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The New Jersey Devils have a storied NHL playoff history spanning over several decades. Since their inception in 1972 as the Kansas City Scouts before relocating to Denver and becoming the Colorado Rockies in 1976. However, their tenure as the Rockies was short lived due to lack of stability. This led to the sale of the team to New Jersey trucking tycoon Arthur Imperatore prior to the 1978-79 season. However, due to no nearby facility, the team stayed in Denver. Moving forward, Imperatore sold the team to the then owner of the Houston Astros and relocated to New Jersey.
Since their relocation to New Jersey, they have added three Stanley Cup Championships, five Conference Championships and nine Division Championships to their collection. Notably, Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, has been serving as their home arena since 2007. Remarkably, the Devils are the only major league team in any sport to represent the state of New Jersey.
New Jersey Devils NHL Playoff History and Appearances
The New Jersey Devils have made 23 playoff appearances till date, while notable achievements include winning the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000, and 2003. Despite periods of dominance, they have also faced challenges, such as missing the playoffs in recent seasons like 2019-20 and 2021-22. However, their legacy in the postseason remains significant, with a total of 142 playoff wins to their name.
A table exploring New Jersey Devils’ Playoff History and appearances is provided below:
Year | Record | Result |
2023 | 52-22-8 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2022 | 27-46-9 | Missed Playoffs |
2021 | 19-30-7 | Missed Playoffs |
2020 | 28-29-12 | Missed Playoffs |
2019 | 31-41-10 | Missed Playoffs |
2018 | 44-29-9 | Lost First Round |
2017 | 28-40-14 | Missed Playoffs |
2016 | 38-36-8 | Missed Playoffs |
2015 | 32-36-14 | Missed Playoffs |
2014 | 35-29-18 | Missed Playoffs |
2013 | 19-19-10 | Missed Playoffs |
2012 | 48-28-6 | Lost Stanley Cup Final |
2011 | 38-39-5 | Missed Playoffs |
2010 | 48-27-7 | Lost First Round |
2009 | 51-27-4 | Lost First Round |
2008 | 46-29-7 | Lost First Round |
2007 | 49-24-9 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2006 | 46-27-9 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2005 | - | NHL Lockout |
2004 | 43-25-12-2 | Lost First Round |
2003 | 46-20-10-6 | Stanley Cup Winners |
2002 | 41-28-9-4 | Lost First Round |
2001 | 48-19-12-3 | Lost Stanley Cup Final |
2000 | 45-24-8-5 | Stanley Cup Winners |
1999 | 47-24-11 | Lost First Round |
1998 | 48-23-11 | Lost First Round |
1997 | 45-23-14 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
1996 | 37-33-12 | Missed Playoffs |
1995 | 22-18-8 | Stanley Cup Winners |
1994 | 47-25-12 | Lost Conference Finals |
1993 | 40-37-7 | Lost First Round |
1992 | 38-31-11 | Lost First Round |
1991 | 32-33-15 | Lost First Round |
1990 | 37-34-9 | Lost First Round |
1989 | 27-41-12 | Missed Playoffs |
1988 | 38-36-6 | Lost Conference Finals |
1987 | 29-45-6 | Missed Playoffs |
1986 | 28-49-3 | Missed Playoffs |
1985 | 22-48-10 | Missed Playoffs |
1984 | 17-56-7 | Missed Playoffs |
1983 | 17-49-14 | Missed Playoffs |
New Jersey Devils Conference History
The New Jersey Devils have been part of the Eastern Conference throughout their NHL history. Since the conference's establishment, they have been a prominent member, competing against other Eastern Conference teams in various divisions such as the Atlantic Division and the Metropolitan Division. Their consistent presence in the Eastern Conference has contributed to their legacy in the NHL.
From their early years in the 1980s, marked by struggles to qualify for the playoffs, to their breakthrough in the late 1980s, capturing their first division title and making deep playoff runs. The pinnacle arrived in the mid-1990s when they clinched their first Stanley Cup in the 1994–95 season, followed by another championship in the 1999–2000 season. They maintained their competitiveness throughout the early 2000s, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals twice more in 2000–01 and 2002–03, while emerging victorious in the latter. However, in the following years, they faced challenges, including missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons from 2011–12 to 2014–15 and again from 2016–17 to 2019–20. Despite recent setbacks, the team showed resilience by qualifying for the playoffs in the 2022–23 season.
