Max Birbraer, LW (FA-Fla); Ken Daneyko, D (Retired); Mike Danton, C (T-StL); Jim McKenzie, LW (FA-Nas); Joe Nieuwendyk, C (FA-Tor); Ken Sutton, D (FA-Europe); Oleg Tverdovsky, D (FA-Europe)
Martin Brodeur seems to do it all for the New Jersey Devils. He hardly gets injured. He's a workhorse. He's so good, he even plays a crucial part in the Devils offence, often clearing the defensive zone with his superior puck-handling skills. His talent in net has been the main reason why the Devils have contended for the Stanley Cup crown consistently over the past eight seasons. The best goaltender in the league right now.
The New Jersey Devils don't win games with their offence. It's their suffocating defence that's the key to victory. Sure, the Devils possess some good scorers on their roster, but they won't post any lofty numbers due to the team's defensive system.
Patrik Elias, who scored 96 points just two years ago, managed a team-high 57 last year. Expect him and others to put up similar numbers this year.
Part of the reason why the talented Devils play a boring system is that it works. They don't need to score goals because they're so good at preventing them. Scott Niedermayer anchors a surprisingly mobile blue line. However, this might be captain Scott Stevens' last season.
A less-than-obvious choice, Madden looks poised to create quite a stir this year after a dream post-season. Blessed with blazing speed and excellent work ethic, Madden is a player that teams are always keeping an eye on. Now that he's the No. 1 centre, Madden will try to make the most out of more playing time.
