Tap the JOIN button above to become a channel Member and support my work...as little as $1 a month! I am a full-time creator, so your contributions help *a lot*. Or, you can tap the THANKS button to leave a one-time donation. Alright, what do you think of Scott Stevens? Greatest captain of the era? Hardest hitter of all time? Let's hear it! Watch Next! • The Shocking Career of Bill Romanowski: th-cam.com/video/qe5zD_15E0I/w-d-xo.html • The Biggest Baseball Blunder No One Talks About: th-cam.com/video/29v0Gqtg3Dk/w-d-xo.html • Raffi Torres video (must be over 18 and signed in to watch) th-cam.com/video/q0Cy0eH4S7g/w-d-xo.html
I was a caps season ticket holder for all his years there… Scott is the best Dman I’ve ever seen… he was the rarest combination of skill, skating, intensity, knowledge of the game, positional perfection… he was the original shutdown D!! He was the perfect defenseman. Bryan Murray said he’s the only player I never had to coach, glen sather said if I had to start a team the first player I would get is Scott Stevens… and Lou Lamoriello worshipped him!!!! The fact that he never won a Norris tells you what a joke that trophy really is!! He should have multiple Norris trophies but he’s got that Conn Smythe and 3 Cups… I’d say he’s just fine!!!!
Too bad his legacy is around other super star players he maned, not about his accomplishments and feats as a player... His super star career is forever overshadowed by his career hurting hits... So in a away his own career and legacy is damaged by his hits too... Karma!
Stevens is a pos. Someone should’ve taken him out when he was a rookie. I’d much rather watch lindros, savard, or kariya any day of the week than this goon
The neutral zone trap was bad for hockey. Nothing happens, all play is in the middle of the rink, Chipping pucks into the crowd for stoppages, icing the puck under any threat and the worst of all, interference. Watching a player skate down the ice with a defenders stick in his guts,stomach or shoulder was infuriating.
That was a breathtaking series. Back and forth. Felt bad for Sens because I think they just lost someone close to the organization not long before, and dedicated the run to him. I remember seeing the Sens players laying against the boards watching the Devs celebrate like I never saw a team watch that before or since.
Tie Domi wasnt just an enforcer, he was a goon. Also, Stevens turned down the fight against Domi in 2000 because he didnt need to. The announcers said it. Why take the best player out of the game up 2-0?
Broad street bullies, was that not the name of the 70's Flyers, a team of idiots that would jump the boards simply for losing the opening face off. Just wondering as you call another player a goon.
@@DonKnight-qi4tu just because the Broad Street Bullies were also a bunch of goons (I am fully aware of this), it doesn't mean I can't call anyone else a goon
Stevens is still my favorite player of all time. No one changed more games in my opinion than him. He is also the reason I get so mad at today's game, and how players are allowed to freely cross the blue line untouched and take an almost free shot on net. I believe that changing the rules to increase player safety (though necessary) took away from playing stand-up defense. Goaltenders are facing far too many high percentage shots because of the ease and absolute vacancy of fear for entering a team's defensive zone.
Nobody knew about CTE until just after this guys prime. Can’t blame this on the game. Tbh, ppl still get messed up today. And they still even allow fights. Can’t blame the game. Ppl in the nfl like Dave duerson and junior seau brought attention to this and it was over after that. And defenders can still stop the Winger from getting through easy. Ppl are just getting faster and defenders can’t keep up. That’s y we see so many Offensive defenders too
I was 10 during the 95 run. I remember hearing the Devils had no chance. I remember the first game feeling like a fluke, from what i was listening to. Then, Kozlov getting laid down changed everyone's minds. That was such an incredible redemption from the year prior exit.
@@justinthomas85 I was 19. It was VERY strange to see game 1 on a major network, with The Devils playing the historic, heavily favored Red Wings. They were the new "Dem Bums" all through the 80's, minus that crazy run in 88. I remember Gretzky calling them a Mickey Mouse organization. I remember how happy the fan base was when they went to black and red. I also remember how fans thought they were moving to Nashville unless they won that cup in 95, which was probably true. I still miss them playing in Bergen County.
Excellent look at the way our game was once played. Stevens was a beast delivering many dirty and clean hits. Probably 99% of those hits would get him a suspension or even a ban in todays game. Congrats on the 1500 subs Nick! (Apologies for being away. A family member had some serious health issues)
Hope you & your family have been able to come to each other's aid. You're right - Stevens was amazing at both demonstrating the effectiveness of clean open-ice contact, while inadvertently demonstrating a need for the game to evolve.
Total bs comment that 99 percent of the hits today would be suspensions is ludicrous but if you’re talking from what a wuss sport the nhl has become then yes you’re right there. The game today is all finesse and speed and makes the game much less physical. Having been a fan of hockey since the early 80s it’s safe to say it’s far being a tough sport as it once was. I’m tired of the pushing and shoving and even half the players if not more in the league today couldn’t fight to save their lives. Bob probert or stevens could chew up and spit todays players out. The NHL is a joke today
He was a beast. Nothing was pretty about ole Scottie. A man you never wanted to meet crossing the middle when some knuckle head threw a pass into your skates.
Scott Stevens was smarter than Domi was the issue. Scott will fight people when it is beneficial but he knew the one thing that will make Domi a worse player and a 1 dimensional player fueled on rage was not giving him what he wants.
Nick, this was a really unique take on Scott Stevens. His hits definitley changed the outcome of games/series for better or worse. I'd be interested to see a video on Matt Cooke as a continuation after the Stevens and Torres videos. Keep up the great content!
