(Ed. Note: Welcome to the Puck Daddy 2013 summer project, the National Hockey League of Nations. We’ve recruited 30 writers/blogs to identify the best player in their favorite team’s history for each major nationality that creates the fabric of our beloved NHL: Canada, USA, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland and The Rest of The World. It’s their criteria, as long as they can justify it. Read, debate and enjoy! If you want to do so on Twitter, it's #NHLoN.)

By Greg Wyshynski

To quote Danny Ocean from the Terry Benedict heist: “What, did you really think I was going to sit this one out?”

After seeing our contributors to the National Hockey League of Nations project struggle and strain over their franchise’s best, allow me this moment of self-indulgence, as a lifelong New Jersey Devils fan opens himself up to landfills of criticism for choosing Claude Lemieux over Marty Brodeur as the franchise’s top Canadian player.

HA! Just kidding. I picked Dan McGillis, obviously.

Alright, here’s how this works: I’m selecting the best player for each nationality based only on his time with the Devils. I appreciate how incredible Igor Larionov was, but he played 49 games in New Jersey, and hence isn’t going to be my Russian of choice.

I’m focusing on impact, longevity, accomplishments and stats. And yes, that means if they helped the Devils to a Stanley Cup, that’s weighed more heavily.

That said, the Devils have been blessed to have Hall of Famers and hockey legends skate in Jersey, and I feel compelled to acknowledge them. So along with the bold-faced name that goes with each nationality, I’m spotlighting a “total career choice” player as well – although in some cases, that’s the same player for both.

Who are the best Devils for each major nationality in the NHL in their history? Glad you asked.

Canada



So there’s this guy with 669 regular-season wins in 1,220 games, eight 40-win seasons, 121 shutouts, 24 playoff shutouts, three Stanley Cup rings and two Olympic gold medals and four Vezina Trophies and a Calder who is a 10-time all-star.

But Martin Brodeur isn’t the greatest Canadian to ever play for the Devils because of those records and accomplishments. No sir and/or ma’am.

It’s because he won the 1996 ESPY Award for “Outstanding Performance Under Pressure”, and who among us can claim that?

Oh, right, Messier won it because of 1994. But let’s not dwell on the negative here. Brodeur’s the greatest player in Devils history and thus their greatest Canadian player.

Total Career Choice: Brodeur, with a stick-tap to Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk, Dave Andreychuk, Brendan Shanahan, Mel Bridgman, John MacLean, Ken Daneyko, Pat Verbeek, Claude Lemieux, Kirk Muller and Chico Resch.

Finland

Uh, yeah, so, Finland then …

The Devils don’t exactly have what you’d call a storied history when it comes to Finnish players. Of the 11 skaters born in Finland that played for New Jersey, eight saw less than 35 games of action. Included in that group was one of the biggest-name busts in franchise history: Esa Tikkanen, who lasted nine games before being traded for the second time in a month.

Do you give it to defenseman Tapio Levo, who was a minus-41 for the 1982-83 inaugural Devils? Anssi Salmela, who played 74 games of no consequence in three years? Reijo Ruotsalainen, a Lou Lamoriello waivers coup that played 31 games in Jersey?

With option ‘B’ being “PASS”, we’ll give this one to center Janne Ojanen, who played 98 games from 1988-1993 for the Devils. If only because he was always a phone call away and he wore three different numbers – how versatile!

Total Career Choice: We’ll never stop loving you, non-Devils Tikkanen.

USA



One of the more difficult categories for the Devils.

The first great American was Aaron Broten, who played 581 games for the Devils and scored 430 points. He was a fantastic winger, and with Muller and Pat Verbeek formed an exceptional line.

You had a player like Mark Johnson, who had 229 points in 305 games. Or Brian Rolston, who scored 281 points in 557 games for the Devils. Or Bill Guerin, who had 214 points in 380 games for New Jersey. Or Brian Gionta, who have 312 points in 473 games. Current Devil defenseman Andy Greene should be in the conversation, albeit as an underrated option. Ditto fan favorites Doug Brown and Chris Terreri.

Story continues