Top 5 New Jersey Devils of All Time - Yahoo! Sports

The New Jersey Devils have been one of the NHL's best franchises over the last twenty years. During that span, they have won three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000 and 2003) and have made four finals appearances overall (1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003). Only the Detroit Red Wings have been better.

So, which Devils have been the biggest keys to their success?

Here are what I consider to be the top five greatest New Jersey Devils of all time.

5. John MacLean, RW

MacLean played in more than 900 games for the New Jersey Devils. During his time with the team, he held the franchise records in goals and points, records that have since been broken by Patrik Elias. He also scored one of the biggest goals in Devils history as his overtime goal against the Blackhawks clinched the franchise's first playoff berth in 1988.

4. Scott Niedermayer, D

Known for his great skating ability, Scott Niedermayer was a winner at every level. He won three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, a fourth one as captain of the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 (where he won Conn Smythe honors as playoff MVP, as well) and two gold medals as a member of Team Canada. Last but not least, Niedermayer also won the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the NHL's best defenseman in his final year with the Devils.

3. Patrik Elias, LW/C

Patrik Elias, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, has been both an underrated forward and a great two-way player over the last decade and a half for the New Jersey Devils. The new "Mr. Devil," Elias holds the franchise record in goals, assists and points in both the regular season and postseason. Quite simply, he is the best forward in franchise history. His jersey will be in the rafters alongside Stevens, Daneyko, Niedermayer and Brodeur some day soon.

2. Scott Stevens, D

The captain takes number two on the list. As the leader of the New Jersey Devils for thirteen seasons, Scott Stevens hoisted the Stanley Cup three times and also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2000. In 2007, he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on the first ballot. Known for his toughness, Stevens will go down in NHL history as arguably the greatest open-ice hitter of all time.

1. Martin Brodeur, G

Was there any doubt? Martin Brodeur is arguably the greatest goaltender in NHL history. Among other accolades, he holds the NHL record for both wins and shutouts. Brodeur, the face of the Devils franchise for the past several years, has won three Stanley Cups, two gold medals, a Calder Memorial Trophy for best rookie and four Vezina trophies as the NHL's top goaltender. And he is still going.

Thanks for reading.

Source: Statistics found at http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NJD/leaders_career.html

Michael Pellegrini has been a fan of the New Jersey Devils since the mid to late 1990s when they had players like Doug Gilmour and Dave Andreychuk in the later stages of their career.