The New Jersey Devils have had plenty of tough guys over their history. Here are five of the club's best.
While the New Jersey Devils were never known as the most physical team in the league, they have had their share of tough players don the red, white, and black. From Troy Crowder to Bobby Holik, plenty could be considered some of the best in the organization's history. As part of The Hockey News' Enforcers Week, here are the top five fighters to drop the gloves in New Jersey.
5. Scott Stevens
956 GP | 1007 PIMS | 23 Fights (with the Devils)
Depending on your definition of an enforcer, this could be a controversial pick. While Stevens was never known for his fighting abilities, he is one of the toughest and most frightening players ever to lace up a pair of skates.
His opponents always knew when the 6-foot-2, 215-pound blueliner was on the ice, and those caught with their heads down paid the price. Stevens' brutal and notable hits on Paul Kariya and Eric Lindros were two of many throughout his 22-season career.
Stevens ranks 14th all-time on the PIMs list and fourth among Devils players behind Ken Daneyko, Randy McKay, and John MacLean.
4. Cam Janssen
171 GP | 304 PIMS | 38 Fights (with the Devils)
A fan favorite from the beginning, Cam Janssen could be classified as an enforcer and entertainer. He spent five seasons in New Jersey and was known for dropping the gloves and providing a spark whenever his team needed it. He never backed down from a bigger opponent fighting some of the toughest players in the league, like Brian McGrattan and Wade Belak.
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In an exclusive interview last summer, Janssen explained why he would wave the refs away when they tried to break up a fight.
"You have to remember, I'm 5-foot-11, fighting guys bigger than me. I need to be patient and have my cardio down so I could make a fight out of it," he said. "It's not like I am going to knock these guys out because it's hard to hit them. What I am going to do is put on a show for all the fans, and my teammates love it."
3. Mike Peluso
192 GP | 619 PIMS | 65 Fights (with the Devils)
Mike Peluso made up one-third of New Jersey's famous "Crash Line," along with Bobby Holik and Randy McKay. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound winger understood his role on the team and played it to perfection. Known for his intimidating and gritty style, he became a cult hero among Devils fans.
Peluso and his linemates were crucial in the team's first Stanely Cup championship in 1995. He was overcome with so much emotion near the end of the 1995 Stanley Cup-winning game that he famously could not take his final shift on the ice.
To this day, Peluso is only one of four NHL players in history to accumulate over 400 penalty minutes in a single season.
2. Ken Daneyko
1283 GP | 2516 PIMS | 117 Fights (with the Devils)
Ken "Mr. Devil" Daneyko spent his entire career on New Jersey's blue line. He is the franchise leader in penalty minutes, with 1,098 more than McKay (1418).
He fought no player more than Alan May, who ranked as the top enforcer in Washington Capitals history. Other notable opponents include Tie Domi and St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube.
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Stan Fischler wrote about Danekyo being one of the toughest Devils, adding, "Critics have credited (Daneyko) for helping New Jersey win its first playoff after he neutralized Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine throughout the series. "I wish we had Ken," LaFontaine told friends when the tournament was over."
1. Krzysztof Oliwa
210 GP | 724 PIMS | 79 Fights (with the Devils)
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound left winger is known for one thing: dropping the gloves.
Throughout his nine-year career, he tallied 1447 penalty minutes spending five seasons with New Jersey. He is widely considered the NHL's first European-born enforcer, and during his career, he spent time in the offseason taking boxing and karate lessons.
Like Peluso, he was one of the team's toughest players and understood what his coaches needed from him. He may not be the first player one thinks of when reflecting on the 2000 Stanley Cup Championship, but he knew his role and played it perfectly. To date, he is the only player from Poland with his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup.