Even though he just wanted to get one, undrafted New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon made it all the way to 1,000 NHL games.
In an eventful loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, Dec. 1 (in which the honoree was the center of attention for other reasons), Dillon became the 415th NHL player to reach the milestone.
Dillon, who has played for Dallas, San Jose, Washington and Winnipeg before joining the Devils in the summer of 2024, signed for the Stars undrafted in 2011.
After a succesful four year stint with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Dillon would not only play in one game, but would go on to play in 15 seasons and counting. The veteran defenseman is now in his second full season in New Jersey at age 35.
With Dillon’s latest achievement, he continues a great tradition of Devils players who made it to the national undrafted and still made their mark.
The Devils are not looking too hot right now, so let’s take a trip down memory lane and acknowledge some other undrafted players who etched their names into New Jersey hockey history.
Excluding Dillon, here are some of the best undrafted players to suit up for the Devils:
5. Keith Kinkaid (2011-2019)
Longtime backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid signed for the Devils in April of 2011 undrafted out of Union College in upstate New York.
The Farmingdale, NY native drew NHL attention after an impressive sophomore season that earned him the Ken Dryden award for the best goaltender in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
Kinkaid spent eight years with the Devils organization, breaking through to the NHL level in 2015 after three and a half seasons with then AHL affilitate, the Albany Devils. The American netminder mainly served as a backup to Cory Schneider in his time with New Jersey, an era that most Devils fans would prefer to forget, though not because of its goaltending.
Kinkaid’s best moment for the Devils came in the late stages of the 2017-18 season, when he filled in for an injured Schneider and ultimately won the starting role, helping the Devils reach the playoffs for the first time since 2012. He showcased a 26-10-3 record and .923 save percentage through 41 games in 2017-18, including a dominant run of 16 wins in the final 21 games of the regular season, boasting a .929 save percentage.
Kinkaid would go in to the 2018 playoffs as the Devils’ starter, but was later unseated by Schneider following losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning in games one and two of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Kinkaid was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in February of 2019 but never featured for his second NHL team. He would spend much of this next phase of his career in the AHL, signing with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and the then independent Chicago Wolves.
Kinkaid was briefly a Devil once again, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the team on Sept. 13, 2023. Just 35 days later, Kinkaid would clear waivers and return to the AHL with the Wolves.
Kinkaid is still active, currently playing for the Deer Lake Red Wings of the Central West Senior Hockey League (CWSHL).
4. David Clarkson (2005-2013)
Fan-favorite David Clarkson signed undrafted for the Devils in 2005. A Memorial Cup champion in 2003 under head coach Pete DeBoer with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Kitchener Rangers, the Etobicoke, Ontario native cut his teeth in professional hockey with the Albany River Rats and later the Lowell Devils.
After nearly two full seasons in the AHL, Clarkson quickly became a regular in New Jersey. Playing 81 and 82 games in his rookie and sophomore seasons, Clarkson established himself as a permament fixture of the Devils’ bottom six.
Known for his gritty, physical play and no-nonsense mentality, Clarkson regularly led New Jersey in penalty minutes, racking up career highs early in 2007-08 and 2008-09, picking up 184 PIM and 168 PIM, respectively.
Currently, Clarkson sits at 9th on the Devils all time penalty minutes list, with 770 PIM in 426 games played.
Clarkson shined brightest for New Jersey in the 2011-12 season. Reunited with DeBoer, Clarkson had a career year, scoring 30 goals and helping the Devils reach the Stanley Cup Finals with 12 points in the playoffs.
After eight seasons in the Devils organization, Clarkson signed a monster seven-year, $36.75 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His time in Toronto was not nearly as successful as it was in New Jersey, only picking up 26 points in two seasons before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Clarkson played his final two NHL seasons in Columbus between 2014-15 and 2015-16. With his time there marred by injuries and healthy scratches, “Clarky” managed only four points through 26 appearances with the Blue Jackets.
Currently, Clarkson serves as part owner and director of player development for the Colorado Grit of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
3. Andy Greene (2006-2020)
Undrafted out of Miami University (Ohio), defenseman Andy Greene signed as a free agent for the Devils in 2006 before going on to play 16 NHL seasons.
After playing 52 games with Lowell in the AHL during the 2006-07 season, Greene began to stand out at the NHL level. Greene played particularly well during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs, beating out NHL regular Johnny Oduya for a spot on the blueline.
The Trenton, MI native remained a steady member of the Devils’ back end for the next 13 seasons. A two-way blueliner who adapted his play style to become more defensive with age, Greene’s career high in points came in 2009-10 when he amassed 6 goals and 31 assists for 37 points.
After the retirement of incumbent captain Bryce Salvador in 2015, Greene was named the 11th captain in franchise history.
A leader from the start of his NHL career, Greene was the obvious choice to receive the captaincy. A defining characteristic of his time in New Jersey, Greene seemed to make those on the ice around him better, providing a mentorship to younger fellow defensemen like Adam Larsson and later Damon Severson.
Greene is best remembered as the Devils’ “Ironman”, not missing a single apperance between Mar. 6, 2012 and Jan. 6, 2017. His run of 350 consecutive NHL games is the third-longest in Devils history, behind only Travis Zajac (401) and “Mr. Devil” Ken Danyeko (355).
