Editing New Jersey Devils (section)

====2001–2007: Third Cup and lockout====
Led by the Elias-Arnott-Sykora line (The A Line) on offense and the goaltending of Brodeur (who appeared in a record 97 games between the regular season and playoffs),<ref>{{cite news|last=Diamos|first=Jason|title=2001 N.H.L. Playoffs: Eastern Conference Finals; Devils' Top Line Talks a Great Game|work=The New York Times|date=May 21, 2001|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/21/sports/2001-nhl-playoffs-eastern-conference-finals-devils-top-line-talks-a-great-game.html|access-date=February 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sportsticker Hockey Note|work=USA Today|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/cup/newjersey-thumbs.htm|access-date=February 2, 2015}}</ref> the Devils won their division, finished first overall in the East, led the entire league in scoring, and reached the [[2001 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] for the second-straight year in [[2000–01 NHL season|2001]]. They lost the series to the [[Colorado Avalanche]] in seven games despite holding a 3–2 series lead after Game 5.<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin Brodeur: The Chase to 552|publisher=ESPN|date=March 18, 2009|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/notebook?page=notebook/nhl_brodeur_09record|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321030153/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/notebook?page=notebook/nhl_brodeur_09record|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 21, 2009|access-date=February 2, 2015}}</ref> [[John Madden (ice hockey)|John Madden]] became the first player in franchise history to win the [[Frank J. Selke Trophy]] for top defensive forward.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frank J. Selke Trophy winners|date=June 14, 2007|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?page=nhlselke|access-date=February 2, 2015}}</ref> In the [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02 season]], they were expected to be contenders once again,<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021027074839/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/darren_eliot/news/2002/04/14/east_breakdown/|archive-date=October 27, 2002|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/darren_eliot/news/2002/04/14/east_breakdown/|title=Devil of a surge: New Jersey looking good to come out of the East|last=Eliot|first=Darren|date=April 14, 2002|publisher=CNN/[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=August 30, 2006}}</ref> and they finished the season as the third-best team in the Atlantic Division, with 95 points. The Devils entered the playoffs as a sixth seed, but lost in the conference quarterfinals to the third-seeded [[Carolina Hurricanes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/cup02/games/2002-04-27-car-nj.htm|title=Francis, Hurricanes end 16-year drought|first=Tom|last=Canavan|agency=Associated Press|date=April 27, 2002|work=USA Today|access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Stanley Cup Bush Devils.jpg|thumb|left|The Devils present President [[George W. Bush]] with a jersey after winning the [[2003 Stanley Cup Finals|2003 Stanley Cup championship]].|alt=President George W. Bush receives the New Jersey Devils players in the White House doors. Bush holds the Devils jersey with the name Bush and the number 1. To the left of the crowd, the Stanley Cup sits on a table.]]
