3 New Jersey Devils That Were One-Hit Wonders

There was a time when the New Jersey Devils were Stanley Cup contenders every season.

While the Devils’ Stanley Cup championship rosters included notable skaters and future Hockey Hall of Famers, not all of those talented players lasted long in Jersey. The 2000 and 2003 Stanley Cup teams included a number of all-star caliber players but fans may not realize that some didn’t skate in more than two seasons with the team.

Let’s revisit three Devils that were one-hit wonders.

Jeff Friesen

Devils fans will always have a special place in their hearts for Jeff Friesen.

The forward was a key member of the 2002-03 Stanley Cup championship team, but Friesen only played in one more season with New Jersey following his first Stanley Cup.

It’s still a mystery as to why Friesen was traded to the Washington Capitals from the Devils. Still, his brief success with New Jersey was rare and deserves proper recognition, regardless if he’s labeled as a one-hit-wonder or not.

Related: Little Known Facts About the Stanley Cup

The 1994 first-round draft pick was acquired by the Devils via an offseason trade in 2002 from the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and he stunned Devils fans with his immediate impact.

Friesen finished second on the team with 23 goals behind the great Patrik Elias (28) and was entertaining to watch on a nightly basis. The winger was remembered most that season for his clutch performances while netting four game-winning goals during the regular season and another four in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Overall, he recorded 10 goals during the Devils’ memorable Stanley Cup run but more importantly, Friesen scored the game-winning goal against the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. Friesen netted the goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation and on the road in a hostile Ottawa arena. The goal certainly reflected flashbacks of Elias’ game-winner vs. the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 7 of the Conference Final in 1990-00.

You may also…