Editing New Jersey Devils (section)

====1982–1993: Building the foundation====
[[File:Jersey Devil.svg|thumb|150px|The mythological [[Jersey Devil]] was the inspiration for the team's name|alt=Drawing of a monster with the head of a goat, the body of a horse, bat wings, and a forked tail.]]
On June 30, 1982, the team was renamed the New Jersey Devils, after the legend of the [[Jersey Devil]], a creature that allegedly inhabited the [[New Jersey Pine Barrens|Pine Barrens]] of [[South Jersey]]. Over 10,000 people voted in a contest held to select the name.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lawrie |last=Mifflin |author2=Katz, Michael |title=Scouting; 'Jersey Devils' Wins Name Poll |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/30/sports/scouting-jersey-devils-wins-name-poll.html|work=The New York Times |date=June 30, 1982 |access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> The team began play in [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]], at the [[Brendan Byrne Arena]], later renamed the Continental Airlines Arena and then the Izod Center, where they called home through the 2006–07 season.<ref name="Izod">{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Brent|title=Deal to close Izod Center expected to be announced Thursday|work=The Star-Ledger|date=January 15, 2015|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/01/izod_center_could_soon_close_report_says.html|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Prudential">{{cite web|title=Prudential Center|publisher=ESPN|url=http://espn.go.com/nhl/team/stadium/_/name/nj/new-jersey-devils|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113012626/http://espn.go.com/nhl/team/stadium/_/name/nj/new-jersey-devils|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2013|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> With their relocation, the newly christened Devils were placed in the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Wales Conference]]'s [[Patrick Division]]. Their first game ended in a 3–3 tie against the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], with their first goal scored by [[Don Lever]].<ref name="first">{{cite web|last=Rosen|first=Dan|title=1982–83: The First Season|publisher=New Jersey Devils|url=http://devils.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=41708|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> Their first win, a 3–2 victory, came in New Jersey at the expense of the Rangers.<ref name="datesinhistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/history/alltimestats/PDF/DatesInHistory.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324011352/http://www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/history/alltimestats/PDF/DatesInHistory.pdf|archive-date=March 24, 2006|title=Dates in Devils History|publisher=New Jersey Devils|year=2005|access-date=March 25, 2006}}</ref> The team finished with a 17–49–14 record, putting them three points above last place in the Patrick Division.<ref name="first"/>

In the following season, on November 19, 1983, the Devils were criticized by [[Wayne Gretzky]] after a 13–4 loss to the [[Edmonton Oilers]]. In a post-game interview, Gretzky said that the Devils were "putting a [[Mickey Mouse#Pejorative use of Mickey's name|Mickey Mouse operation]] on the ice."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19831122&id=ioRUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C48DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4350,4965221|title=Gretzky blasts Devils as 'Mickey Mouse' team|newspaper=Daily Record|date=November 22, 1983}}</ref> Later, Gretzky said that his comment was "blown out of proportion." In response, many Devils fans wore [[Mickey Mouse]] apparel when the Oilers returned to New Jersey on January 15, 1984, despite a 5–4 loss.<ref name="mickeymouse">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19840117&id=Jl1GAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bi4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1540,1445786|title=Oilers grab the cheese from 'Mickey Mouse' Devils|newspaper=The Evening News|author=Harris, Mike|date=January 17, 1984|access-date=March 25, 2006}}</ref> Also in the [[1983–84 NHL season|1983–84 season]], the Devils hosted the annual [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]]. New Jersey's [[Chico Resch]] was the winning goaltender, and Devils defenseman [[Joe Cirella]] tallied a goal as the Wales Conference beat the Campbell Conference 7–6.<ref name="datesinhistory" /> Overall, the team did not achieve much success. Head coach [[Bill MacMillan]] was fired 20 games into the season, whereupon [[Tom McVie]] was named the new coach. The Devils won only 17 games and after the season, [[Doug Carpenter]] succeeded McVie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://devils.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=41709|title=1983–84: Growing Pains Lead to Promise|publisher=New Jersey Devils|author=Rosen, Dan|access-date=March 25, 2006}}</ref>

[[File:ContinentalAirlinesArena.jpg|thumb|left|The Devils' first home venue in New Jersey was [[Brendan Byrne Arena]] (pictured in 2006 after being renamed).]]
On January 22, 1987, a massive blizzard hit the [[New York metropolitan area]] resulting in only 334 fans attending the game between the Devils and the [[Calgary Flames]] at Brendan Byrne Arena where the Devils rallied to win 7–5. The Devils officially recognized the fans that made the journey to the game the "334 Club". The fans received a letter that read, "You are hereby inducted and given lifetime membership to a club that cannot grow – the 334 Club".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boylen |first1=Rory |title=When 334 fans showed up for Devils-Flames game |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/when-334-fans-showed-up-for-devils-flames-game/ |website=www.sportsnet.ca |access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Politi |first1=Steve |title=Remembering the night 334 fans watched the Devils play in a blizzard 30 years ago |url=https://www.nj.com/devils/2017/01/the_blizzard_game_remembering_the_strangest_night.html |website=www.nj.com |access-date=December 17, 2024}}</ref>

