For as long as I've been following hockey, my favorite players always seem to be defensive forwards - the guys who play on the checking lines. They rarely get the headlines or the glory that the starting lineup guys get, but they make up for the lack of natural talent with hard work and a lot of heart.
The stars who put the puck in the net and the lights on the scoreboard may be exciting to watch, but they could never work their magic without the support of the third and fourth line players. Though their paychecks are bigger than yours (probably) and mine (definitely), they aren't in it for the big bucks. They are there simply because they love to play the game.
The big name stars probably enjoy what they do for a living as well, but they are often blinded by the glimmer of gold in them thar goals. They seem to forget that love for the sport carried them through the early years when they played for nothing more than the satisfaction of a well-executed play or the thrill of a victory. There are times when you can catch the joy on their faces also, but much of the time you can sense that - like most other professional athletes - the number of zeros on their pay check has taken precedence over love of the game.
Since the New Jersey Devils are my favorite team, it follows that my favorite guys all play for the home team. I do like some players who play for other teams, but since I've created these pages for the Devils I'm not going to mention them here.
John Madden
"Mad Dog" Madden has been a favorite of mine ever since he came to the Devils full time during the 1999-2000 season. He's tough, he's tenacious and a major workhorse.
Killing penalties is his forte. He really seems to come to life when the Devs are down a man. One minute, they are mired in their own and and the next minute there is a Devil streaking for the opposite net - John Madden.
He scores key goals. He takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' And he's earned the top spot on My Guys list!
Brian Gionta
Okay, Brian has moved himself from honorable mention to the number 2 slot on My Guys list.
This small player (5'7", 175 lbs), plays big - very big. He plays with heart and he's not afraid to take the physical punishment that comes from taking a stand in front of the opposition goalie. In fact, he has made the goal crease his "home office"
Like John Madden, he scores key goals - like game winners. Ya just gotta love this guy!
Sergei Brylin
"Sarge" is another Devil who gets points for tenacity. Along with Stevens, Niedermayer and Brodeur he has played on all 3 Cup Championship teams.
Like Madden and Gionta, he plays tough. He can usually be found in the crease or streaking for the net and doesn't let anyone push him around. He may not be the most talented player the Devils have, but he comes to every game and puts in 110% effort.
Honorable Mention
Jamie Langenbrunner
Scott Gomez
Zack Parise
Photos coming soon!
Hall of Fame
Scott Stevens
When the Devils were awarded Scott Stevens as compensation for the Blues' signing of free agent Brendan Shanahan, Scott expressed a reluctance to make the move to New Jersey. Though I knew he was a very good defenseman, I thought, If he doesn't want to play for the Devils - who needs him? Scotty overcame his reluctance and my indifference. He wore the Captain's C - and he took his role seriously. He proved his leadership abilities during all of the Devils' playoff runs and he definitely deserved the Conn Smyth in 2000. He definitely deserved to have his number retired, as well - 4 FOREVER!
Kenny Daneyko
Kenny was drafted by the Devils in the '82 draft, which made him the longevity winner. He was with the team longer than any other Devil.
He may not have put many pucks in the opponent's nets, but Kenny was a tough gritty defenseman who could always be counted to put it on the line for the team. He entered the '93-'94 season as the NHL's Iron Man having played 311 straight games. He added 77 more for a total of 388, but in March of '94 he suffered a shoulder injury that broke the string. He's still a great guy, who takes time to sign autographs and chat with fans.
Randy McKay
Ever since he was traded to the Devils, Randy was always one of my favorite players. I'm certainly not a pro-scout or an expert in evaluating hockey talent, but I always thought that he was an underrated player.
Once the coaches and GM's around the National Hockey League slap a defensive forward label on a player it sticks no matter how many pucks he puts in the net.
Randy earned his certification as a tough guy in many ways. He dropped the gloves and fought if he had to, but he was much more effective on the ice than in the penalty box, and he knew it. His spot in "My Guys" hall of fame is well-earned.
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