Top 5 Czech Devils Players of All-Time

With the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics having just wrapped up, and the announcement of the 2034 Winter Olympics returning to Salt Lake City, national representation is at the forefront. Outside of Canada and the United States, the Devils roots run deep within a smaller hockey nation, Czechia. While not a traditional powerhouse, Czechia has produced some of the world’s greatest hockey players, a few of whom have dawned the New Jersey Devils crest.

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

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

5. Marek Zidlicky

When the Devils acquired Marek Zidlicky before the trade deadline in 2012, they were hoping the puck-moving defenseman could give them a shot in the arm heading into the postseason. The Most, Czech native, did just that. He scored nine points during the Devils run to the Stanley Cup Finals that spring. While his Devils career only lasted three and a half seasons, Zidlicky posted 80 points in 214 regular season games in New Jersey.

Although he was never the elite offensive defenseman he had been on previous teams, Zidlicky was one of the few bright spots on the backend on a few bad Devils teams. He had a renaissance 2013-14 season when he recorded 42 points in 81 games. The craft, puck-handling defenseman was one of the most underrated players of his generation and a key contributor to a Devils team that came two wins shy of a fourth Stanley Cup.

4. Jaromir Jagr

As an all-time great, Jagr would be number one. As a Devil, he’s merely just fourth. The team wasn’t particularly exciting during Jagr’s tenure (still reeling from the losses of Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk), but having one of the greatest players in NHL history gave reason to tune in and watch.

The ageless wonder, Jagr only played 139 games for the Devils, but scored 96 points and is the oldest player in NHL history to record a hat trick. During his Devils tenure, he also recorded his 700th career goal against the New York Islanders. While they didn’t get him at his peak, Jagr is still a legend of the game and a worthy admission for the greatest Czech Devils of all time.

3. Petr Sykora

A once elite prospect in New Jersey’s system, Petr Sykora turned into one of the best pure snipers in franchise history. Sykora recorded nearly 400 career points with the Devils over a 527-game span, including a career-high 81 points in 2000-01. His back-to-back playoff runs with the Devils in 2000 and 2001 were some of the best in franchise history.

A part of the historic “A-Line” alongside Jason Arnott and Patrik Elias, Sykora helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup in 2000. That season, he scored 17 points in 23 playoff games and was infamously knocked out of the Finals after taking a big hit from Derian Hatcher. The following season, he almost helps carry the Devils to another Stanley Cup by putting up 22 points in 25 games. A decade later he returned to New Jersey, where in his final NHL season played in all 82 games, scored 44 points, and helped the Devils reach another Stanley Cup Final.

2. Bobby Holik

Aside from a brief stint with the Rangers, Bobby Holik is one of the most underrated Devils through and through. He’s 10th all-time in games played for the franchise with 786, seventh all-time in points with 472, third in goals with 202, and eighth in assists with 270. All while being a physical, shutdown center, and part of the famous “Crash Line” alongside Mike Peluso and Randy McKay.

A two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Devils, Holik turned from a checking center to a scoring one, which culminated in two All-Star appearances and six 20-goal seasons. He was an integral part of the Devils playoff runs in 1995 and 2000 and accumulated 57 points in 124 postseason games.

1. Patrik Elias

One of the greatest Czech players of all time and one of the greatest Devils of all time, Patrik Elias is a franchise icon and should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. His stats speak for themselves; third in games played (1,240), first in goals (408), first in assists (617), first in points (1,025), and first in games played, goals, assists, and points in the playoffs. The 2000 and 2003 Stanley Cup champion is also the only forward in franchise history to have his jersey retired.

Elias made a name for himself as the high-flying offensive winger on a defensive-first team during the glory years of the late 90s/early 2000s. He played an elite two-way game, was a crafty puck handler, and scored in just about every way possible. He grew into a leader later on in his career and was a consistent point producer until injuries slowed him down later in his career. The most decorated forward in franchise history, Elias belongs in the pantheon of not just Devils greats, but of NHL greats.

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