The Scott Niedermayer Tenure
The Devils are one of the teams credited with popularizing the neutral zone trap in the mid-1990s.
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The club was founded as the Kansas City Scouts in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1974. The Scouts moved to Denver in 1976 and became the Colorado Rockies. In 1982, they moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, and took their current name, which is derived from the legendary Jersey Devil creature. For their first 25 seasons in New Jersey, the Devils were based at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford and played their home games at Brendan Byrne Arena (later renamed Continental Airlines Arena). Before the 2007–08 season, the team moved to Prudential Center in Newark. The Devils are owned and managed by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), with founders Josh Harris and David Blitzer acquiring the team in 2013.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Defenseman
- Jersey number
- 7
- Stanley Cups
- 3
- Conn smythe year
- 2003
- Years active
- 1991–2004
- Team era
- The Championship Era
Lore & Background
The franchise was poor to mediocre in the eight years before moving to New Jersey, with only one playoff appearance and no winning seasons. The pattern continued during the first five years in New Jersey, with no playoff appearances and never finishing higher than fifth in a six-team division. Their fortunes began to turn around following the hiring of president and general manager Lou Lamoriello in 1987. Under Lamoriello's stewardship, the Devils made the playoffs all but three times between 1988 and 2012, including 13 berths in a row from 1997 to 2010, and finished with a winning record every season from 1992–93 to 2009–10. They have won the Atlantic Division regular season title nine times, most recently in 2009–10, before transferring to the newly created Metropolitan Division as part of the NHL's realignment in 2013. The Devils have reached the Stanley Cup Final five times, winning in 1994–95, 1999–2000 and 2002–03, and losing in 2000–01 and 2011–12. The Devils were known for their defense-first approach throughout their years of Cup contention, and were one of the teams credited with popularizing the neutral zone trap in the mid-1990s.
Reader's Guide
The Devils have a rivalry with their cross-Hudson River neighbor, the New York Rangers, as well as a rivalry with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Devils are one of three NHL teams in the New York metropolitan area; the others are the Rangers and the New York Islanders. The Devils are one of four major professional sports teams that play their home games in New Jersey; the others are the National Football League's New York Giants and New York Jets, and the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. Since the relocation of the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn in 2012, the Devils have been the only major league team in any sport to bill themselves as solely representing the state of New Jersey.
Did You Know?
- Claude Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy with the Devils in 1995.
- Rob Niedermayer played for the Devils from 2008 to 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who defined The Scott Niedermayer Tenure?
Scott Niedermayer served as the defensive cornerstone and a primary leader for the Devils throughout his time in New Jersey.
How many Stanley Cups did he win during this era?
He anchored the defense for three championship victories, securing titles in 1995, 2000, and 2003.
What individual honor did Niedermayer receive?
Niedermayer capped his Devils career by winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during the 2003 Stanley Cup run.
When did this specific era conclude?
His tenure ended in 2003 when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks immediately following their third championship victory.
More in Club History & Eras
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