Matt Cooke was also a highly-requested topic, so assuming our Stevens video gets its fair share of views, then yeah I've got Cooke toward the top of my NHL videos :)
Scott Stevens was my favorite player❤️ loved how he played n no room for fairys on the ice 👍 they called it dirty but most of em were clean hits just hard 💪 n I loved it! Still a NJ devils fan👍
As a Wings fan I can say that players like Stevens and Lindros were larger than life rivals who made the games and series against them truly exciting and memorable. Be thankful for worthy opponents!
I miss the era of "big hits", and the physicality of old time Hockey. However, Stevens was always the toughest guy on the ice, when the other player wasn't looking. If he had to drop the gloves, he wasn't quite as tough. Plenty of footage of Tocchet, Probert etc handing out a beating to him.
We didn’t need him to be an enforcer he was our Captain we had other guys to drop the gloves! Stevens never needed to prove his toughness the whole league knew he was that guy 😂 we had Randy McKay, Mike Peluso, Bobby Holik, Lyle Odelein, Turner Stevenson, Ken Daneyko, Krystoff Oliwa, Sean Chambers for all the rough stuff! Steven might not have been a good fighter but he beat your team on the scoreboard each time! That guy was the crypt keeper and took your soul and fabric of your team so who cares if he lost some fights he’s been chillin in the Hall of Fame since 2007
Are you high? Go watch scott stevens and kevin hatcher fight enitre teams when they were in Washington ... scott was giving up 40 plus pounds to all the professional face puchees back then. I get it .he hurt someone on your favorite team !! But just spouting lies doesnt change history
@@carparthero I’m going to always ride for my Devils boys! And I just hate it when fans don’t appreciate just how massive and important a defensive stalwart is! He’s just as important and controls the game as much as the offensive phenom! If Scott Steven stayed as an offensive defenseman and racked up over 60 points a year then a lot of Stevens haters wouldn’t keep bashing him saying he was dirty and couldn’t fight! It’s only because of how hard he made it for their teams to score is why they hate Scotty Stevens lol 😆 it’s actually pretty sad the dude retired almost 19 years ago and they still can’t let it go!! I mean we lost that Cup to Colorado and it still stings to this day 🐝 but that was 22 years ago lol 😂 and we still were the best team from the late 1990s and early 2000s dominating the NHL and won 3 Cups so I can’t complain too much
@@QueensNewYorkguy i hear you brotha! i'm actually a tampa guy, but have been following the game since 1980. stevens came in to the nhl at 18 years old in 1982. a lotta folks don't know he remains the ONLY player to be offer-sheeted twice lol!! it was crazy when it happened. ding-dongs will bellyache how he was dirty, but the fact is he only got 4 elbowing minors in 22 years. stevens would be dirty by today's times but he was within the limits for his time. stevens def would have adapted his game if he played in the nhl today. about him being an offensive defenceman, he took a lot of pride in being reliable in his own end, and the devils system was a perfect fit for stevens' style of play. as a flashback, i remember staying up late back in june 2000 when stevens threw the puck in the corner, elias dug it out, centred to arnott for the series clincher. it was a defensive series for sure, but still one i enjoyed. to your point about 2001, i really enjoyed game 7. even though NJD lost, any reasonable person would be happy that ray bourque was able to win a cup b4 retiring. the way sakic handed the cup to bourque was so classy. about haters, let them be. jealousy is a powerful emotion, and haters come from beneath. cheers from southern ontario, canada 🍁
Interesting side note. In 1995 , rumors were swirling that if NJ did not win The Cup , NJ would be moved & relocated to Nashville. Thankfully, that never happened. Likewise, also , after the 95 Cup win, St. Louis, who lost Stevens to arbitration just a few years earlier, signed then restricted free agent Scott Stevens to a record contract to return to St. Louis as their captain. The oh so stingy ownership (love ya Doc 🙏) , known for penny pinching, decided to match the deal. Stevens, the new Cup winner decided moving was not in the best interest of his family and decided to stay put in NJ. Thereby solidifying The Devils as one of the premier teams of the era.
Hey, Blackhawks fan, I suffered through the 1980s with the Capitals choking every year but they had the great Scott Stevens back than. Awesome deal. (great slapshot, great offense, and he's known for his defense and his sometimes dirty play) Your hockey team getting the Stanley Cup gave me hope during the Ovi era of the 2010s. It happened for my team finally! Seeing YOUR TEAM WIN IT, after years of disappointment for DC, gave me a beacon of hope. IT FINALLY HAPPENED FOR US TOO!
@NoMoreMrNiceGuy2003 LOL completely fair points all. Sidebar: I have a T.J. Oshie Caps sweater hanging in my closet - he went to UND, my Alma mater, with Jonathan Toews. Osh made the Caps my second team.
That's the thing about Stevens. Everyone can whine about the hits but like Brad Marchand, you would take him on your team any day (Brad is dirtier too).
I admired Stevens even during his days with Washington. Scott coming to the devils was a great decision. He played with a great bunch the crash line, daneyko, neidermayer and of course Marty to name a few. He’s the kind of captain any team would love to have and would defend his players in a heartbeat. Stevens hits were always clean hip checks or used his shoulder and never left his feet when knocking out his opponents. If that was the case the nhl would have suspended him several times. Never happened. Anyway to add he had 3 cups and in the finals 5 times and is in the hockey hall of fame. A true legend and glad I got to meet him. # 4 will always be my favorite!!!
