff Friesen, Jamie Langenbrunner,
John Madden, and Brian Rafalski were all important contributors.
Founded: 1974–1975 (franchise awarded
June 8, 1972)
Formerly Known As: Kansas City Scouts (1974–1976),
Colorado Rockies (1976–1982)
Arena: Continental Airlines Arena (capacity
19,040), formerly known as the Brendan Byrne Arena until 1996.
Uniform colors: Red, White, and Black
Logo design: a circle with a red N and J
shaped like a devil's horns and tail
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