The New Jersey Devils have selected 469 players to date at the annual NHL Entry Draft, which began in 1963. The Hockey News will continue its series on the franchise's top five picks from each round leading up to the 2024 event on Friday and Saturday, June 28-29.
Historically, the Devils have drafted 53 players in the first round, including Anton Silayev in 2024. Thus far, 49 of them have appeared in an NHL game, and 46 have played for Kansas City, Colorado (Rockies), and New Jersey.
The organization's first second-round pick was Wilf Paiement (2nd overall) in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, and their most recent one was Silayev (10th overall) in 2024.
Join us to see who makes the cut as the best-drafted player in Devils' history.
Note: Dates, achievements, and statistics obtained from Hockey-Reference.com and EliteProspects.com .
Top New Jersey Devils Draft Picks From the First Round
5. Kirk Muller - 2nd Overall 1984
NHL stats: 1,349 GP – 357 G – 602 A – 959 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 556 GP – 185 G – 335 A – 520 Pt s
Kirk Muller won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, moving to the Original Six franchise after seven seasons in New Jersey.
During his 19-year career, Muller amassed 959 points in 1,349 games with six clubs. He was a five-time 30-goal scorer who netted 357 in his career, the most coming with the Devils (185) from 1984-1991.
Although there are many candidates for this spot, like Scott Gomez, Bill Guerin, and even Zach Parise, the nod goes to Muller, one of two players who skated in over 1300 games in the NHL while being a New Jersey first-round pick.
4. Ken Daneyko – 18th Overall 1982
NHL stats: 1,283 GP – 36 G – 142 A – 178 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 1,283 GP – 36 G – 142 A – 178 Pt s
If piecing this list together was a popularity contest, there's a good chance that Ken Daneyko would rank higher than fourth. He ranks first in franchise history with 1,283 games played, and he is one of the few players to play his entire career with the organization.
Moreover, he's among only five players to have participated in all three New Jersey Stanley Cup titles, winning in 1995, 2000, and 2003, capturing the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2000.
Despite never reaching double digits in goals in a single season, Daneyko is also the franchise record holder with 2,516 penalty minutes, over a thousand more than Randy McKay, who is in second place.
In 49 seasons of Devils hockey, the former first-round pick (18th overall) from the 1982 Entry Draft is one of only five skaters to have his number retired.
3. Brendan Shanahan – 2nd Overall 1987
NHL stats: 1,524 GP – 656 G – 698 A – 1,354 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 315 GP – 94 G – 134 A – 228 Pt s
Brendan Shanahan began his Hall of Fame career with the Devils, skating in red and green from 1987 to 1991. Eventually, he would net 656 goals, which ranks 14th all-time.
Outside of personal accolades, including a King Clancy Award (2003) and being included in the NHL's 100th Anniversary Team, Shanahan was a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, 1998, and 2002.
Over 21 seasons, he scored 20 goals 19 times and set a career high of 52 in 1993-94 with the St. Louis Blues. Like so many players, Shanahan got into management and currently serves as the President of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
2. Scott Niedermayer – 42nd Overall 1992
NHL stats: 1,263 GP – 172 G – 568 A – 740 Pt s
New Jersey stats: 892 GP – 112 G – 364 A – 476 Pt s
Scott Niedermayer may have won only one Norris Trophy during his NHL career, but no one would blame him for caring more about collecting four Stanley Cup championships.
During his 13 seasons in East Rutherford, he won three titles in 1995, 2000, and 2003 before teaming up with his brother Rob in Anaheim to lead the Ducks to a victory in 2007.
That season, he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for his efforts as captain in helping the franchise to their first-ever title.
In addition to his playoff MVP and Norris Trophy, Niedermayer was an All-Rookie and five-time All-Star and was voted one of the Top 100 Greatest NHL Players.
He was introduced to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013, and his No. 27 hangs in Newark and Anaheim.
1. Martin Brodeur – 51st Overall 1994
NHL stats: 1,266 GP / 691-397-154 / .912 SV - 2.24 GAA
New Jersey stats: 1,259 GP / 688-394-154 / .912 SV - 2.24 GAA
Now that we have concluded the greatest draft picks in New Jersey history, it will be no surprise that Martin Brodeur is undoubtedly the best skater in franchise history, even as a goalie.
While patrolling the crease for the Devils for 21 years, he set almost every goalie record in the league and won the Stanley Cup three times.
Brodeur won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Rookie Team. After that, he won the William M. Jennings Trophy five times and the Vezina Trophy four times.
He was a seven-time post season All-Star and skated in nine All-Star Games. Brodeur scored two goals and was credited with a third, leading all goalies in the category.
The Hockey Hall of Famer (Class of 2018) altered the game with his slick stick-handling capabilities. Hence, the NHL had to implement the trapezoid behind the net to reduce the number of future goalies following Brodeur's first steps.
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