Category Archives: Best To Wear
Best to Wear – #16
Sorry for the lateness of posting this week’s “Best to Wear.” I have had very limited computer access.
You don’t really care, though. All you care about is you have the opportunity to vote for who was the best New Jersey Devils player to wear number 16.
I left Dainius Zubrus off the list since he won Best to Wear #8.
You will have until 12:00 PM EST on November 11 to vote.
Best to Wear # 15 – John MacLean
NUMBER: 15
HEIGHT: 6′ 0″
WEIGHT: 200
POSITION: Right Wing
SHOOTS: Right
BORN: November 20, 1964
BIRTHPLACE: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
John MacLean was drafted sixth overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils.
MacLean’s claim to fame for the New Jersey Devils, isn’t so much all the offensive records he set. No. MacLean is remembered for scoring an overtime goal against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 3, 1988. This goal would send the Devils into the playoffs for the first time.
MacLean was one of the Devils’ alternate captains when the team won the Stanley Cup in 1995.
He remained with the team until he was traded in 1997 so the San Jose Sharks.
He would go on to play with the New York Rangers and the Dallas Stars before retiring during the 2002 offseason.
MacLean would join the Devils coaching staff in September 2002 as an assistant coach, and was part of the coaching staff of the Stanley Cup winning team that year.
After being named head coach for the Lowell Devils of the AHL in 2009, MacLean was finally named head coach of the New Jersey Devils in 2010, but that didn’t go very well. MacLean was fired on December 23, 2010 while the Devils sat last in the Eastern Conference with a 9-22-2 record.
| Career Stats with the New Jersey Devils | ||||||||||
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | GW | S | S% |
| 934 | 347 | 354 | 791 | 42 | 1168 | 92 | 10 | 55 | 2715 | 12.8% |
Best to Wear #14 – Brian Gionta
NUMBER: 14
HEIGHT: 5’7″
WEIGHT: 175
POSITION: Right Wing
SHOOTS: Right
BORN: January 18, 1979
BIRTHPLACE: Rochester, New York
Brian Gionta was drafted in the third round, 82nd overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils.
Despite his size, Gionta is one of the swiftest skaters in the league. Standing at only 5’7″, Gionta is the second shortest player in the league (currently Buffalo’s Nathan Gerbe is two inches shorter).
Gionta played seven strong seasons with the Devils, before signing with the Montreal Canadiens in the Summer of 2009. As a fan favorite, one of his more memorable seasons was the 2005-2006 season as a part of the EGG (Elias-Gomez-Gionta) line. That season saw Gionta put up a career high 48 goals and 41 assists. His 48 goals in one season is currently the franchise’s record for most goals in a season. Gionta also holds the franchise record for most powerplay goals in a season with 24.
Gionta currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens with former Devils teammate, Scott Gomez. He was also named team captain for the Canadiens last season. Funny, an American is the captain of the Canadiens. Irony rules.
| Career Stats with the New Jersey Devils | ||||||||||
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | GW | S | S% |
| 473 | 152 | 160 | 312 | 62 | 227 | 48 | 5 | 30 | 1351 | 11.3% |
Best to Wear – #14
If you’re wondering where “Best to Wear – #13″ is, well there isn’t one. No one has ever worn the #13 for the New Jersey Devils, ever. Superstitious, much?
This week, you will be voting on the Best to Wear #14 in New Jersey Devils history. I think the choice is pretty clear.
You will have until Thursday, October 27 at 11:59 PM EDT to cast your vote.
Best to Wear #12 – Bill Guerin
NUMBER: 12
HEIGHT: 6′ 2″
WEIGHT: 220
POSITION: Right wing
SHOOTS: Right
BORN: November 9, 1970
BIRTHPLACE: Wilbraham, MA, USA
In one of the more exciting Best to Wear, the Devils Army voted Bill Guerin as the Best to Wear #12 in Devils history.
While I was growing up, Guerin, who was drafted fifth overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, was one of my favorite players. Guerin offered speed, size, offense and defense; he was an all-around player. He played with the Devils from the 91-92 season until the 97-98 season. He was traded, along with Valeri Zelepukin, to Edmonton. Who did the Devils get in return? Jason Arnott.
Guerin, a two time Stanley Cup champion, was always called a leader on every team that he played for in his storied career. He was only captain of one team, the New York Islanders.
