The Beantown Bruins figure we need that one big hard hitting defensive defenceman so we are happy to select,
Ken Daneyko.
Daneyko was drafted in the 1st round (18th overall) in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, the second pick of the New Jersey Devils after the franchise relocated from Colorado. Upon his arrival in the NHL, #3 established himself as a stay-at-home defenceman, and soon won fans over with his gritty and self-sacrificing play. Daneyko was also known for his missing front teeth, lost after he was hit in the mouth by a puck. His gap-toothed smile was well known not only by Devils supporters, but by hockey fans around the world. As a player who had spent all of his NHL career with New Jersey, Daneyko was nicknamed "Mr. Devil".
Daneyko racked up over 2,200 penalty minutes in his career, finishing a season with over 200 PIM five times. Daneyko was never known as a high-scoring defenceman, and set a record by playing in 255 consecutive regular-season games without scoring a goal. In fact, in his highest-scoring season, 1989–90, he scored only six goals and 15 assists en route to a 21-point season. Five seasons he scored no goals at all. However, Daneyko's effectiveness was not measured by how many pucks he put in the net, but by how many pucks he kept out. Daneyko was used primarily as a shadow defenceman, and often got physical in front of the net if a forward parked himself in the crease looking for a rebound.
The Devils retired his uniform number (#3) on March 24, 2006.
GP G A Pts PIM
1283 36 142 178 2516