@@suddendeathsports I don't remember neither find something however its also about his skill as a shoutdown defenceman and that series was a blowout for the pens. The last two games were a devils shoutout.
Stevens was the greatest Devil of all time! Super alpha with a big heart and was ultra respectful unless you had an issue with him and his gameplay cause he knew that he was on another level defensively skilled wise and i.Q. wise! And that dumb award for the best defenseman should not include offfense just like the NFL cause if that’s how it was then Steven would’ve won it over 10 times in his career
I was at that game 6 in the 2003 SCF... we thought Paul was dead, and a lot of us in the crowd were emotionally yelling that it was a late hit. When he came back and rippled that shot right in front of me seven rows up, it was one of the loudest pops I've ever heard at the Pond/Honda Center... Yeah the Devils won the cup, but that series is more remembered for the Stevens/Kariya moment that game. I loved Stevens when he did his deeds to the other teams... but yes, in that game everyone at the Honda Center not cheering for the Ducks hated him that game.
Wow, that is a moment to cherish for decades! I'm sure it was tough seeing that cinderella run come to an end, but hey, the rebranded Ducks pretty much steamrolled everyone in 07.
@@suddendeathsports Yes... that game 7 was tough... especially because it was a former Duck, Jeff Friesen, that whooped the Ducks. But we knew the Devils were the better team, so we were happy the Ducks went toe to toe and almost pulled it off...
@@dstcoyote22rants It always stings when a former player from your team does damage against ya, doesn't it. Being a Sharks fan, I still haven't erased the memory of Nick Bonino's (former Duck, too) OT winner in Game 1 of the '16 Final.
Disclaimer on the first team: What, exactly, did Stevens prevent? How about THREE CUPS IN FOUR YEARS? Yeah, no one's gonna feel sorry for my hometown Red Wings. (Do the most "blessed" teams next!)
How about a story on players that could never make the NHL in the modern Era. Brad marsh comes to mind. The game changed so much since I was a kid. No bench clearing brawls, no 2 line pass . I mean lemeiux scored a good with a guy literally on is back. Just a thought. On the evolution of hockey since the early 80s. Gretzky scored all those points when clutching and grabbing was allowed
Mixed feelings about Stevens, and I'm a Devils fan. I think sometimes the intent to injure can be there even in a technically clean hit. It was often there with Stevens. Did it take strength, timing, and skill that few players have ever had? Yes. Ronnie Lott, same thing. Did I appreciate the 3 Cups? Of course. But Stevens always took away a little bit from that. If we're really concerned about keeping skilled players like Lindros and Kariya on the ice, and we should be, we might want to redefine what a "clean" hit means. This has been a problem in this current season. In anticipation of complaints from the traditionalists and armchair tough guys: stop blaming the guys who get hit for not "having their head up." As in the NFL there's such a thing as a "defenseless" player. Some of the players Stevens took out were freaking Hall of Famers.
I agree in the hit in Kariya, especially because Kariya was a smaller guy and great human being. Lindros never kept his head up, even in junior hockey. You have to remember that concussions were not taken seriously either in that time.
I'm all for the way Stevens played the game, but what i cant abide is the way Stevens was a complete coward when he had to answer for his shenanigans by flat out refusing to fight or holding on for dear life calling for help.
He played the game the way it was allowed to be played. Like you had said, he didnt fight much, he wasnt out there trying to injure guys, he was a shut down defenseman and he did his job. Some people may say he was dirty or that theres no place for hits like that in hockey but it's not just a game of skill, its a game of mental endurance as well. Getting hit hard and getting back up is hard to do. It rattles you and makes you think twice before bringing it alone into the zone or making a risky dash to a puck in the corner. The psychology of the game is just as important as the physical aspect and Stevens knew that and he used it.
Stevens fought a ton as a Capital, but with the mentorship of Larry Robinson & co in New Jersey, he was able to get things under control. You make a good point though, in that players feared going down the middle into the Devils zone with Stevens out there. Lindros eventually moved to winger, in part, because of those sorts of collisions.
He fought an insane amount in his days in Washington. Dude was barely 200 pounds back then taking on every 240 pound enforcer in the league. Him and kevin hatcher his teammate, were border line crazy starting bench clearing fights and even off the ice fights.
Steven's is the best defender of all time.. Its not really that close. Those Devil defenses he led from 91 on were just incredible. He was the purist of defenseman and did his job to perfection. Brodeur never has the career he has without Stevens and that Devil's defense. Steven's was the literal GOAT at stopping the odd-man rush and positioning himself. His neutral zone presence was unmatched. If you ever skated thru the neutral zone against Steven's with your head down, you were going for an early shower or a Hospital visit. Paul Kariya learned that lesson the hard way admiring his own pass. Call him dirty if you want, but you have to respect Steven's career as a defenseman even if you dont like him... Of the "big hitters" of the 90's Steven's was probably the least dirty and was nothing like a goon. Steven's rarely went out of his way to fight or attack someone in a dirty manner. He just laid huge hits. Goons like Domi would literally go out of their way to head-hunt people for no reason. Steven's hits usually always had purpose to the play.
Good video. The one on Kariya was iffy. No puck, hit in the head. That would probably be 20 games suspension today. I am happy we don't see that anymore.
@worthyexpress Elbow tucked in Led with shoulder Less than a second after the puck was gone Feet on the ice Sorry cupcake it's by the book it's violent sure but legal
As great as Martin Brodeur was, Scott Stevens definately made his career easier by clearing the crease and putting the fear of god in anyone who played against them.
