Best Offensive Forward in Devils History

Hey guys, I'm doing some research for a project right now on who was the Best Offensive Forward in Devils History. In my mind I have it narrowed down to MacLean and Elias. I could really use your input. Which of those to would you say was the best offensively, and is there somebody better that I'm forgetting and leaving out?

Thanks.

Well, MacLean and Elias are the stat leaders so...and if it were between the two, I'd definitely had to go with Elias. He's got a lot of years left in him and produced great numbers when the scoring was down in the league.

As for the most talented forward to ever play for the Devils? Alexander Mogilny. Pure goalscorer. A sheer joy to watch.

Good choices. Elias would be my pick. By the end of his current contract he will have the numbers and the hardware. And may well retire a life-long Devil.

Pat Verbeek did some serious damage here, as well. But not up with those two.

why do i have a feeling there will be some negative spin to this....

anyway its elias, and by far in my mind

For the Devils, it comes down to three guys: Kirk Muller, John MacLean, and Patrik Elias. Elias is the only one whose career isn't over yet, but even right now I have to give him a slight edge over MacLean.

why do i have a feeling there will be some negative spin to this....

anyway its elias, and by far in my mind

No negative spin. I just want some Devils fans opinions before I make the decision.

Stephane Richer should at least be mentioned in the discussion

For the Devils, it comes down to three guys: Kirk Muller, John MacLean, and Patrik Elias. Elias is the only one whose career isn't over yet, but even right now I have to give him a slight edge over MacLean.

Love Captain Kirk as well. Was my favorite Devil while he was here. But the answer is Elias, which will be confirmed by nearly all on these boards.

Stephane Richer should at least be mentioned in the discussion

Kissing up to RG, are we?;)

Kissing up to RG, are we?;)

If not for health problems he would have scored 500 goals. He still had over 400 and scored 50 in a season a few times.

Elias has had the best offensive career with the devils, but you can't doubt some guys that have skated for this team that have had great to HOF offensive careers

Stastny
Gilmour
Andreychuck
Shanahan
Housley
MacLean
Muller
Verbeek
Sundstrom
Mogliny

Muller and Mogo both have higher point per game averages then Elias do.

But Patty is the Devils man.

Elias has had the best offensive career with the devils, but you can't doubt some guys that have skated for this team that have had great to HOF offensive careers

Stastny
Gilmour
Andreychuck
Shanahan
Housley
MacLean
Muller
Verbeek
Sundstrom
Mogliny

Muller and Mogo both have higher point per game averages then Elias do.

But Patty is the Devils man.
Nieuwendyk, Shanahan, Nicholls, and Neal Broten should be mentioned as other players who had great offensive careers. Johnson, Richer, Guerin...

It depends on the angle you want to take. There have been guys here that have had amazing seasons... just not while in Jersey (Bernie Nichols had 70 something goals and 80 assists for L.A. one season).

Do you mean time as a Devil... because that would likely be Elias. Do you account for assists, or just goals? Career-wise, or does a single season weigh heavily (Gionta with 48 goals = single season leader).

Just some thoughts. Not sure what you were going for specifically. I have a feeling, in the end, Elias will be your answer.

It depends on the angle you want to take. There have been guys here that have had amazing seasons... just not while in Jersey (Bernie Nichols had 70 something goals and 80 assists for L.A. one season).

Do you mean time as a Devil... because that would likely be Elias. Do you account for assists, or just goals? Career-wise, or does a single season weigh heavily (Gionta with 48 goals = single season leader).

Just some thoughts. Not sure what you were going for specifically. I have a feeling, in the end, Elias will be your answer.
If we're going single season, it looks something like this:

Kirk Muller (1987-88)
John MacLean (1988-89)
Patrik Elias (2000-01)
Alexander Mogilny (2000-01)
Brian Gionta (2005-06)

http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/0/2008/04/07/320x240/patrick_elias_80543520.jpg

http://www.hcbilitygri.cz/foto/elias-stanleycup.jpg

http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/0/2008/04/07/320x240/patrick_elias_80543520.jpghttp://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/0/2008/04/07/320x240/patrick_elias_80543520.jpghttp://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/0/2008/04/07/320x240/patrick_elias_80543520.jpg

http://nbcsportsmedia.msnbc.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060429/060429_devils_vmed_4p.widec.jpghttp://www.lordotrings.com/images/merrymov.gif

That season where Elias scored something like 30+ goals after the all-star game was the best offensive performance by a Devil I've ever seen.

Stephane Richer was my first favorite hockey player.

He had a crazy hard shot that just came out of nowhere, and anytime he was on the ice with Claude Lemeiux it was a dymanic duo of power forwards.

Legend goes he once shattered Marty's cup in warmups...That's gotta be a scary moment.

In terms of career solely as a Devil, Elias, Muller, and MacLean are very even. Assuming Patrik produces at a decent level for the next few years he'll clinch the title but at this point, I only put him ahead by a hair. Muller was on some weak teams and unfortunately didn't get the chance to experience much playoff success with the Devils, and had the shortest Devils career of the 3. His 87-88 is up there with Elias' 00-01 season which I consider the best in Devils history by a forward. He has the highest PPG of the 3 with the Devils (albeit in an inflated offensive era) but his relatively brief career and lack of playoff success puts him behind Elias and MacLean in my book. MacLean had some great playoff runs: 87-88, 93-94, 94-95 were all great and he was at or near a PPG every year other than the quick exit in 92-93. He had 3 straight 40 goal seasons and is the greatest goal scorer in Devils history.

But for the total package of playmaking, goalscoring, mindblowing skill and creativity, and clutch performances, Patrik Elias is the man. I believe Sakic and Fedorov are the only two players on an NHL roster right now with higher playoff PPG's having played 80 or more games (Forsberg, Jagr are much higher, Sundin is slightly higher). He's had a few disappointing regular seasons, but his career number are still very good despite playing in some very restrictive offensive systems. And he produced while playing very solid defense, relying on skill and savvy instead of breaking away from a team concept. His comeback in 05-06 was a 2nd half MVP-caliber performance and inspired the team. Hopefully he can play the way he has and we all know he still can this year.

Richer, Verbeek, Lemieux had some very good years but didn't have long enough stints with the Devils (I think contract disputes messed with all three of them). Shanahan only spent those first few years of his career with the team, Nicholls and Stastny were towards the end of their careers. Mogilny had a spectacular year in 00-01 and is the most offensively gifted Devil ever but only played 1 full season.

Yeah early on Richer was one of my favorite devil forwards. He was awesome to watch.

Going by context, you can argue that Claude Lemieux was one of the best, since he was mr clutch, always scoring when we needed to score.

Patrik Elias

Well, MacLean and Elias are the stat leaders so...and if it were between the two, I'd definitely had to go with Elias. He's got a lot of years left in him and produced great numbers when the scoring was down in the league.

As for the most talented forward to ever play for the Devils? Alexander Mogilny. Pure goalscorer. A sheer joy to watch.

I agree with this post 1000%. I'd select Elias for best since Mogilny's best years were outside NJ, but man he ruled to watch!

I agree with this post 1000%. I'd select Elias for best since Mogilny's best years were outside NJ, but man he ruled to watch!

as far as pure talent, its Alexander Mogilny hands down. But Elias was a great offensive player for a long time for New Jersey.

Mogilny was the most talented scorer to ever put on a Devils jersey.