Alright folks, we are officially in the dog days of summer, so I thought this was an interesting topic. Who had the best single season as a Devil? Justify your answer! Below, I'll write a quick blurb of the options:
Taylor Hall's 17-18 Season: 39g, 54a, 93pts- In a season where NJ had no business making the playoffs, Taylor Hall willed the Devils to the postseason. Scoring 41 more points than second place Nico Hischier, Hall captured the first Hart Trophy in Devils history.
Zach Parise's 08-09 Season: 45g, 49a, 94pts- Parise finished just three goals shy of Gionta's single season record and two points shy of Elias' points record. He was the driver of one of the best lines in hockey that year and played a complete, two-way game.
Martin Brodeur's 06-07 Season: 48 wins, 2.28gaa, .922sv%- I was debating between this season and 96-97 (his stats were sick that year). But I have to give the nod to the season where he set the NHL single season wins record, won the Vezina and was a Hart finalist.
Brian Gionta's 05-06 Season: 48g, 41a, 89pts- Gionta set the franchise record in goals in the year after the lockout. It was the year of the PP, but that shouldn't diminish Gionta's record setting season. His breakout was a major reason NJ had that late surge and made the playoffs.
Scott Niedermayer's 03-04 Season: 14g, 40a, 54pts- Losing Scott Stevens to injury midway thru the year, Niedermayer played an absurd 26 minutes per game. He won the franchise's first and only Norris Trophy before leaving for Anaheim.
Patrik Elias' 00-01 Season: 40g, 56a, 96pts- Setting the franchise record in points, Elias finished third in league scoring , sixth in Hart voting, and eighth in Selke voting. He was the catalyst of the Devils' best line.
Scott Stevens' 93-94 Season: 18g, 60a, 78pts- I was too young to watch Stevens this year and process anything, but from a statistical standpoint, any time a defenseman approaches ppg, it's a special season, regardless of era.