Most of his hits were clean even by today's standards people love to cherry pick using the Lindros and Kariya hits tho if you wanna see what dirty actually was look at Messier, Kasperitis and Domi
Messier was known to elbow/shoulder people in the face/head. His obvious hit to the head on Mike Modano was one of the dirtiest hits i have ever seen. He basically picked his head without even attempting body contact. To add insult to injury, Modano was dropped by the paramedics while being loaded into the ambulance. Thankfully he wasn't injured any further by their mistake. @@suddendeathsports
Felt bad for that hit on eric. He was probably expecting him to have full control and tryna clash like rams to separate the puck. But eric reach last second thats probably why he felt bad
I wouldn't say the Devils dominated the Stars in the 2000 finals. You should do one about the guy on that team that took Sykora out with a 'clean Srevens' hit. Derrian MF Hatcher
You mean the hit where hatchers feet were a foot off the ice.... the stars were the no 2 offense that year and got completely dominated in the cup finals. .go look up how many goals they scored that series .... having said this in the history of cup finals no 2 goalies ever put up this level goaltending..minus eddies cough syrup game 1 performance...
When you’re a King 👑 you don’t need to listen or give attention to peasants! Domi was a bum! Steven cared more about Cups than fighting! We needed him on the ice not on the bench
He was inducted in 2007, his first year of eligibility. At that time, he actually had the most penalty minutes of any Hall of Famer, until Chris Chelios went in :)
Stevens work in front of the net is severely underrated. Dude was a beast. And, if you got caught in the nuetral zone.... well, ask Kozlov and Kariya. Keep your head up kids.
let's be real.. the Toronto Maple Leafs were never on a "Stanley Cup Run" when the Devils defeated them. With great goaltending and average play the Leafs barely beat the teams that allowed them into a series with the Devils.
Players should contribute to the sport. I don't see giving the best players in the game concussions is a contribution regardless of the rules of the day.
A guy who wasn’t tough by any means. A glorified Rich Pilon who deliberately went out to hurt talented players on the other team! Until he ran into Marty Brodeur he won nothing.
As a fan of the #DetroitRedWings, it’s a shame that the #WashingtonCapitals gave up on #ScottStevens. Names of the #NewJerseyDevils DO NOT belong on #TheStanleyCup, including the 1994-95 New JerseyDevils 😠😤😡
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Alright, what do you think of Scott Stevens? Greatest captain of the era? Hardest hitter of all time? Let's hear it!
Watch Next!
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I was a caps season ticket holder for all his years there… Scott is the best Dman I’ve ever seen… he was the rarest combination of skill, skating, intensity, knowledge of the game, positional perfection… he was the original shutdown D!! He was the perfect defenseman. Bryan Murray said he’s the only player I never had to coach, glen sather said if I had to start a team the first player I would get is Scott Stevens… and Lou Lamoriello worshipped him!!!! The fact that he never won a Norris tells you what a joke that trophy really is!! He should have multiple Norris trophies but he’s got that Conn Smythe and 3 Cups… I’d say he’s just fine!!!!
Too bad his legacy is around other super star players he maned, not about his accomplishments and feats as a player... His super star career is forever overshadowed by his career hurting hits... So in a away his own career and legacy is damaged by his hits too... Karma!
@@v4v819you have no idea what you're talking about. He's a bloody HOF PLAYER. You probably love the soft game played today huh?
He’s first choice hof and top 100 players of all time I think he’s doing ok.
And people who love Stevens complain about Trouba. SS was a headhunter first and foremost so is Trouba.
Stevens is a pos. Someone should’ve taken him out when he was a rookie. I’d much rather watch lindros, savard, or kariya any day of the week than this goon
I miss those Devils teams. They weren't boring, they were exciting.
Nope...Boring as hell. The NHL changed the rules because of this team. Watching them (although very successful) was like watching paint dry.
The neutral zone trap was bad for hockey. Nothing happens, all play is in the middle of the rink, Chipping pucks into the crowd for stoppages, icing the puck under any threat and the worst of all, interference. Watching a player skate down the ice with a defenders stick in his guts,stomach or shoulder was infuriating.
@billsouza4457 Not many fans get a team that was so good, they changed the sport...
winning hockey is not boring, losing hockey is boring.
One that goes completely forgotten is the 2002-03 Ottawa Senators. That was one of the most underrated Conference Finals in NHL history.
I wasn't watching hockey much then, but those Sens had some firepower alright.
That was a breathtaking series. Back and forth. Felt bad for Sens because I think they just lost someone close to the organization not long before, and dedicated the run to him. I remember seeing the Sens players laying against the boards watching the Devs celebrate like I never saw a team watch that before or since.
Jeff Friesen helped win that series and the cup. A very underrated player. I believe it was because he wasn't good with/didn't care about the media.
Tie Domi wasnt just an enforcer, he was a goon. Also, Stevens turned down the fight against Domi in 2000 because he didnt need to. The announcers said it. Why take the best player out of the game up 2-0?
Broad street bullies, was that not the name of the 70's Flyers, a team of idiots that would jump the boards simply for losing the opening face off. Just wondering as you call another player a goon.