Prior to the [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03 season]], the Devils traded A-Line stars Arnott and Sykora in two separate transactions. Arnott and [[Randy McKay]] were sent to Dallas to acquire forwards [[Joe Nieuwendyk]] and [[Jamie Langenbrunner]], while Sykora was part of a package to receive [[Jeff Friesen]] from Anaheim. The revitalized forward group would ultimately lead the team to first in the Atlantic Division with 108 points.<ref name="three">{{cite web|last=Rosen|first=Dan|title=2002–03: Bringing Home Number Three|publisher=New Jersey Devils|url=http://devils.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=458147|access-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref> Their [[2003 Stanley Cup playoffs|playoff]] run included victories over Boston and Tampa Bay in the first two rounds, followed by a game seven conference finals series victory over the [[Presidents' Trophy]]-winning Ottawa Senators; decided by a goal from Friesen in the final three minutes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Diamos|first=Jason|title=Hockey; Friesen's Late Goal Gives Devils A Date With Ducks in the Finals|work=The New York Times|date=May 24, 2003|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/24/sports/hockey-friesen-s-late-goal-gives-devils-a-date-with-ducks-in-the-finals.html|access-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref> In the [[2003 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]], the Devils faced the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]] in a back-and-forth battle, as both teams won all of their home games. After defeating the Mighty Ducks in the seventh game of the finals in New Jersey, the franchise won their third Stanley Cup.<ref name="three"/> After the series, Daneyko, a long-time fan favorite who spent his entire two-decade career with the Devils,<ref name="Dano">{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/cup/2003-06-10-notes-daneyko_x.htm|title=Veteran Daneyko sees first action in last game|work=USA Today|date=June 10, 2003|access-date=November 27, 2006 | first=Melissa | last=Geschwind}}</ref> announced his retirement. Brodeur was awarded the [[Vezina Trophy]] as outstanding goaltender in the regular season for the first time in his career, having won 41 games in the regular season to top the NHL.<ref name="three"/>

In the [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04 season]], Brodeur took home the Vezina Trophy again.<ref name="Vezina">{{cite web|title=Vezina Trophy winners|date=June 14, 2007|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?page=nhlvezina|access-date=February 5, 2015}}</ref> Despite losing team captain Scott Stevens in the 38th game of the season to a concussion,<ref>{{cite news|title=Absence of Stevens hurt Devils, Brodeur says|work=The Globe and Mail|date=April 21, 2004|page=S3}}</ref> the Devils finished second in the Atlantic Division with 100 points. With the sixth seed in the [[2004 Stanley Cup playoffs|Stanley Cup playoffs]], the Devils lost in the conference quarterfinals to the Philadelphia Flyers four games to one.<ref>{{cite web|title=2003–04 NHL Season Summary|publisher=Hockey-Reference|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2004.html|access-date=February 5, 2015}}</ref> In March 2004, near the end of the season, [[Lehman Brothers]] executive [[Jeffrey Vanderbeek|Jeff Vanderbeek]] purchased a controlling interest from Puck Holdings and resigned from Lehman Brothers to assume full-time ownership. He had been a minority owner since the 2000 sale. Like Puck Holdings/YankeeNets, Vanderbeek largely left the Devils in Lamoriello's hands.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/03/sports/hockey-wall-street-executive-to-purchase-devils.html|title=Wall Street Executive to Buy Devils|work=The New York Times|date=March 3, 2004|access-date=August 30, 2006 | first=Dave | last=Caldwell}}</ref>

Vanderbeek was a strong proponent of the proposed arena in Newark, which first received funding from the city council during Puck Holdings' ownership in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|title=Newark approves $200M for arena|publisher=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]|last=Brennan|first=John|date=October 17, 2002}}</ref> After legal battles over both [[eminent domain]] and the city's financial participation in the arena project, the final deal was approved by council in October 2004, during the early months of the [[2004–05 NHL lockout|lockout]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NTk2NDMyJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg== |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016151615/http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NTk2NDMyJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg%3D%3D |archive-date=October 16, 2007 |title=Newark arena for Devils 'a done deal' |publisher=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |last=Brennan |first=John |date=October 7, 2004 |access-date=August 30, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the groundbreaking occurred almost exactly a year later.<ref name="groundbreak">{{cite web|url=http://www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/theteam/teamnews/nwk-groundbreaking.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908102335/http://www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/theteam/teamnews/nwk-groundbreaking.php|archive-date=September 8, 2006|title=Newark Breaks Ground for Devils Arena|access-date=August 30, 2006|date=October 3, 2005|publisher=New Jersey Devils}}</ref> Nonetheless, in January 2006, financial issues threatened to halt the deal, as the Devils did not provide the city with a required letter of credit until the last possible day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/deadline-devils-finally-realize-newark-arena-goal-article-1.559105|title=At deadline, Devils finally realize Newark arena goal|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York|last=Everson|first=Darren|date=January 25, 2006|access-date=February 6, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:MartinBrodeur.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Martin Brodeur]] led the Devils to three Stanley Cup championships, and is the NHL's all-time leader in goaltender wins, shutouts, and goals by a goaltender.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statshockey.homestead.com/alltimewins.html|title=NHL All-Time Goalie Wins Leaders|publisher=Stats Hockey|date=April 20, 2006|access-date=September 3, 2006}}</ref>|alt=A man in full hockey goaltender equipment: mask combining helmet and cage, large gloves on the hands, leg pads atop his pants, and a wide stick on his right hand.]] 
