1982–83 New Jersey Devils season

National Hockey League season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1982–83 1982 New Jersey Devils Wales 9th Patrick 5th 17–49–14 11–20–9 6–29–5 230 338 Bill MacMillan Bill MacMillan Don Lever None Brendan Byrne Arena Steve Tambellini (25) Tapio Levo (40) Aaron Broten (55) Yvon Vautour (136) Chico Resch (15) Chico Resch (3.98) 1981–82 (Colorado) The 1982–83 New Jersey Devils season was the franchise's ninth season in the NHL and the first in New Jersey after moving from Colorado, where they were known as the Colorado Rockies. The Devils first ever game was a 3–3 tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where first captain Don Lever scored the Devils' first ever goal. The team's first win would come against their new rivals, the New York Rangers. However, the new location didn't help the team overall, as they continued to struggle in the standings, finishing second-last in their division and third-to-last in their conference. 2 Regular season Season standings NJD Record vs. opponents NJD Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 5px solid; 1982–83 regular season1982-83 New Jersey Devils Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NJD/1983_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 23, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#C8102E 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; October: 3–6–3 (home: 2–3–2; road: 1–3–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- | 1 || October 5 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 3 || New Jersey || 0–0–1 || 1 || 13,663 |- | 2 || October 8 || NY Rangers || 2 – 3 || New Jersey || 1–0–1 || 3 || 19,203 |- | 3 || October 9 || New Jersey || 5 – 5 || Toronto || 1–0–2 || 4 || 16,382 |- | 4 || October 12 || Boston || 2 – 2 || New Jersey || 1–0–3 || 5 || 10,251 |- | 5 || October 14 || Montreal || 5 – 3 || New Jersey || 1–1–3 || 5 || 11,703 |- | 6 || October 16 || New Jersey || 6 – 5 || Pittsburgh || 2–1–3 || 7 || 8,852 |- | 7 || October 18 || Philadelphia || 1 – 3 || New Jersey || 3–1–3 || 9 || 12,521 |- | 8 || October 20 || New Jersey || 4 – 7 || Los Angeles || 3–2–3 || 9 || 8,519 |- | 9 || October 22 || New Jersey || 1 – 3 || Winnipeg || 3–3–3 || 9 || 12,534 |- | 10 || October 26 || Minnesota || 5 – 3 || New Jersey || 3–4–3 || 9 || 11,208 |- | 11 || October 28 || NY Islanders || 4 – 2 || New Jersey || 3–5–3 || 9 || 19,023 |- | 12 || October 30 || New Jersey || 5 – 8 || NY Islanders || 3–6–3 || 9 || 15,230 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#C8102E 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; November: 1–10–4 (home: 0–3–2; road: 1–7–2) Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- | 13 || November 1 || Calgary || 6 – 3 || New Jersey || 3–7–3 || 9 || 10,152 |- | 14 || November 2 || New Jersey || 4 – 5 || Montreal || 3–8–3 || 9 || 15,177 |- | 15 || November 4 || Pittsburgh || 4 – 4 || New Jersey || 3–8–4 || 10 || 10,410 |- | 16 || November 6 || New Jersey || 1 – 1 || Detroit || 3–8–5 || 11 || 11,395 |- | 17 || November 8 || Washington || 2 – 2 || New Jersey || 3–8–6 || 12 || 10,273 |- | 18 || November 10 || New Jersey || 0 – 3 || Washington || 3–9–6 || 12 || 12,445 |- | 19 || November 11 || Edmonton || 5 – 1 || New Jersey || 3–10–6 || 12 || 19,023 |- | 20 || November 13 || New Jersey || 2 – 7 || Quebec || 3–11–6 || 12 || 15,004 |- | 21 || November 16 || New Jersey || 2 – 7 || St. Louis || 3–12–6 || 12 || 10,807 |- | 22 || November 17 || New Jersey || 3 – 5 || Chicago || 3–13–6 || 12 || 14,628 |- | 23 || November 20 || New Jersey || 1 – 5 || Minnesota || 3–14–6 || 12 || 14,940 |- | 24 || November 24 || New Jersey || 0 – 3 || Los Angeles || 3–15–6 || 12 || 9,735 |- | 25 || November 26 || New Jersey || 4 – 4 || Vancouver || 3–15–7 || 13 || 12,875 |- | 26 || November 27 || New Jersey || 4 – 3 || Calgary || 4–15–7 || 15 || 7,242 |- | 27 || November 29 || Chicago || 3 – 1 || New Jersey || 4–16–7 || 15 || 10,834 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#C8102E 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; December: 3–9–0 (home: 2–4–0; road: 1–5–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- | 28 || December 1 || Toronto || 3 – 7 || New Jersey || 5–16–7 || 17 || 9,007 |- | 29 || December 3 || Hartford || 4 – 5 || New Jersey || 6–16–7 || 19 || 12,428 |- | 30 || December 4 || New Jersey || 2 – 6 || Detroit || 6–17–7 || 19 || 8,462 |- | 31 || December 6 || Winnipeg || 5 – 3 || New Jersey || 6–18–7 || 19 || 8,862 |- | 32 || December 9 || Washington || 6 – 4 || New Jersey || 6–19–7 || 19 || 9,123 |- | 33 || December 11 || New Jersey || 1 – 7 || NY Islanders || 6–20–7 || 19 || 15,167 |- | 34 || December 12 || New Jersey || 0 – 4 || NY Rangers || 6–21–7 || 19 || 17,423 |- | 35 || December 17 || New Jersey || 4 – 10 || Edmonton || 6–22–7 || 19 || 17,498 |- | 36 || December 19 || New Jersey || 3 – 2 || Winnipeg || 7–22–7 || 21 || 10,815 |- | 37 || December 22 || Philadelphia || 3 – 1 || New Jersey || 7–23–7 || 21 || 13,144 |- | 38 || December 26 || New Jersey || 2 – 5 || Boston || 7–24–7 || 21 || 14,685 |- | 39 || December 30 || NY Rangers || 5 – 2 || New Jersey || 7–25–7 || 21 || 19,023 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#C8102E 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; January: 4–6–4 (home: 4–1–3; road: 0–5–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- | 40 || January 2 || Vancouver || 1 – 3 || New Jersey || 8–25–7 || 23 || 10,017 |- | 41 || January 5 || Toronto || 4 – 4 || New Jersey || 8–25–8 || 24 || 9,330 |- | 42 || January 7 || Boston || 2 – 2 || New Jersey || 8–25–9 || 25 || 19,023 |- | 43 || January 9 || New Jersey || 3 – 4 || NY Rangers || 8–26–9 || 25 || 17,422 |- | 44 || January 10 || Quebec || 2 – 6 || New Jersey || 9–26–9 || 27 || 9,814 |- | 45 || January 13 || NY Islanders || 5 – 2 || New Jersey || 9–27–9 || 27 || 17,342 |- | 46 || January 15 || New Jersey || 1 – 2 || Hartford || 9–28–9 || 27 || 9,200 |- | 47 || January 16 || Los Angeles || 3 – 5 || New Jersey || 10–28–9 || 29 || 10,367 |- | 48 || January 19 || New Jersey || 1 – 1 || Pittsburgh || 10–28–10 || 30 || 5,213 |- | 49 || January 20 || St. Louis || 3 – 3 || New Jersey || 10–28–11 || 31 || 9,763 |- | 50 || January 23 || New Jersey || 1 – 3 || Washington || 10–29–11 || 31 || 8,839 |- | 51 || January 25 || New Jersey || 1 – 5 || Philadelphia || 10–30–11 || 31 || 16,312 |- | 52 || January 29 || New Jersey || 4 – 6 || Quebec || 10–31–11 || 31 || 15,056 |- | 53 || January 31 || Pittsburgh || 2 – 3 || New Jersey || 11–31–11 || 33 || 9,732 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#C8102E 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; February: 1–8–2 (home: 1–2–2; road: 0–6–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- | 54 || February 3 || NY Islanders || 7 – 2 || New Jersey || 11–32–11 || 33 || 15,033 |- | 55 || February 5 || New Jersey || 4 – 5 || Washington || 11–33–11 || 33 || 13,150 |- | 56 || February 6 || Vancouver || 4 – 4 || New