@@DonKnight-qi4tu just because the Broad Street Bullies were also a bunch of goons (I am fully aware of this), it doesn't mean I can't call anyone else a goon
Stevens is still my favorite player of all time. No one changed more games in my opinion than him. He is also the reason I get so mad at today's game, and how players are allowed to freely cross the blue line untouched and take an almost free shot on net. I believe that changing the rules to increase player safety (though necessary) took away from playing stand-up defense. Goaltenders are facing far too many high percentage shots because of the ease and absolute vacancy of fear for entering a team's defensive zone.
Also my favorite player of all time
Nobody knew about CTE until just after this guys prime. Can’t blame this on the game. Tbh, ppl still get messed up today. And they still even allow fights. Can’t blame the game. Ppl in the nfl like Dave duerson and junior seau brought attention to this and it was over after that. And defenders can still stop the Winger from getting through easy. Ppl are just getting faster and defenders can’t keep up. That’s y we see so many Offensive defenders too
As a Ducks fan I honestly hate the guy. Dirty pathetic prick
Steven’s was a sophisticated goon. He knew exactly what he was doing and ruined the careers of many people.
I’m a Devils fan that grew up watching that man in the kid-90s. He’s still my favorite player in team history.
I was 10 during the 95 run. I remember hearing the Devils had no chance. I remember the first game feeling like a fluke, from what i was listening to. Then, Kozlov getting laid down changed everyone's minds. That was such an incredible redemption from the year prior exit.
@@justinthomas85 I was 19. It was VERY strange to see game 1 on a major network, with The Devils playing the historic, heavily favored Red Wings. They were the new "Dem Bums" all through the 80's, minus that crazy run in 88. I remember Gretzky calling them a Mickey Mouse organization. I remember how happy the fan base was when they went to black and red. I also remember how fans thought they were moving to Nashville unless they won that cup in 95, which was probably true. I still miss them playing in Bergen County.
Excellent look at the way our game was once played. Stevens was a beast delivering many dirty and clean hits. Probably 99% of those hits would get him a suspension or even a ban in todays game. Congrats on the 1500 subs Nick!
(Apologies for being away. A family member had some serious health issues)
Hope you & your family have been able to come to each other's aid.
You're right - Stevens was amazing at both demonstrating the effectiveness of clean open-ice contact, while inadvertently demonstrating a need for the game to evolve.
That was the way it was then. That doesn't mean he couldn't change the way he hit to adjust to the new rules. He seems smart enough to do that.
Idk about dirty pal! I’m sure the NHL would’ve punished him sometime in his 22 year career! Smh
"Today's game" is crap.
You can't compare eras.
Stevens was not "dirty" either.
Total bs comment that 99 percent of the hits today would be suspensions is ludicrous but if you’re talking from what a wuss sport the nhl has become then yes you’re right there. The game today is all finesse and speed and makes the game much less physical. Having been a fan of hockey since the early 80s it’s safe to say it’s far being a tough sport as it once was. I’m tired of the pushing and shoving and even half the players if not more in the league today couldn’t fight to save their lives. Bob probert or stevens could chew up and spit todays players out. The NHL is a joke today
He was a beast. Nothing was pretty about ole Scottie. A man you never wanted to meet crossing the middle when some knuckle head threw a pass into your skates.
The long hours, research, and passion show in this one Nick. This IS your best yet brother!!! Job very well done. 🤘🏻❤️
👏👏😊 Thanks!!
I don’t know how I haven’t seen this channel yet but these are absolutely incredible productions
Scott Stevens was smarter than Domi was the issue. Scott will fight people when it is beneficial but he knew the one thing that will make Domi a worse player and a 1 dimensional player fueled on rage was not giving him what he wants.
Exactly, abd Dense Dominstill thinks he "chickened out." Domi would have been absolutely manhandled by Stevens.
Stevens might have been a really good hitter, but he wasn't that good of a fighter
Nick, this was a really unique take on Scott Stevens. His hits definitley changed the outcome of games/series for better or worse. I'd be interested to see a video on Matt Cooke as a continuation after the Stevens and Torres videos. Keep up the great content!
Matt Cooke was also a highly-requested topic, so assuming our Stevens video gets its fair share of views, then yeah I've got Cooke toward the top of my NHL videos :)
I miss how Hockey was Played during the 90's!!!, it was so much more exciting back then, way more than today's game!!!,IMOP
As an Avs fan, I have nothing but respect for Stevens. He was just a beast of a player.
Scott Stevens was my favorite player❤️ loved how he played n no room for fairys on the ice 👍 they called it dirty but most of em were clean hits just hard 💪 n I loved it! Still a NJ devils fan👍
As a Wings fan I can say that players like Stevens and Lindros were larger than life rivals who made the games and series against them truly exciting and memorable. Be thankful for worthy opponents!
This video reminds me of the 2000s, the aesthetics and music match it lol
I miss the era of "big hits", and the physicality of old time Hockey. However, Stevens was always the toughest guy on the ice, when the other player wasn't looking. If he had to drop the gloves, he wasn't quite as tough. Plenty of footage of Tocchet, Probert etc handing out a beating to him.
