Who do you put in Expanded Ring of Honor?

[Rock]

https://theathletic.com/3174386/2022/03/10/an-expanded-devils-ring-of-honor-is-coming-who-should-be-enshrined/

If you go by all the names in the article there is no room in the arena😎

Edited March 10, 2022 by Rock

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Been discussed, but the obvious guys to me:

Lou

Lemaire, Robinson, and Burns

Brylin, McKay, Rafalski, MacLean, Langs, Holik, Gomez, Terreri, Driver, Madden, Pandolfo, Zajac (sure there's players that I'm forgetting).  Every one except Zajac was a part of at least one Cup; Zajac spent his whole career here (OH WAIT NO HE DIDN'T DERRRRRRR) and played in over 1000 games and was always a good soldier.   

EDIT:  Yep, knew I'd forget a couple:  Lemieux, and Chico (Chico for everything he's contributed both on the ice and through his TV and radio broadcasts, and being awesome with the fans)

Doc too, if broadcasting careers are considered for the Ring of Honor

Edited March 10, 2022 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Rock]

The article mentions Doc and Chico as broadcasters.  i hadn't even thought of them.😮

[mfitz804]

1 minute ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Been discussed, but the obvious guys to me:

Lou

Lemaire, Robinson, and Burns

Brylin, McKay, Rafalski, MacLean, Langs, Holik, Gomez, Terreri, Driver, Madden, Pandolfo, Zajac (sure there's players that I'm forgetting).  Every one except Zajac was a part of at least one Cup; Zajac spent his whole career here and played in over 1000 games and was always a good soldier.   

The answer is yes, all of those guys. Problem of having a long history and starting one of these things fresh, instantly a bunch of guys belong in it. 

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 minute ago, mfitz804 said:

The answer is yes, all of those guys. Problem of having a long history and starting one of these things fresh, instantly a bunch of guys belong in it. 

Yeah at first it almost feels like too much, but then you remember once upon a time, this team did win three Cups in a nine-year window...with lots of guys who were here for a while and played key roles.  So it's "too much" with good reason!  None of those players should get a number raised, but ALL are worthy for the Ring of Honor. 

[mfitz804]

28 minutes ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Yeah at first it almost feels like too much, but then you remember once upon a time, this team did win three Cups in a nine-year window...with lots of guys who were here for a while and played key roles.  So it's "too much" with good reason!  None of those players should get a number raised, but ALL are worthy for the Ring of Honor. 

Exactly, well said. Boost ticket sales by doing 2-3 “Ring of Honor” nights a season and in a few years it’ll be fully stocked with most of the no-brainers.

Edited March 10, 2022 by mfitz804

[Satans Hockey]

“The organization has been working through future plans and details for holding a Ring of Honor night next season, which would fit nicely with the celebration of the club’s 40th anniversary in New Jersey during the 2022-23 season,” a team spokesman told The Athletic.

I'm more curious to see how they do it more than anything else. McMullen has that giant picture on the back of I think it's section 103, wonder if they would keep adding these until they run out of room... 

Edited March 10, 2022 by Satans Hockey

[mfitz804]

13 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

Exactly, well said. Boost ticket sales by doing 2-3 “Ring of Honor” nights a season and in a few years it’ll be fully stocked with most of the no-brainers.

Or one night with a couple of inductions, maybe?

[mfitz804]

5 minutes ago, Satans Hockey said:

“The organization has been working through future plans and details for holding a Ring of Honor night next season, which would fit nicely with the celebration of the club’s 40th anniversary in New Jersey during the 2022-23 season,” a team spokesman told The Athletic.

I'm more curious to see how they do it more than anything else. McMullen has that giant picture on the back of I think it's section 103, wonder if they would keep adding these until they run out of room... 

My first reaction to seeing that was that they would run out of room. That space could probably fit 4 smaller ROA signs and still look nice, but definitely two. 

[Rock]

10 minutes ago, Satans Hockey said:

“The organization has been working through future plans and details for holding a Ring of Honor night next season, which would fit nicely with the celebration of the club’s 40th anniversary in New Jersey during the 2022-23 season,” a team spokesman told The Athletic.

I'm more curious to see how they do it more than anything else. McMullen has that giant picture on the back of I think it's section 103, wonder if they would keep adding these until they run out of room... 

They could probably cut that down by a 1/3. Didn't the Yankees "edit"(make smaller) Steinbrenner's portrait in Center Field? The Devils could put multiple names on a panel.  Most rings of honor that I've seen are just the name and number(maybe years played).  Montreal has a plaza outside the arena with all their honored numbers.

Edited March 10, 2022 by Rock

[MadDog2020]

27 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

Exactly, well said. Boost ticket sales by doing 2-3 “Ring of Honor” nights a season and in a few years it’ll be fully stocked with most of the no-brainers.

