The NHL has a long history of players who have made their mark as open-ice hitters, perhaps none who delivered more punishment than Scott Stevens.
The 2007 Hall of Fame inductee joins Neil and Vic to talk playing style, leadership and captaincy and winning three Stanley Cups in New Jersey under three different head coaches.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:44] - Neil opens about one of his pet peeves: a player having to answer for delivering a big hit. As Stevens shares, it's a far cry from when he played.
[04:06] - Neil takes Scott back to his days as a Ranger...a Kitchener Ranger, where he had his number 3 retired. That number followed him to Washington, then changed when he went to St. Louis and, later, New Jersey.
[06:07] - First NHL Game, October 6, 1982.
[06:54] - Highly emotional in his early years in the NHL, Stevens shares his turning point took where learned he could maintain his intensity and keep his emotions more in check.
[09:34] - Scott's mentors upon his arrival in Washington in 1982.
[11:09] - Captain's have varying leadership styles. For Stevens, it was always less about words and more about setting examples through action.
[13:11] - After spending his first eight seasons in Washington, Stevens signed as a free agent in St. Louis in 1990 only to be awarded to New Jersey as compensation for the Blues signing Brendan Shanahan a year later.
[15:08] - The acclimation to new teammates in New Jersey and assuming the Devils captaincy in his second season with the team.
[16:46] - Neil explains the Group I/Group II free agency in that era which left Stevens future in the hands of an arbitrator. Scott also notes the emotions waiting for the decision to come down.
[20:16] - As captain of the three New Jersey Cup winners in 1995, 2000 and 2003, was the best Devils team ever one that did not capture a title?
[22:19] - The first Cup in 1995 following a half-season lockout.
[24:37] - Stevens comments on the three different head coaches behind the bench for those Stanley Cup wins.
[30:31] - In each of those championship seasons, a signature hit was delivered to players with their heads down. According to Stevens, it was that physical play which helped the other parts of his game.
[31:55] - Considering the ferocity of Stevens open-ice hits, the number of elbowing penalties he incurred in a 22-season career might surprise you.
[34:03] - A little comic relief.
[35:55] - The first-ever Devil to have his number retired.
[37:25] - Neil wraps up the interview revealing to Scott that they actually had a common defense partner at different points in their careers.
[39:47] - Closing words on the Scott Stevens interview.
X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound
Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil
Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/
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