Jersey || 11–33–12 || 34 || 7,036 |- | 57 || February 9 || New Jersey || 4 – 5 || Chicago || 11–34–12 || 34 || 16,235 |- | 58 || February 12 || New Jersey || 1 – 5 || St. Louis || 11–35–12 || 34 || 11,948 |- | 59 || February 15 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || New Jersey || 11–36–12 || 34 || 10,765 |- | 60 || February 20 || New Jersey || 0 – 3 || Philadelphia || 11–37–12 || 34 || 17,011 |- | 61 || February 21 || Buffalo || 4 – 4 || New Jersey || 11–37–13 || 35 || 10,060 |- | 62 || February 24 || Detroit || 1 – 4 || New Jersey || 12–37–13 || 37 || 11,242 |- | 63 || February 26 || New Jersey || 4 – 5 || Pittsburgh || 12–38–13 || 37 || 10,343 |- | 64 || February 27 || New Jersey || 2 – 6 || Buffalo || 12–39–13 || 37 || 11,916 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#C8102E 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; March: 4–10–0 (home: 2–7–0; road: 2–3–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- | 65 || March 1 || Edmonton || 4 – 3 || New Jersey || 12–40–13 || 37 || 13,478 |- | 66 || March 3 || Philadelphia || 4 – 1 || New Jersey || 12–41–13 || 37 || 12,701 |- | 67 || March 5 || New Jersey || 1 – 5 || NY Islanders || 12–42–13 || 37 || 15,230 |- | 68 || March 6 || New Jersey || 6 – 4 || NY Rangers || 13–42–13 || 39 || 17,410 |- | 69 || March 8 || Washington || 5 – 4 || New Jersey || 13–43–13 || 39 || 9,350 |- | 70 || March 10 || Hartford || 3 – 0 || New Jersey || 13–44–13 || 39 || 10,206 |- | 71 || March 12 || New Jersey || 7 – 3 || Montreal || 14–44–13 || 41 || 16,556 |- | 72 || March 14 || Calgary || 7 – 0 || New Jersey || 14–45–13 || 41 || 10,563 |- | 73 || March 17 || NY Islanders || 9 – 5 || New Jersey || 14–46–13 || 41 || 13,954 |- | 74 || March 21 || NY Rangers || 2 – 4 || New Jersey || 15–46–13 || 43 || 19,023 |- | 75 || March 24 || New Jersey || 3 – 5 || Washington || 15–47–13 || 43 || 9,713 |- | 76 || March 25 || Philadelphia || 5 – 6 || New Jersey || 16–47–13 || 45 || 17,041 |- | 77 || March 27 || New Jersey || 1 – 4 || Philadelphia || 16–48–13 || 45 || 16,922 |- | 78 || March 31 || Buffalo || 8 – 5 || New Jersey || 16–49–13 || 45 || 13,286 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#C8102E 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; April: 1–0–1 (home: 0–0–0; road: 1–0–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- | 79 || April 1 || New Jersey || 3 – 3 || NY Rangers || 16–49–14 || 46 || 17,412 |- | 80 || April 3 || New Jersey || 5 – 3 || Pittsburgh || 17–49–14 || 48 || 5,864 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes     Regular season   Playoffs Player GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM Aaron Broten 7316395528 – – – – - Don Lever 7923305368 – – – – -Bob MacMillan711929488 – – – – -Tapio Levo 73 7 40 47 22 – – – – -Jeff Larmer 65 21 24 45 21 – – – – -Hector Marini 77 17 28 45 105 – – – – -Steve Tambellini 73 25 18 43 14 – – – – -Brent Ashton 76 14 19 33 47 – – – – -Rick Meagher† 57 15 14 29 11 – – – – -Paul Gagne 53 14 15 29 13 – – – – -Murray Brumwell 59 5 14 19 34 – – – – -Jan Ludvig 51 7 10 17 30 – – – – -Joel Quenneville 74 5 12 17 46 – – – – -Mike Antonovich 30 7 7 14 11 – – – – -Glenn Merkosky 34 4 10 14 20 – – – – -Bob Lorimer 66 3 10 13 42 – – – – -Mike Kitchen 77 4 8 12 52 – – – – -Yvon Vautour 52 4 7 11 136 – – – – -Rob Palmer 60 1 10 11 21 – – – – -Dave Cameron 35 5 4 9 50 – – – – -John Wensink 42 2 7 9 135 – – – – -Carol Vadnais 51 2 7 9 64 – – – – -Merlin Malinowski‡ 5 3 2 5 0 – – – – -Pat Verbeek 6 3 