Yep. Big revenue opportunity.

[mfitz804]

Just now, MB3 said:

Terreri? Like Chris Terreri? Like fewer than 300 games, never more than 54 in a single season with the Devils, backup goalie Chris Terreri?!? Cory Schneider had a monumentally better Devils career than Terreri and he doesn't belong anywhere near a ring of honor.

It has to be more special than "played a few hundred games, let's honor them."

The immediate next tier of players, in the "not quite jersey retirement" tier:

1. Sergei Brylin
2. Claude Lemieux
3. Doc Emerick

As soon as you say guys like Gomez and McKay and Rafalski, you may as well just induct everyone. 

 

Terreri holds a special place in the hearts of early Devils fans because he was kind of around for the start of us not sucking ass every season. Not that it was him that was the reason, but he was the guy. 

Played parts of 12 seasons, was a coach, etc. Two Stanley Cups? (95 and 00 I think). 

Should he be the first guy in? No. Am I offended by the idea? Definitely not. 
 

[Satans Hockey]

1 hour ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Zajac spent his whole career here and played in over 1000 games and was always a good soldier. 

At least I'm not the only crazy one around here when everyone responds funny to when I say Brodeur played his whole career here.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

6 minutes ago, Satans Hockey said:

At least I'm not the only crazy one around here when everyone responds funny to when I say Brodeur played his whole career here.

LMAO derrrrrr totally blanked out on Zajac's Islander days heh heh heh!

[Devs3cups]

Just now, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

LMAO derrrrrr totally blanked out on Zajac's Islander days heh heh heh!

That's just your brain repressing the horrible sight of Trav in an Isles jersey, don't worry  

[Fansinz88]

Claude is a no brainer. Conn smythe in 95 for first cup. He was ridiculous that spring. 

[MadDog2020]

7 minutes ago, Fansinz88 said:

Claude is a no brainer. Conn smythe in 95 for first cup. He was ridiculous that spring. 

He was very important in 2000 as well. I still maintain the Devils don’t get punked the way they did between ‘96-‘99 if Pep stuck around. 

Edited March 10, 2022 by MadDog2020

[Fansinz88]

Letting him go was a bad decision. Comes back and we win another. Has to be a ring member. 

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 hour ago, MB3 said:

Terreri? Like Chris Terreri? Like fewer than 300 games, never more than 54 in a single season with the Devils, backup goalie Chris Terreri?!? Cory Schneider had a monumentally better Devils career than Terreri and he doesn't belong anywhere near a ring of honor.

It has to be more special than "played a few hundred games, let's honor them."

The immediate next tier of guys, in the "not quite jersey retirement" tier:

1. Sergei Brylin
2. Claude Lemieux
3. Doc Emerick
4. Jacques Lemaire (is he already inducted?)

As soon as you say guys like Gomez and McKay and Rafalski, you may as well just induct everyone. 

 

You're missing the point of a Ring of Honor.  It's OK to be a little less restrictive when it comes to Ring Of Honor guys...like I said, most of the guys are memorable players from the Devils' glory days, who all contributed to Cup wins.  I don't consider any of the names off my list "cheap" names...like mfitz and I noted, there's a lot of names because there's a lot of history there that hasn't been properly acknowledged yet...passage of time doesn't mean they're now less worthy.   

Gomer was here for 606 GP and wasn't far away from 500 points.  Was also here for two Cups.    

McKay roughly played as many games as Brylin did and put up about the same amount of points.  McKay to me was one of the ultimate overachievers later in his career (check out his 1997-98 through 2000-01 seasons...did anyone think he'd ever provide anything close to those numbers offensively), and was a key part of one of the most memorable lines in Devils history (also scored 8 goals during that 1995 Cup run).  He was here for 11 seasons...I think he's deserving.

Rafalski was here for 7 full seasons and and was one Game 7 away from being part of 3 Cup winners...at any rate, the guy was hardly a passenger...he was a terrific offensive defenseman, one of the best in Devils' history.

Terreri I honestly don't expect you to get...he was really before your time.  He was a very important part of the transitional years...with Burke falling flat on his face after the big 1988 run, Terreri was the one who kept outplaying Burke, and who eventually forced the Devils' hands into making him the #1 goalie...he was at least solid enough to help the Devils get into the playoffs each year after 1988-89, as the Devils were building and improving (this doesn't happen with Burke).  Terreri played well enough in 1993-94 to allow the Devils to break in Brodeur on a rotating basis, as Marty got comfortable playing in the NHL.  When Marty needed a breather in the 1993-94 playoffs (after struggling against Boston in Games 1 and 2), Terreri helped the Devils win Games 3 and 4 in Boston (starting both games), and did the same in Game 6 (the series clincher)...without his contributions, that Devils team doesn't reach the Eastern Conference Final and come within one game of getting to the Stanley Cup (1993-94 was a huge building-block season).  As is the case with guys like Brylin, it's not fully about numbers.     