We didn’t need him to be an enforcer he was our Captain we had other guys to drop the gloves! Stevens never needed to prove his toughness the whole league knew he was that guy 😂 we had Randy McKay, Mike Peluso, Bobby Holik, Lyle Odelein, Turner Stevenson, Ken Daneyko, Krystoff Oliwa, Sean Chambers for all the rough stuff! Steven might not have been a good fighter but he beat your team on the scoreboard each time! That guy was the crypt keeper and took your soul and fabric of your team so who cares if he lost some fights he’s been chillin in the Hall of Fame since 2007
Are you high? Go watch scott stevens and kevin hatcher fight enitre teams when they were in Washington ... scott was giving up 40 plus pounds to all the professional face puchees back then. I get it .he hurt someone on your favorite team !! But just spouting lies doesnt change history
@QueensNewYorkguy i like your answer. you brought facts. stevens is def one of my all-time favorites. a great canadian boy!! 🇨🇦
@@carparthero I’m going to always ride for my Devils boys! And I just hate it when fans don’t appreciate just how massive and important a defensive stalwart is! He’s just as important and controls the game as much as the offensive phenom! If Scott Steven stayed as an offensive defenseman and racked up over 60 points a year then a lot of Stevens haters wouldn’t keep bashing him saying he was dirty and couldn’t fight! It’s only because of how hard he made it for their teams to score is why they hate Scotty Stevens lol 😆 it’s actually pretty sad the dude retired almost 19 years ago and they still can’t let it go!! I mean we lost that Cup to Colorado and it still stings to this day 🐝 but that was 22 years ago lol 😂 and we still were the best team from the late 1990s and early 2000s dominating the NHL and won 3 Cups so I can’t complain too much
@@QueensNewYorkguy i hear you brotha!
i'm actually a tampa guy, but have been following the game since 1980. stevens came in to the nhl at 18 years old in 1982.
a lotta folks don't know he remains the ONLY player to be offer-sheeted twice lol!! it was crazy when it happened.
ding-dongs will bellyache how he was dirty, but the fact is he only got 4 elbowing minors in 22 years. stevens would be dirty by today's times but he was within the limits for his time.
stevens def would have adapted his game if he played in the nhl today. about him being an offensive defenceman, he took a lot of pride in being reliable in his own end, and the devils system was a perfect fit for stevens' style of play.
as a flashback, i remember staying up late back in june 2000 when stevens threw the puck in the corner, elias dug it out, centred to arnott for the series clincher. it was a defensive series for sure, but still one i enjoyed.
to your point about 2001, i really enjoyed game 7. even though NJD lost, any reasonable person would be happy that ray bourque was able to win a cup b4 retiring. the way sakic handed the cup to bourque was so classy.
about haters, let them be. jealousy is a powerful emotion, and haters come from beneath.
cheers from southern ontario, canada 🍁
Interesting side note.
In 1995 , rumors were swirling that if NJ did not win The Cup , NJ would be moved & relocated to Nashville.
Thankfully, that never happened.
Likewise, also , after the 95 Cup win, St. Louis, who lost Stevens to arbitration just a few years earlier, signed then restricted free agent Scott Stevens to a record contract to return to St. Louis as their captain.
The oh so stingy ownership (love ya Doc 🙏) , known for penny pinching, decided to match the deal.
Stevens, the new Cup winner decided moving was not in the best interest of his family and decided to stay put in NJ.
Thereby solidifying The Devils as one of the premier teams of the era.
Fantastic video Nick!
Woof, Scott Stevens was a wrecking ball. He could literally do it all. Would've loved to have seen him in a Blackhawks sweater.
Hey, Blackhawks fan, I suffered through the 1980s with the Capitals choking every year but they had the great Scott Stevens back than. Awesome deal. (great slapshot, great offense, and he's known for his defense and his sometimes dirty play)
Your hockey team getting the Stanley Cup gave me hope during the Ovi era of the 2010s. It happened for my team finally! Seeing YOUR TEAM WIN IT, after years of disappointment for DC, gave me a beacon of hope. IT FINALLY HAPPENED FOR US TOO!
@NoMoreMrNiceGuy2003 LOL completely fair points all. Sidebar: I have a T.J. Oshie Caps sweater hanging in my closet - he went to UND, my Alma mater, with Jonathan Toews. Osh made the Caps my second team.
That's the thing about Stevens. Everyone can whine about the hits but like Brad Marchand, you would take him on your team any day (Brad is dirtier too).
The 'Hawks had Dustin Byfuglien for a little while.
I was kid watching him on my devils leveling guys growing up in the 90’s. This is the reason why I became and still am a Devils fan.
I admired Stevens even during his days with Washington. Scott coming to the devils was a great decision. He played with a great bunch the crash line, daneyko, neidermayer and of course Marty to name a few. He’s the kind of captain any team would love to have and would defend his players in a heartbeat. Stevens hits were always clean hip checks or used his shoulder and never left his feet when knocking out his opponents.
If that was the case the nhl would have suspended him several times. Never happened. Anyway to add he had 3 cups and in the finals 5 times and is in the hockey hall of fame. A true legend and glad I got to meet him. # 4 will always be my favorite!!!
Stevens didn’t “sign” with the Devils. It wasn’t a decision. He was awarded to NJ as compensation , thru arbitration, for Brendan Shanahan, defection.
Great video, thanks man
You forgot also the 2001 ECF againts the pens with their fire power. With his linemans and brodeur they managed to stop them.
Out of curiosity, was there a big hit in that series (maybe one that sidelined a player for a game or two)?
@@suddendeathsports
I don't remember neither find something however its also about his skill as a shoutdown defenceman and that series was a blowout for the pens. The last two games were a devils shoutout.
Miss watching this guy play ❤️😈
True Defense Goat!
Thank God those days are in the past. Boring neutral zone trap. Claude lemieux and Scott Steven's were dirty players. The clutch and grab Era.
I miss the body contact of that era
"Guns don't kill people but scott Steven's dose"
Cheers. Thanx. OVI anything!