2 5 8 – – – – -Dave Hutchison 32 1 4 5 102 – – – – -Garry Howatt 38 1 4 5 114 – – – – -Jukka Porvari 8 1 3 4 4 – – – – -Chico Resch 65 0 3 3 6 – – – – -Larry Floyd 5 1 0 1 2 – – – – -Joe Cirella 2 0 1 1 4 – – – – -Mike Moher 9 0 1 1 28 – – – – -Ron Low† 11 0 1 1 0 – – – – -Randy Pierce 3 0 0 0 0 – – – – -Dwight Foster‡ 4 0 0 0 2 – – – – -Shawn MacKenzie 6 0 0 0 0 – – – – -Lindsay Middlebrook‡ 9 0 0 0 2 – – – – - †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining New Jersey. Stats reflect time with the Devils only. ‡Traded mid-season Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average     Regular season   Playoffs Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA Chico Resch 65365015351224203.98 – – – – – – - Ron Low† 116082714104.05 – – – – – – - Lindsay Middlebrook‡ 94120613705.39 – – – – – – - Shawn MacKenzie 61300101506.92 – – – – – – - †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining New Jersey. Stats reflect time with the Devils only. ‡Traded mid-season Bold/italics denotes franchise record Transactions The Devils were involved in the following transactions during the 1982–83 season. Trades October 1, 1982 To New Jersey Devils Hector Marini4th round pick in 1983 To New York Islanders 4th round pick in 1983 October 15, 1982 To New Jersey DevilsRick MeagherGarry Howatt To Hartford WhalersMerlin MalinowskiScott Fusco October 29, 1982 To New Jersey DevilsCash To Detroit Red WingsDwight Foster February 19, 1983 To New Jersey DevilsRon Low To Edmonton OilersLindsay MiddlebrookPaul Miller Free agents Player Former teamC Mike AntonovichMinnesota North StarsC Mitch WilsonSeattle Breakers (WHL)F Jan LudvigEdmonton Oilers Player New team Draft picks The Devils' draft picks at the 1982 NHL entry draft at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Canada. Rd # Pick # Player Nat Pos Team (League) Notes18Rocky TrottierCanadaCBillings Bighorns (WHL)The Colorado Rockies traded Rob Ramage to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' first-round picks in 1982 (Trottier) and 1983 (McLean) on June 9, 1982.118Ken DaneykoCanadaDSeattle Breakers (WHL)82bos Colorado traded away the 1982 first overall pick (used on Gord Kluzak) and second-round pick (used on Brian Curran) to Boston for Dwight Foster and the Bruins' 1982 first-round pick (Daneyko) and tenth-round pick (Gilliard) on July 2, 1981.1982 Traded Draft Picks222No second-round draft pick82bos344Pat VerbeekCanadaCSudbury Wolves (OHL)354Dave KasperCanadaCSherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)Colorado had acquired Winnipeg's 1982 third-round pick along with Brent Ashton for Lucien DeBlois on July 15, 1981.464No fourth-round draft pickColorado traded their 1982 fourth-round pick to Los Angeles (used to draft Dave Gans) for Nick Beverley on November 18, 1978.585Scott BrydgesUnited StatesDWhite Bear Lake Mariner H.S. (Minnesota)6106Mike MoherCanadaRWKitchener Rangers (OHL)7127Paul FulcherCanadaLWLondon Knights (OHL)8148John HutchingsCanadaDOshawa Generals (OHL)9169Alan HeppleUnited KingdomDOttawa 67's (OHL)10190Brent ShawCanadaRWSeattle Breakers (WHL)10207Tony GilliardCanadaLWNiagara Falls Flyers (OHL)82bos11211Scott FuscoUnited StatesCHarvard University (ECAC)12232Dan DorionUnited StatesRWAustin Mavericks (USHL) See also 1982–83 NHL season Notes References 1982-83 Category:1982–83 NHL season by team Category:1982 in sports in New Jersey Category:1983 in sports in New Jersey 1982-83 New Jersey Devils season 1982-83 New Jersey Devils season