Though construction was well underway, in late summer 2006, new Mayor of Newark [[Cory Booker]] promised to reevaluate the deal and considered backing out.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTUxNDI1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016151606/http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTUxNDI1|archive-date=October 16, 2007|title=Newark mayor-elect sees no need for 2 arenas|publisher=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]|last=Brennan|first=John|date=June 20, 2006|access-date=August 30, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/2006-08-16/news/25396155_1_cory-booker-booker-talks-mayor-sharpe-james|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207063804/http://articles.philly.com/2006-08-16/news/25396155_1_cory-booker-booker-talks-mayor-sharpe-james|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2015|title=A new light in Newark|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|last=Burton|first=Cynthia|date=August 16, 2006|access-date=August 30, 2006}}</ref> In October, Booker conceded there would be "a first-class arena built in the city of Newark, whether we like it or not,"<ref>{{cite news |last=Brennan |first=John |title=Devils arena will go forward, Booker says |url=http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwMDgwMjQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016151620/http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwMDgwMjQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz |archive-date=October 16, 2007 |publisher=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]
|date=October 20, 2006 |access-date=October 21, 2006}}</ref> and soon after the Devils struck a deal including both property and monetary givebacks that appeased city officials.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brennan |first=John |title=Newark, Devils OK arena deal |url=http://www.bergenrecord.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MDEyODgwJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg== |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928074411/http://www.bergenrecord.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MDEyODgwJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg%3D%3D |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |publisher=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |date=October 31, 2006 |access-date=October 31, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The arena, which was named the [[Prudential Center]] when Newark-based [[Prudential Financial]] purchased naming rights in early 2007,<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://devils.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=458085|title=Devils Arena Entertainment, LLC and Prudential Financial, Inc. Announce Naming-Rights Deal for Prudential Center|publisher=New Jersey Devils|date=January 8, 2007|access-date=February 19, 2007}}</ref> opened shortly after the start of the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/penguins/2006/07/31/290M-in-funding-tight-but-doable-for-arena/stories/200607310114|title=$290M in funding tight, but doable, for arena|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|last=Rotstein|first=Gary|date=July 31, 2006|access-date=August 30, 2006}}</ref>

The [[2004–05 NHL season|2004–05 season]] was canceled due to the lockout; many Devils players played in European leagues and in the [[Ice Hockey World Championships|hockey world championships]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=9951&hubname=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613200214/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=9951&hubname=|archive-date=June 13, 2007 |title=NHLers in Europe|publisher=TSN|access-date=October 31, 2006}}</ref> Patrik Elias, who was playing in the [[Russian Superleague]], contracted [[Hepatitis|hepatitis A]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/elias-a-determined-devil-1.605485 |title=Elias a determined Devil|date=May 3, 2006|publisher=CBC Sports|last=Harrison|first=Doug|access-date=August 30, 2006}}</ref> Faced with Elias' indefinite recovery timetable, plus the loss of defensive stalwarts Scott Niedermayer to free agency and Scott Stevens to retirement, Lamoriello signed veteran defenseman [[Dan McGillis]] and two former Devils, winger Alexander Mogilny and defenseman [[Vladimir Malakhov (ice hockey)|Vladimir Malakhov]], none of whom finished the season on the ice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2609885|title=Devils deal Malakhov to Sharks to lower payroll|date=October 3, 2006|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=November 16, 2006}}</ref> In July 2005, the team announced that head coach [[Pat Burns]] would not return for the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]] after being diagnosed with cancer for the second time in little more than a year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/devils-burns-battling-cancer-again-won-t-coach-next-year-1.541214|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050711003811/http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2005/07/08/Sports/burns_cancer050708.html|archive-date=July 11, 2005 | title=Devils' Burns battling cancer again, won't coach next year|publisher=CBC Sports|date=July 8, 2006|url-status=live|access-date=August 30, 2006}}</ref> Assistant coach Larry Robinson, the team's head coach from 2000 to 2002, was promoted to start the season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Diamos|first=Jason|title=Robinson's Heart (and Soul) Belong to the Devils|work=The New York Times|date=September 15, 2005|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/15/sports/hockey/15devils.html|access-date=February 7, 2015}}</ref>