Guerin announced his retirement on December 6, 2010 after 17 seasons in the NHL. When he retired, Guerin ranked seventh all-time in goals scored by an American with 429 goals.
| Career Stats with the New Jersey Devils | ||||||||||
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | GW | S | S% |
| 380 | 108 | 106 | 214 | 40 | 469 | 22 | 0 | 25 | 863 | 12.5% |
Here is one of my favorite Bill Guerin moments:
I apologize to some of you who were upset that I did not include Nick Palmieri in Best to Wear #12. Since I started the polls before the season started, I missed Larsson at #5, so I figured I wouldn’t include players if it’s their first year wearing the number. Palmieri will be listed for #32.
Best to Wear #11 – John Madden
NUMBER: 11
HEIGHT: 5’11″
WEIGHT: 190
POSITION: Center
SHOOTS: Left
BORN: May 4, 1973
BIRTHPLACE: Barrie, Ontario, Canada
“Boom! Tough actin’ Tinactin.”
No, not that John Madden. We’re talking about the three-time Stanley Cup Champion John Madden, that the Devils Army overwhelmingly voted as the Best to Wear #11 in New Jersey Devils history.
It’s a bit of a surprise to find out that John Madden wasn’t drafted by the New Jersey Devils, or any team for that matter. Despite a great career at the University of Michigan, Madden was passed over in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Who did the Devils take that year in the second round? Madden’s Wolverine teammate: Brendan Morrison.
Madden’s defensive reputation and his desire for championships were developed at the University of Michigan. Madden set the NCAA record for most career shorthanded goals with 23, and was a member of the 1995-96 Wolverines championship team.
Madden was signed by the Devils as an amateur free agent on June 26, 1997. Making his debut halfway through the 98-99 season, Madden’s play would earn him a permanent spot on the Devils 1999-2000 roster, which would go on to win the Stanley Cup.
Known for his leadership and defensive play, Madden was alternate captain for the Devils on numerous occasions. He also owns the franchise record for most shorthanded goals (17). In honor of his defensive play, Madden has won the Frank J. Selke trophy (2001) which highlights the forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. He was also a finalist for the award in 2003, 2004 and 2008.
As stated, Madden is also a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. He was a part of the 2000 and 2003 Devils Cup teams and the 2010 Blackhawks Cup winning team.
| Career Stats with the New Jersey Devils | ||||||||||
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | GW | S | S% |
| 712 | 140 | 157 | 297 | 35 | 193 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 1533 | 9.1% |
Best to Wear – #11
Let me tell you. I’m excited for this week’s voting.
There are a lot of great players on this list: former Stanley Cup Champions, a New Jersey hockey great, a current Devils Assistant Coach, and a guy who is responsible for handing out suspensions for the NHL.
You will have until 11:59 PM EDT on Thursday October 13 to place your vote.
Best to Wear #10 – Aaron Broten
NUMBER: 10
HEIGHT: 5’10″
WEIGHT: 180
POSITION: Left Wing
SHOOTS: Left
BORN: November 14, 1960
BIRTHPLACE: Roseau, Minnesota
It is fitting that the person to win Best to Wear #10, is an original on the New Jersey Devils roster.
Aaron Broten was drafted by the Colorado Rockies out of the University of Minnesota in the sixth round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Before starting his NHL career, Broten had an amazing sophomore season at the University of Minnesota in which he put up 106 points (47 goals, 59 assists) in only 45 games played.
Broten started his career with the organization while they were still known as the Colorado Rockies and he was an original member of the 1981-1982 New Jersey Devils roster. He was a crowd favorite as his skills let him be productive on the ice in almost any way possible. Broten could play the power play, kill penalties, and was an essential part of the 1987-1988 playoff bound team as he was on the same line as Kirk Muller and Pat Verbeek.
Broten also was very durable. He held the team’s iron-man record at 288 games until Ken Daneyko, and later Travis Zajac, broke the record.
He did his country proud by representing the United States in several Hockey World Championships. Broten was also inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.
| Career Stats with the New Jersey Devils | ||||||||||
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | GW | S | S% |
| 641 | 162 | 307 | 469 | -72 | 267 | 45 | 6 | 19 | 1243 | 13.0% |
Be sure to check back on Tuesday as we vote on Best to Wear #11.