Stevens was the greatest Devil of all time! Super alpha with a big heart and was ultra respectful unless you had an issue with him and his gameplay cause he knew that he was on another level defensively skilled wise and i.Q. wise! And that dumb award for the best defenseman should not include offfense just like the NFL cause if that’s how it was then Steven would’ve won it over 10 times in his career
Could you do a video on Eichel and all of his old drama?
10:15 actually, Francis came out for a couple more but was done after that
I was at that game 6 in the 2003 SCF... we thought Paul was dead, and a lot of us in the crowd were emotionally yelling that it was a late hit. When he came back and rippled that shot right in front of me seven rows up, it was one of the loudest pops I've ever heard at the Pond/Honda Center...
Yeah the Devils won the cup, but that series is more remembered for the Stevens/Kariya moment that game. I loved Stevens when he did his deeds to the other teams... but yes, in that game everyone at the Honda Center not cheering for the Ducks hated him that game.
Wow, that is a moment to cherish for decades! I'm sure it was tough seeing that cinderella run come to an end, but hey, the rebranded Ducks pretty much steamrolled everyone in 07.
@@suddendeathsports Yes... that game 7 was tough... especially because it was a former Duck, Jeff Friesen, that whooped the Ducks. But we knew the Devils were the better team, so we were happy the Ducks went toe to toe and almost pulled it off...
@@dstcoyote22rants It always stings when a former player from your team does damage against ya, doesn't it. Being a Sharks fan, I still haven't erased the memory of Nick Bonino's (former Duck, too) OT winner in Game 1 of the '16 Final.
Excellent overview! I’m gonna watch your Torres video now. I’ve subscribed and would love to see a Matt Cooke video
Thanks Erik! Agreed, I think lots of folks would like to see something with Matt Cooke :)
Disclaimer on the first team: What, exactly, did Stevens prevent?
How about THREE CUPS IN FOUR YEARS?
Yeah, no one's gonna feel sorry for my hometown Red Wings. (Do the most "blessed" teams next!)
How about a story on players that could never make the NHL in the modern Era. Brad marsh comes to mind. The game changed so much since I was a kid. No bench clearing brawls, no 2 line pass . I mean lemeiux scored a good with a guy literally on is back. Just a thought. On the evolution of hockey since the early 80s. Gretzky scored all those points when clutching and grabbing was allowed
Mixed feelings about Stevens, and I'm a Devils fan. I think sometimes the intent to injure can be there even in a technically clean hit. It was often there with Stevens. Did it take strength, timing, and skill that few players have ever had? Yes. Ronnie Lott, same thing. Did I appreciate the 3 Cups? Of course. But Stevens always took away a little bit from that. If we're really concerned about keeping skilled players like Lindros and Kariya on the ice, and we should be, we might want to redefine what a "clean" hit means. This has been a problem in this current season.
In anticipation of complaints from the traditionalists and armchair tough guys: stop blaming the guys who get hit for not "having their head up." As in the NFL there's such a thing as a "defenseless" player. Some of the players Stevens took out were freaking Hall of Famers.
Embarrassing.
I agree in the hit in Kariya, especially because Kariya was a smaller guy and great human being. Lindros never kept his head up, even in junior hockey. You have to remember that concussions were not taken seriously either in that time.
Ragdolled Kozlov. Eventually got up looking out his earhole.
Favorite player All Time.
He wasnt an enforcer but he was one of the greatest Hitters, Leaders and Players to ever play the game.
I'm all for the way Stevens played the game, but what i cant abide is the way Stevens was a complete coward when he had to answer for his shenanigans by flat out refusing to fight or holding on for dear life calling for help.
He played the game the way it was allowed to be played. Like you had said, he didnt fight much, he wasnt out there trying to injure guys, he was a shut down defenseman and he did his job. Some people may say he was dirty or that theres no place for hits like that in hockey but it's not just a game of skill, its a game of mental endurance as well. Getting hit hard and getting back up is hard to do. It rattles you and makes you think twice before bringing it alone into the zone or making a risky dash to a puck in the corner. The psychology of the game is just as important as the physical aspect and Stevens knew that and he used it.
Stevens fought a ton as a Capital, but with the mentorship of Larry Robinson & co in New Jersey, he was able to get things under control. You make a good point though, in that players feared going down the middle into the Devils zone with Stevens out there. Lindros eventually moved to winger, in part, because of those sorts of collisions.
He fought an insane amount in his days in Washington. Dude was barely 200 pounds back then taking on every 240 pound enforcer in the league. Him and kevin hatcher his teammate, were border line crazy starting bench clearing fights and even off the ice fights.
Scott is and was a . Beast
Screw that guy
>Claude Lemieux
ALRIGHT, MY FELLOW WINGS FANS, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!
*insert endless "TURTLE" chant here*
🐢🐢🐢
How does it feel as a Wings fan knowing that regardless of what team he played for...Claude Lemieux was your DADDY.
Steven's is the best defender of all time.. Its not really that close. Those Devil defenses he led from 91 on were just incredible. He was the purist of defenseman and did his job to perfection. Brodeur never has the career he has without Stevens and that Devil's defense. Steven's was the literal GOAT at stopping the odd-man rush and positioning himself. His neutral zone presence was unmatched. If you ever skated thru the neutral zone against Steven's with your head down, you were going for an early shower or a Hospital visit. Paul Kariya learned that lesson the hard way admiring his own pass. Call him dirty if you want, but you have to respect Steven's career as a defenseman even if you dont like him... Of the "big hitters" of the 90's Steven's was probably the least dirty and was nothing like a goon. Steven's rarely went out of his way to fight or attack someone in a dirty manner. He just laid huge hits. Goons like Domi would literally go out of their way to head-hunt people for no reason. Steven's hits usually always had purpose to the play.
