Devils Ring of Honor Celebration

Devils Ring of Honor - Brylin presented by Citizens

About Ring of Honor Sergei Brylin Dr. John J. McMullen Get Tickets

Twenty years after bringing the third Stanley Cup to New Jersey, former Devils’ forward and current assistant coach Sergei Brylin was celebrated by the Devils as the club’s second-ever Ring of Honor inductee. The Devils Ring of Honor ceremony presented by Citizens took place at Prudential Center on Saturday, January 20, 2024. All fans in attendance received a limited-edition Ring of Honor commemorative pin courtesy of Citizens.

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Saturday, January 20

About the Ring of Honor

Built to celebrate contributions to the legacy and tradition of the franchise, the Ring of Honor presented by Citizens highlights individuals who have impacted the organization on and off the ice.

Started in 2017 with the induction of the team’s founder, Dr. John J. McMullen, the Ring of Honor has been reignited this year with honoring of Sergei Brylin. Each season for the next five, the Devils will induct another honoree as they continue to celebrate the team’s rich history, spanning more than 40 years.

These selections will be made by a “Ring of Honor Committee”, formed by the organization, which will meet to discuss and help decide future honorees. The committee includes all five players who have their number retired by the organization (Stevens, Daneyko, Niedermayer, Brodeur, Elias), the two Ring of Honor inductees (Peter McMullen, on behalf of The McMullen Family and Brylin) and select media/team executives each year.

Sergei Brylin

New Jersey’s second choice and 42nd overall selection in the 1992 Entry Draft, Brylin first came to North America in 1993-94 as a member of the IHL’s Russian Penguins. Brylin made his NHL debut on February 17, 1995 and spent his entire 13-season NHL career, from 1994-95 through 2007-08, with New Jersey.

He totaled 765 regular-season games, which ranks tenth in franchise history. He is one of just five players to win three Stanley Cup Championships (1995, 2000, 2003) with New Jersey, joining Martin Brodeur, Ken Daneyko, Scott Niedermayer, and Scott Stevens in the accomplishment. The forward totaled 129 goals and 179 assists for 308 points over his NHL career, with career highs across the board in goals (23), assists (29) assists and points (52) in the 2000- 01 season.

Sergei Brylin raises the Stanley Cup in 2003.

As part of his many achievements, Brylin had an iron-man streak of 328 games, playing in all games from 2003-04 through 2007- 08. This run of games from October 8, 2003 to April 6, 2008 also marks the third-longest consecutive stretch in franchise history. Additionally, he earned 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 109 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. Brylin ended his NHL career after the 2007-08 season and retired following the 2011-12 season, after three years with St. Petersburg and one season with Novokuznetsk in the Kontinental Hockey League. Internationally, he represented Russia at two World Championships and two World Junior Championships..

Brylin was promoted to Assistant Coach in New Jersey on August 18, 2022. Prior to 2022-23, the 49-year-old served as an assistant and associate coach for the Devils’ AHL affiliates for nine seasons in Albany (2012-13 to 2016-17), Binghamton (2017-18 to 2020-21), and Utica (2021-22). In 2021-22, Brylin helped lead the Comets to a North Division title and the best record in the Eastern Conference. Utica also set an AHL record after it began the 2021-22 campaign with 13 consecutive wins.

Stanley Cup
Championships

3

1995, 2000, 2003

Seasons Played
Career

13

#6 in Franchise

Games Played
Regular Season

765

#10 in Franchise

Career Points
Regular Season

308

#21 in Franchise

Full Player Stats

Dr. John J. McMullen

Dr. McMullen purchased the Colorado Rockies in 1982 and moved the franchise to the Meadowlands, renaming the team the New Jersey Devils after a fan vote, where they played through the 2006-07 season before relocating to Newark. Dr. McMullen presided over the Devils' first two Stanley Cup championships in 1995 and 2000, and was widely known as one of the most innovative owners in the NHL, paving the way for Soviet talent to enter the league. Prior to purchasing the Devils, Dr. McMullen was a limited partner of the New York Yankees. He was also the majority owner of the Houston Astros from 1979 to 1993.

A native of Montclair, N.J., Dr. McMullen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, and served in the Navy from 1936 to 1954, rising to the rank of Commander. During his service, he earned a Master of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from MIT and a Doctor of Mechanical Engineering degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Dr. McMullen, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 87, was represented by his wife, Jacqueline, his son, Peter, and additional family members during the on-ice ceremony on January 6, 2017 as he was celebrated as the team's first Ring of Honor inductee.