The Devils assembled a core of players that included [[John MacLean (ice hockey)|John MacLean]], [[Bruce Driver]], [[Ken Daneyko]], [[Kirk Muller]] and [[Pat Verbeek]], with Resch as their goaltender.<ref name="cusp">{{cite web|last=Rosen|first=Dan|title=1986–87: On The Cusp|publisher=New Jersey Devils|url=http://devils.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=41712|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> Their record improved each season between 1983–84 and 1986–87. However, they were unable to reach the playoffs.<ref name="statistics">{{cite web|title=New Jersey Devils Statistics and History|publisher=The Internet Hockey Database|url= http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/new-jersey-devils-7066.html|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> Despite their improvement, the Devils remained last in the Patrick Division in 1985–86 and 1986–87.<ref name="cusp"/> McMullen hired [[Providence College]] athletic director [[Lou Lamoriello]] as team president in April 1987.<ref>{{cite news|last=Krasner|first=Steven|title=Lou Lamoriello leaves PC with mixed emotions: Friars' A.D. headed to NHL Devils after 28-year association|work=Providence Journal|date=May 1, 1987|page=1}}</ref> To gain greater control over franchise operations, Lamoriello appointed himself general manager before the [[1987–88 NHL season|1987–88 season]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Yannis|first=Alex|title=Devils' Front Office Undergoes Change|work=The New York Times|date=September 11, 1987|page=D19}}</ref>

The 1987–88 Devils garnered the franchise's first winning record.<ref name="statistics"/> On the final day of the regular season, they were tied with their rivals, the Rangers, for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. After New York defeated the [[Quebec Nordiques]] 3–0, the Devils needed to defeat the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] for a postseason berth. The Devils were trailing 3–2 midway through the third period when John MacLean tied the game, and with 2:39 left in overtime, he added the winning goal. Although the Rangers and Devils both finished with 82 points, the Devils had two more wins, sending them to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history as the New Jersey Devils.<ref>{{cite news|title=Devils earn playoff berth|work=The Globe and Mail|date=April 4, 1988|page=C2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Yannis|first=Alex|title=Devils' Playoff Blight Ends|work=The New York Times|date=April 4, 1988|page=C1}}</ref> The team made it all the way to the conference finals in the [[1988 Stanley Cup playoffs]], but lost to the [[Boston Bruins]] in seven games. In that series, head coach [[Jim Schoenfeld]] verbally abused referee [[Don Koharski]] after the third game in the Devils' 6–1 loss. During the exchange, Koharski fell and Schoenfeld said to him "Good, 'cause you fell, you fat pig! Have another doughnut! Have another doughnut!"<ref name="Maguire52">Maguire, p. 52.</ref><ref name="doughnutpig">{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Here-s-your-anniversary-doughnut-you-fat-pig?urn=nhl,81086|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125063710/http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Here-s-your-anniversary-doughnut-you-fat-pig?urn=nhl,81086|date=May 6, 2008|archive-date=January 25, 2017|title=Here's your anniversary doughnut, you fat pig|work=Yahoo Sports|access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref> Schoenfeld was given a suspension by the NHL, but due to a favorable court order, he was able to coach in the fourth game of the series. In protest, referee Dave Newell and linesmen Gord Broseker and Ray Scapinello refused to work the game. Three off-ice officials – Paul McInnis, Jim Sullivan and Vin Godleski – were tracked down to work the game.<ref name="Maguire52"/> After the injunction was lifted, Schoenfeld's suspension was imposed in the following game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Weiner|first=Evan|title=On-ice officials took the ice in 1988|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 9, 2008|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/off-ice-officials-took-the-ice-in-1988/c-371528|access-date=November 5, 2017}}</ref>

In the [[1988–89 NHL season|next season]], the Devils once again slipped below .500 and missed the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rosen|first=Dan|title=1988–89: Paving the Way|publisher=New Jersey Devils|url=http://devils.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=41714|access-date=January 25, 2015}}</ref> Among the postseason player changes Lamoriello made in the off-season was the signing of two Soviet stars – [[Viacheslav Fetisov]] and [[Sergei Starikov]]. The Devils drafted Fetisov years earlier in the [[1983 NHL entry draft]], but the [[government of the Soviet Union|Soviet Government]] did not allow Fetisov, who was a member of the [[Soviet Union national ice hockey team|national team]], to leave the country.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two Soviet Defensemen Sign with the Devils|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=June 27, 1989|url=http://articles.philly.com/1989-06-27/sports/26108368_1_sergei-starikov-lou-lamoriello-viacheslav-fetisov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618214846/http://articles.philly.com/1989-06-27/sports/26108368_1_sergei-starikov-lou-lamoriello-viacheslav-fetisov|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 18, 2015|access-date=January 25, 2015}}</ref> Shortly after, the Devils signed Fetisov's defense partner, [[Alexei Kasatonov]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Yannis|first=Alex|title=Hockey; Reflecting on Russia, With Hope And Fear|work=The New York Times|date=December 25, 1991|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/25/sports/hockey-reflecting-on-russia-with-hope-and-fear.html|access-date=January 25, 2015}}</ref>

The team changed coaches midway through each of the next two seasons. Schoenfeld was replaced with [[John Cunniff]] in [[1989–90 NHL season|1989–90]], and [[Tom McVie]] was hired midway through the [[1990–91 NHL season|1990–91 season]] and helmed the team through its third-straight division semifinals' elimination in [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92]].<ref name="statistics"/> [[Herb Brooks]], who coached the 1980 U.S. Olympic "[[Miracle on Ice]]" team, was brought in for the [[1992–93 NHL season|1992–93 season]], but when the team yet again was eliminated in the division semifinals, he was fired and replaced by former [[Montreal Canadiens]] head coach [[Jacques Lemaire]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Herb Brooks leaves Devils; management is critical|work=Gainesville Sun|agency=Associated Press|date=June 1, 1993|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19930601&id=fPIRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cOoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1238,152130|access-date=January 26, 2015}}</ref><ref name="oral">{{cite web|last=Pickens|first=Pat|title=1994–95 champion Devils: An oral history, Pt. 1|publisher=SportsNet|date=September 15, 2014|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/1994-95-stanley-cup-champion-new-jersey-devils-an-oral-history-20-years-later-part-1/|access-date=January 26, 2015}}</ref>