A table exploring New Jersey Devils' Conference History along with their results is provided below:
Devils season | Conference | Results |
2022–23 | Eastern | Won in first round vs. New York Rangers, 4–3 Lost in second round vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 1–4 |
2021–22 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2020–21 | — | Did not qualify |
2019–20 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2018–19 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2017–18 | Eastern | Lost in first round vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 1–4 |
2016–17 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2015–16 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2014–15 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2013–14 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2012–13 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2011–12 | Eastern | Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Florida Panthers, 4–3 Won in conference semifinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–1 Won in conference finals vs. New York Rangers, 4–2 Lost in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Los Angeles Kings, 2–4 |
2010–11 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2009–10 | Eastern | Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 1–4 |
2008–09 | Eastern | Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 3–4 |
2007–08 | Eastern | Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers, 1–4 |
2006–07 | Eastern | Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–2 Lost in conference semifinals vs. Ottawa Senators, 1–4 |
2005–06 | Eastern | Won in conference quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers, 4–0 Lost in conference semifinals vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 1–4 |
2004–05 | - | Season not played due to lockout |
2003–04 | Eastern | Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 1–4 |
2002–03 | Eastern | Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–1 Won in conference semifinals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–1 Won in conference finals vs. Ottawa Senators, 4–3 Won in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 4–3 |
2001–02 | Eastern | Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 2–4 |
2000–01 | Eastern | Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 4–2 Won in conference semifinals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 4–3 Won in conference finals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 4–1 Lost in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Colorado Avalanche, 3–4 |
1999–2000 | Eastern | Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Florida Panthers, 4–0 Won in conference semifinals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 4–2 Won in conference finals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–3 Won in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Dallas Stars, 4–2 |
1998–99 | Eastern | Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
1997–98 | Eastern | Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Ottawa Senators, 2–4 |
1996–97 | Eastern | Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Montreal Canadiens, 4–1 Lost in conference semifinals vs. New York Rangers, 1–4 |
1995–96 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
1994–95 | Eastern | Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–1 Won in conference semifinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 4–1 Won in conference finals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–2 Won in Stanley Cup Finals vs. Detroit Red Wings, 4–0 |
1993–94 | Eastern | Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Buffalo Sabres, 4–3 Won in conference semifinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–2 Lost in conference finals vs. New York Rangers, 3–4 |
1992–93 | Wales | Lost in division semifinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 1–4 |
1991–92 | Wales | Lost in division semifinals vs. New York Rangers, 3–4 |
1990–91 | Wales | Lost in division semifinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
1989–90 | Wales | Lost in division semifinals vs. Washington Capitals, 2–4 |
1988–89 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1987–88 | Wales | Won in division semifinals vs. New York Islanders, 4–2 Won in division finals vs. Washington Capitals, 4–3 Lost in conference finals vs. Boston Bruins, 3–4 |
1986–87 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1985–86 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1984–85 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1983–84 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1982–83 | Wales | Did not qualify |
The New Jersey Devils have won the conference championship five times, specifically in 1994–95, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, and 2011–12.
New Jersey Devils Division History
The New Jersey Devils have competed in various divisions throughout their NHL history. Since their relocation to New Jersey in 1982, they have been part of different divisions due to league realignments. Notable divisions they have been a part of include the Patrick Division, Atlantic Division, and Metropolitan Division.
Beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the team faced struggles and low standings in the Patrick Division. However, they gradually improved, notably in the late 1980s and early 1990s, reaching competitive levels and making strides in the Atlantic Division. Throughout the 2000s, they maintained a consistent presence in the playoffs, achieving strong regular seasons and playoff performances. The team's resilience was evident in their ability to clinch division titles and compete at a high level.
A table exploring the New Jersey Devils' division history along with their regular season records is provided below:
Year | Division | Regular Season |
2023 | Metropolitan | 52-22-8 |
2022 | Metropolitan | 27-46-9 |
2021 | East | 19-30-7 |
2020 | Metropolitan | 28-29-12 |
2019 | Metropolitan | 31-41-10 |
2018 | Metropolitan | 44-29-9 |
2017 | Metropolitan | 28-40-14 |
2016 | Metropolitan | 38-36-8 |
2015 | Metropolitan | 32-36-14 |
2014 | Metropolitan | 35-29-18 |
2013 | Atlantic | 19-19-10 |
2012 | Atlantic | 48-28-6 |
2011 | Atlantic | 38-39-5 |
2010 | Atlantic (#1) | 48-27-7 |
2009 | Atlantic (#1) | 51-27-4 |
2008 | Atlantic | 46-29-7 |
2007 | Atlantic (#1) | 49-24-9 |
2006 | Atlantic (#1) | 46-27-9 |
2005 | - | NHL Lockout |
2004 | Atlantic | 43-25-12-2 |
2003 | Atlantic (#1) | 46-20-10-6 |
2002 | Atlantic | 41-28-9-4 |
2001 | Atlantic (#1) | 48-19-12-3 |
2000 | Atlantic | 45-24-8-5 |
1999 | Atlantic (#1) | 47-24-11 |
1998 | Atlantic (#1) | 48-23-11 |
1997 | Atlantic (#1) | 45-23-14 |
1996 | Atlantic | 37-33-12 |
1995 | Atlantic | 22-18-8 |
1994 | Atlantic | 47-25-12 |
1993 | Patrick | 40-37-7 |
1992 | Patrick | 38-31-11 |
1991 | Patrick | 32-33-15 |
1990 | Patrick | 37-34-9 |
1989 | Patrick | 27-41-12 |
1988 | Patrick | 38-36-6 |
1987 | Patrick | 29-45-6 |
1985 | Patrick | 22-48-10 |
1984 | Patrick | 17-56-7 |
1983 | Patrick | 17-49-14 |
The New Jersey Devils have clinched the division championship nine times, including the seasons 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, and 2009–10.
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