New Jersey Devils’ top 5 rookie seasons of all-time
By Kyle McKenna
3. Kirk Muller
Former NHL forward Kirk Muller skated 19 seasons in the NHL and with six different teams (New Jersey, Montreal, New York Islanders, Toronto, Florida and Dallas). However, the Devils’ 1984 first round draft pick (2nd overall) spent seven seasons in New Jersey – his longest stretch with any team noted above.
In those seven seasons, Muller totaled 556 points (185 goals, 335 assists), which stands as the third on the Devils’ all-time leader board.
Still, Muller’s 1984-85 campaign goes down as one of the best all-time rookie seasons in New Jersey’s history. The Kingston, Ontario native notched 17 goals under his belt and collected 37 assists for a total of 54 points that season.
Keep in mind that Muller was just 18-year-old at the time while skating with other young players such as Aaron Broten, John MacLean, Pat Verbeek and Bruce Driver. It was a season in which the “new” Devils were struggling, but Muller certainly stood out. He finished fourth on the team in points and third in assists.
Plus, his nine power-play goals that season were good for second on the team.
While Muller transformed into (at the time) one of, if not the best, New Jersey skater since the team’s inception, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens during the 1991 offseason along Ronald Melanson in exchange for Stephane Richer and Tom Chorske.
Muller won a Stanley Cup championship with the Canadiens in 1993, and eventually faced-off with the Devils in the 2000 Stanley Cup Final… but we all know that the story ended.