New Jersey Devils

The franchise began as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974 before relocating to Denver as the Colorado Rockies in 1976. Neither location proved viable, and the team moved to New Jersey in 1982, becoming the Devils. The early years in the Garden State were comically bad, prompting Wayne Gretzky's famous 1983 remark calling them a 'Mickey Mouse organization.'

The Devils were the laughingstock of the NHL for much of the 1980s, struggling to attract fans and win games at the Brendan Byrne Arena (later Continental Airlines Arena) in the Meadowlands. However, the foundation for future success was being quietly laid through the draft, and the hiring of Lou Lamoriello as general manager in 1987 marked the beginning of the franchise's transformation into a model of organizational excellence.

Martin Brodeur was drafted 20th overall in 1990 and became the greatest goaltender in NHL history, holding records for career wins, shutouts, and games played. Combined with Jacques Lemaire's disciplined defensive system (the infamous 'trap'), the Devils became one of the most successful franchises of the 1990s and 2000s. Scott Stevens provided fearsome physicality on the blue line, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2000.

The Devils won three Stanley Cups in nine years: 1995 (sweeping Detroit), 2000 (defeating Dallas), and 2003 (defeating Anaheim). The 1995 Cup was the franchise's first championship, a stunning sweep of the heavily favored Red Wings. Scott Niedermayer and Stevens anchored the defense, while forwards like Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora, and Jason Arnott provided key offensive contributions. The Devils reached the Final again in 2012 but lost to the Los Angeles Kings, marking the end of the dynasty era.