Top 5 Russian Devils of All-Time

With the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics all finished and the announcement of the 2034 Winter Olympics returning to Salt Lake City, national representation is at the forefront. While not heavily represented, the New Jersey Devils have had a contingent of some of the most famous and important Russian hockey players in history.

MUST READS: Top-5 American-Born Devils // Top-5 Canadian-Born Devils // Top-5 Swedish-Born Devils

Here’s a look at the top five Russian Devils of all time.

5. Valeri Zelepukin

After beginning his hockey career in the Soviet Union, Valeri Zelepukin was drafted by the Devils 221st overall in the 1990 NHL Draft. Just two years later, he found himself in the Devils lineup, where he’d go on to play 375 games across seven seasons. During his time in New Jersey, Zelepukin scored 85 goals and added 133 assists, with 10 goals and nine assists in 50 playoff games.

Zelepukin was a reliable scoring winger during his time with the Devils, including a Stanley Cup in 1995. Had it not been for Stephane Matteau’s OT winner in the 1994 ECF, Zelepukin’s game-tying goal in the final seconds of that game seven would be one of the most famous in Devils history. Nevertheless, Zelepukin was a big part of the Soviet wave coming to the NHL in the late 80s/early 90s and made a nice career for himself.

4. Alexander Mogilny

Alexander Mogilny is best known for being the first Russian to defect from the Soviet Union and join the NHL, as well as for being one of the league’s elite goalscorers in the 90s. Despite just 121 games in a Devils sweater, he still scored at a torrid pace and was a part of the 2000 Stanley Cup team. Mogilny scored 114 points during two stints with the Devils.

After winning a Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2000, Mogilny put together one of the best regular seasons in franchise history the following year. His 43 goals that season have him tied for fifth all-time in franchise history in single-season scoring. Mogilny put together one of the most impressive careers, especially given the circumstances, and is one of the most important players in Russian hockey history. Although he was with the team for a short time, the Devils are forever etched in his history as the only Stanley Cup he ever won.

3. Ilya Kovalchuk

Ilya Kovalchuk is one of the most polarizing players in Devils history, while also being one of the most talented. After a blockbuster trade from the Atlanta Thrashers, Kovalchuk went on to score 201 points in 222 regular season games, as well as 25 points in 28 postseason games. Arguably the second-best pure goalscorer in the league (behind only his countryman Alex Ovechkin), Kovalchuk was the Devils main driver of offense for the three and a half seasons in New Jersey.

Devils fans hold great disdain for him following his sudden retirement — which included walking away from the final 12 years and $77 million of his contract — but he was undeniably one of the best pure talents to ever play for the team. His 83-point 2011-12 season helped power the Devils to the postseason, where he added another 19 points en route to the Stanley Cup Finals. Controversy aside, Ilya Kovalchuk was the last elite talent the Devils had before they began their rebuild.

2. Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov

Slava Fetisov has gone down as one of the most important figures in hockey and is instrumental in getting Soviet players – as well as players all around Europe — to come to the NHL. After 13 seasons with CSKA Moscow, Fetisov joined the Devils, where he would go on to play 341 games for the club. One of the world’s greatest defensemen at the time, Fetisov recorded 130 points over five seasons from the backend.

After his playing days, Fetisov joined the Devils coaching staff, where he made just as big an impact. During a four-year stretch from 1998-2002, Fetisov served as an assistant coach with the Devils, helping guide the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, and winning one in 2000.

1. Sergei Brylin

It could be no one else. “Sarge” is one of the greatest Devils of all time with all the accolades to back it up. While never an elite point producer, Sergei Brylin was a model of consistency as a middle-six winger. He’s 11th all-time in games played for the franchise with 765, which spanned 13 years and three Stanley Cups. In fact, Brylin is just one of five players to have won all three of the franchise’s Stanley Cups.

Brylin is hands-down one of the most beloved figures within the franchise. Outside of his 13-year playing career in New Jersey, Brylin has been an assistant coach within the organization since 2012. Three Stanley Cups, 292 career points, and 25-plus years with the organization later, Sergei Brylin is without a doubt the greatest Russian Devil of all time.

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