Greene was traded to the New York Islanders in 2020, reuniting with former Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello. Greene would play two more full seasons with the Islanders, later joined by fellow ex-Devils Zajac and Kyle Palmieri in late 2021.
After finishing his final season on Long Island in 2021-22, Greene signed a one-day contract to retire a New Jersey Devil on Oct. 12, 2022.
2. John Madden (1997-2009)
Three-time Stanley Cup champion John Madden signed for the Devils as an undrafted free agent in June of 1997. The Barrie, Ontario native would go on to have a 12-season NHL career, including nine full seasons in New Jersey.
After getting passed over in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Madden played college hockey at the University of Michigan. As a Wolverine, Madden totaled 180 points in 160 NCAA games and set a collegiate record for most shorthanded goals in a four-year career (23).
A member of the star-studded Michigan teams of the 90s, Madden and the Wolverines were crowned national champions in 1995-96.
An offensive standout in his first two professional seasons with the River Rats, Madden picked up 154 points in 149 AHL games.
Known for his stellar two-way play, Madden never accumulated more than 43 points at the NHL level, but would remain a key contributor for a budding Devils dynasty, winning two Stanley Cups in New Jersey (2000 and 2003).
The silverware didn’t stop there for Madden, as he was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2001 and finished second in voting on three separate occassions (2003, 2004 and 2008). His penalty-killing abilities were a perfect fit for the defensive juggernauts that were the Devils of the early 2000s.
Madden would go on to sign for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2009-10, winning his third Stanley Cup. From there, he played two more seasons for the Minneosta Wild and Florida Panthers, respectively.
In his post-playing career, Madden has served as a scout and coach for various outfits. His coaching resume includes assistant stints with the Panthers and San Jose Sharks, as well as the head coaching position for the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Currently, Madden is an assistant coach for the Utah Mammoth.
Honorable Mentions
Greg Adams (1984-1987) – Canadian winger Greg “Gus” Adams signed for the Devils as an undrafted free agent out of Northern Arizona University in 1984 where he led the nation in goals. In three seasons with New Jersey, Adams scored 145 points in 186 games, including a career best of 77 points in 78 games in 1985-86.
Doug Brown (1986-1993) – Masachussets native Doug Brown signed as an undrafted free agent for the Devils in 1986 after four standout years with Boston College. A Devil for eight seasons, Brown would go on to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings, where he would pick up two Stanley Cups with the latter (1997 and 1998).
Peter Stastny (1989-1993) – Slovak-Canadian Hall of Famer Peter Stastny played for the Devils towards the end of his NHL career, collecting 173 points in 217 games for New Jersey. After signing undrafted for the Quebec Nordiques in 1980, “Stosh” would go on to become a six-time NHL All-Star and was the second-highest scorer of the 1980s, behind only Wayne Gretzky. His 1,239 points in 977 career games are good enough for the fourth best points per game (1.27) in NHL history (minimum 500 points).
Steve Thomas (1995-1998) – British-born winger Steve Thomas was only a Devil for a short while. After signing undrafted for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1984, Thomas would play for several teams before landing in New Jersey for three seasons, where he totaled 119 points in 193 games. A player known for his prowess in the playoffs, Thomas would later meet his former team in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals as a member of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, but fell to the Devils in seven games.
Peter Harrold (2011-2015) – Kirtland Hills, Ohio native Peter Harrold was signed undrafted out of Boston College by the Los Angeles Kings in 2006. The defenseman joined New Jersey in 2011, where he would reach the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season in black and red, before losing to his former club in six games. Harrold played 110 games across four seasons with New Jersey before ending his pro career in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves.
1. Brian Rafalski (1999-2007)
2014 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Brian Rafalski was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Devils ahead of the 1999-00 season. He was 25 years old.
As a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Dearborn, MI native was named 1995 Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) defenseman of the year. He scored 98 points in 146 games on the blueline across four years at UW.
Despite his collegiate prowess, Rafalski had no immediate prospects to play in the NHL. As a result, he took the unique route of playing in Europe following college.
Rafalski landed in Sweden with Brynäs IF. After initial struggles in the Elitserien, Rafalski moved to HPK of the Finnish SM-liiga, and then HIFK in 1997. In his final year in Finland, he became a point per game player and was voted player of the year by fellow peers around the league, becoming the first foreign player to win the award.
Touted as one of the best hockey players not playing in the NHL, Rafalski signed for New Jersey in May of 1999. A mainstay defense partner with the legend Scott Stevens, the Devils would go on to win their second Stanley Cup in franchise history in Ralaski’s rookie season, and he would be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team as well.
Rafalski would help the Devils to their third and his second Stanley Cup in 2003, once again leading his fellow defensmen in points. In his seven seasons and 541 games with New Jersey, he amassed 311 points, the fourth most in history amongst Devils defenseman.
Rafalski’s success followed him after he left New Jersey. The star defenseman would play four more NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, winning a Stanley Cup in 2008. Rafalski never once missed the playoffs in his 11-season NHL career, playing in five Stanley Cup Finals and leading all players in playoff appearances throughout the 2000s with 142 postseason games played.
In international play, Rafalski represented the United States at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, the last of which he served as an alternate captain. He earned silver twice as a member of the 2002 and 2010 teams.
Rafalski briefly came out of retirement in 2014 with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades but was quickly released after resurfacing back injuries.