What do I think of Scott Stevens? Well, I'd rather play WITH him than against him.
Good video. The one on Kariya was iffy. No puck, hit in the head. That would probably be 20 games suspension today. I am happy we don't see that anymore.
Iffy? It was a complete cheap shot.
@worthyexpress
Elbow tucked in
Led with shoulder
Less than a second after the puck was gone
Feet on the ice
Sorry cupcake it's by the book it's violent sure but legal
@@mr.devil9577 good eyes mouth breather. Kariya passed on the redline and was cheaply hit on the blue line. Loser
As great as Martin Brodeur was, Scott Stevens definately made his career easier by clearing the crease and putting the fear of god in anyone who played against them.
The TAKE NO PRISONERS, SMASH MOUTH, IN YOUR FACE A$$ KICKIN IS WHAT MAKES NHL THE GREAT SporRT THAT IT IS❤😮!!! GREAT WORK NICK!!
Most of his hits were clean even by today's standards people love to cherry pick using the Lindros and Kariya hits tho if you wanna see what dirty actually was look at Messier, Kasperitis and Domi
I don't hear people talk much about Messier's hits, so out of curiosity, which one do you think is the most egregious?
Messier was known to elbow/shoulder people in the face/head. His obvious hit to the head on Mike Modano was one of the dirtiest hits i have ever seen. He basically picked his head without even attempting body contact.
To add insult to injury, Modano was dropped by the paramedics while being loaded into the ambulance. Thankfully he wasn't injured any further by their mistake. @@suddendeathsports
@suddendeathsports you can find compilation videos just look up messier elbows they'll come up
Beast. I will say the ducks hit was wrong. The rest were clean
At least he's empathetic towards most of his bone crushing hits and same goes for Raffle Torres when he hit Silverburg
Terrifying absolutely terrifying. Jesus h he was was the epitome of fear in the game
Felt bad for that hit on eric. He was probably expecting him to have full control and tryna clash like rams to separate the puck. But eric reach last second thats probably why he felt bad
Funny enough that 2001 series is the only time NJ has ever beat the Canes in the playoffs. Canes own NJ playoffs wise, series record is 4-1 aganst NJ.
A terrifying monster to play agiants
I wouldn't say the Devils dominated the Stars in the 2000 finals. You should do one about the guy on that team that took Sykora out with a 'clean Srevens' hit. Derrian MF Hatcher
Game 1 they definitely dominated them. Think the final score was something like 7-3 or 7-4. I remember watching that one.
You mean the hit where hatchers feet were a foot off the ice.... the stars were the no 2 offense that year and got completely dominated in the cup finals. .go look up how many goals they scored that series .... having said this in the history of cup finals no 2 goalies ever put up this level goaltending..minus eddies cough syrup game 1 performance...
I miss this nhl. When the men were men and the boys were afraid
When you’re a King 👑 you don’t need to listen or give attention to peasants! Domi was a bum! Steven cared more about Cups than fighting! We needed him on the ice not on the bench
I’m very happy this era of hockey is over
Scott should be in the hall of fame
He already is.
He was inducted in 2007, his first year of eligibility. At that time, he actually had the most penalty minutes of any Hall of Famer, until Chris Chelios went in :)
Stevens work in front of the net is severely underrated. Dude was a beast. And, if you got caught in the nuetral zone.... well, ask Kozlov and Kariya. Keep your head up kids.
87' CANADA CUP VIDEO
Terror on Ice
NHL legend Stanley Cup Champion Ted Lindsey said "If l have to 'cut' you to win, I'll 'cut' you"
Eric could not skake eyes up
let's be real.. the Toronto Maple Leafs were never on a "Stanley Cup Run" when the Devils defeated them. With great goaltending and average play the Leafs barely beat the teams that allowed them into a series with the Devils.
Lol, "Meet the Perfectly Well-Rounded Player that PERFECTED Stanley Cup Runs" didn't have quite the same clickbait eh :) good video though!
Lol thank you 😆
What about the man who broke two franchises by making them go against the grain of the modern NHL?
You know, Tom Wilson.
It was with pure pleasure to watch him demolish other teams!
He reshaped a nothing franchise into a respectable one. Guy was a godsend to us.
devs played a boring style of hockey
Boring hockey gave them 5 finals and 3 cups
Just a goon. Maybe 5 goals I his whole career.
One of the dirtiest players in history
Let’s go Devilsssssss
Players should contribute to the sport. I don't see giving the best players in the game concussions is a contribution regardless of the rules of the day.
A guy who wasn’t tough by any means. A glorified Rich Pilon who deliberately went out to hurt talented players on the other team! Until he ran into Marty Brodeur he won nothing.
I just came here to see all the snowflakes crying about Stevens hits. 🤣😂
Lmfao😂
As a fan of the #DetroitRedWings, it’s a shame that the #WashingtonCapitals gave up on #ScottStevens.
Names of the #NewJerseyDevils DO NOT belong on #TheStanleyCup, including the 1994-95 New JerseyDevils
😠😤😡
great job as alwaysa nick cant wait to re up my account love ur content
Larry Robinson is the GOAT playoff shutdown defenseman of all time