 

 

Edited March 10, 2022 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Puckbuster]

1 hour ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Been discussed, but the obvious guys to me:

Lou

Lemaire, Robinson, and Burns

Brylin, McKay, Rafalski, MacLean, Langs, Holik, Gomez, Terreri, Driver, Madden, Pandolfo, Zajac (sure there's players that I'm forgetting).  Every one except Zajac was a part of at least one Cup; Zajac spent his whole career here (OH WAIT NO HE DIDN'T DERRRRRRR) and played in over 1000 games and was always a good soldier.   

EDIT:  Yep, knew I'd forget a couple:  Lemieux, and Chico (Chico for everything he's contributed both on the ice and through his TV and radio broadcasts, and being awesome with the fans)

Doc too, if broadcasting careers are considered for the Ring of Honor

Is there a list of names already inducted?  Sorry if it’s a silly question, but I’ve been living out of state for the past 15 years and have made only 4 trips to the Rock.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

10 minutes ago, Puckbuster said:

Is there a list of names already inducted?  Sorry if it’s a silly question, but I’ve been living out of state for the past 15 years and have made only 4 trips to the Rock.

Only McMullen so far...then the whole thing just kinda stopped cold.  Looks like it's firing back up again.

I've gotta think Lou is next, then Lemaire.  Then you could probably induct some players, then Robinson, then some more players, then Burns, and ending with Zajac.  Not sure exactly what order the Devils will go in.  

[mfitz804]

51 minutes ago, Devs3cups said:

That's just your brain repressing the horrible sight of Trav in an Isles jersey, don't worry  

In fairness, what did he actually play like 12 minutes?

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 minute ago, mfitz804 said:

In fairness, what did he actually play like 12 minutes?

He was clicking with Sharangovich and Kuokkanen some, IIRC...had 14 points in his final 16 Devils games.  Then managed 2 goals and 2 assists in 27 games as an Islander (was healthy-scratched some games too).  Yeah his Islander days were extremely forgettable...I completely forgot them, heh heh.

[MadDog2020]

47 minutes ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

You're missing the point of a Ring of Honor.  It's OK to be a little less restrictive when it comes to Ring Of Honor guys...like I said, most of the guys are memorable players from the Devils' glory days, who all contributed to Cup wins.  I don't consider any of the names off my list "cheap" names...like mfitz and I noted, there's a lot of names because there's a lot of history there that hasn't been properly acknowledged yet...passage of time doesn't mean they're now less worthy.   

Gomer was here for 606 GP and wasn't far away from 500 points.  Was also here for two Cups.    

McKay roughly played as many games as Brylin did and put up about the same amount of points.  McKay to me was one of the ultimate overachievers later in his career (check out his 1997-98 through 2000-01 seasons...did anyone think he'd ever provide anything close to those numbers offensively), and was a key part of one of the most memorable lines in Devils history (also scored 8 goals during that 1995 Cup run).  He was here for 11 seasons...I think he's deserving.

Rafalski was here for 7 full seasons and and was one Game 7 away from being part of 3 Cup winners...at any rate, the guy was hardly a passenger...he was a terrific offensive defenseman, one of the best in Devils' history.

Terreri I honestly don't expect you to get...he was really before your time.  He was a very important part of the transitional years...with Burke falling flat on his face after the big 1988 run, Terreri was the one who kept outplaying Burke, and who eventually forced the Devils' hands into making him the #1 goalie...he was at least solid enough to help the Devils get into the playoffs each year after 1988-89, as the Devils were building and improving (this doesn't happen with Burke).  Terreri played well enough in 1993-94 to allow the Devils to break in Brodeur on a rotating basis, as Marty got comfortable playing in the NHL.  When Marty needed a breather in the 1993-94 playoffs (after struggling against Boston in Games 1 and 2), Terreri helped the Devils win Games 3 and 4 in Boston (starting both games), and did the same in Game 6 (the series clincher)...without his contributions, that Devils team doesn't reach the Eastern Conference Final and come within one game of getting to the Stanley Cup (1993-94 was a huge building-block season).  As is the case with guys like Brylin, it's not fully about numbers.     

 

 

Nailed it. Great post CR.

[MadDog2020]

34 minutes ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Only McMullen so far...then the whole thing just kinda stopped cold.  Looks like it's firing back up again.

I've gotta think Lou is next, then Lemaire.  Then you could probably induct some players, then Robinson, then some more players, then Burns, and ending with Zajac.  Not sure exactly what order the Devils will go in.  

Lou HAS to be next. No new inductees until Lou gets in.