The Devils struggled early in the 2005–06 season, ending the 2005 calendar year with a 16–18–5 record.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stanleycup2006/content/features/east_contenders.html| title=The Contenders: Eastern Conference|year=2006|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=August 30, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703045949/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stanleycup2006/content/features/east_contenders.html|archive-date=July 3, 2007}}</ref> Robinson resigned as head coach on December 19, and Lamoriello moved down to the bench.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/news_story/?ID=155830&hubname=nhl-devils|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929120454/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/news_story/?ID=155830&hubname=nhl-devils|archive-date=September 29, 2007|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|title=Lamoriello to finish season behind bench|date=February 22, 2006|access-date=August 30, 2006}}</ref> Once Elias returned from his bout with hepatitis, the team quickly turned around, finishing 46–27–9 after a season-ending 11-game winning streak capped with a 4–3 win over the [[Montreal Canadiens]]. During that final victory, which clinched the Devils' sixth division title, [[Brian Gionta]] set a new team record for goals in a season with 48, topping Pat Verbeek's 46.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsline.com/nhl/gamecenter/recap/NHL_20060418_NJ@MON |title=Devils snare division title with three-goal flurry in third |publisher=CBS SportsLine |date=April 18, 2006 |access-date=August 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060430150057/http://sportsline.com/nhl/gamecenter/recap/NHL_20060418_NJ%40MON |archive-date=April 30, 2006}}</ref> The win streak to close the year was also an NHL record.<ref name="EndofSeasonWinsRecord">{{cite web|url=http://www.newjerseydevils.com/njd/fanzone/contests/25th/part2/countdown.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070424232441/http://www.newjerseydevils.com/njd/fanzone/contests/25th/part2/countdown.php|archive-date=April 24, 2007|title=25th Anniversary Most Memorable Moments Countdown|publisher=newjerseydevils.com|access-date=May 12, 2007|year=2007}}</ref> The Devils swept the Rangers in four games in the conference quarterfinals, and were then eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in the conference semifinals.<ref name="playoff"/>

In the off-season, the Devils hired former Montreal Canadiens head coach [[Claude Julien (ice hockey)|Claude Julien]] to replace Lamoriello behind the bench.<ref>{{cite news |first = Janet |last = Frankston |title = Devils Hire Claude Julien As Coach |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/13/AR2006061300556.html |agency = Associated Press |date =June 13, 2006 |access-date =August 30, 2006 | newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> However, in the last week of the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07 season]], with just three games left, Julien was fired, and Lamoriello once again reprised his coaching role.<ref>{{cite news |title = Julien out, Lamoriello in as Devils prepare for playoffs |url = https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2822234 |agency = Associated Press |date =April 2, 2007 |access-date =April 2, 2007}}</ref> The Devils went on to win their seventh Atlantic Division title and earn the second seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins by two points.<ref>{{cite web|title=NHL Standings – 2006–07|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/standings/_/year/2007|access-date=February 9, 2015}}</ref> They then defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the conference quarterfinals, but fell to the Ottawa Senators in the conference semifinals in five.<ref name="playoff"/> The conclusion of the series marked the end of the Devils' time at the Continental Airlines Arena.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sherman|first=Ted|title=It's official: Izod Center to close by end of month|work=The Star-Ledger|date=January 16, 2015|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/its_official_izod_center_to_close_by_end_of_month.html|access-date=February 9, 2015}}</ref>