Scott Stevens: Devils Captain on Open Ice Hits, 3 Stanley Cups & Playing Clean

Devils captain and Hall of Famer Scott Stevens joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for comprehensive career discussion. From greatest open ice hits in NHL history to remarkable stat of only four elbowing penalties in 22-year career, hear about three Stanley Cups with three different coaches (Jacques Lemaire revolutionary system, Larry Robinson fired Robbie Ftorek late season, Pat Burns enforcing not changing). Kitchener Rangers Memorial Cup winner number retired, Washington Capitals fifth overall 1982 scoring first goal first shot on Eddie Mio at MSG with parents there, Brian Engblom mentorship sitting down every game going over roster, free agency compensation awarded to Devils for Brendan Shanahan (Curtis Joseph and Rod Brind'Amour equalization), never wanting to leave St. Louis but Lou Lamoriello at airport with car seats, Bruce Driver captain awkwardness, learning from 1994 Rangers loss in Eastern Final (best Devils team personnel wise), 1995 sweep Detroit in lockout season feeling invincible, Eric Lindros hit 2000 Game 7, Slava Kozlov and Paul Kariya hits, leading by example hitting guys with head down in practice, 13 All-Star games 908 career points never minus player any season, and first number retired in Devils history. Plus Three Stooges fan, growing up with three brothers competitive, and Dwight Schofield tough protector.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome: Hall of Fame Edition Scott Stevens

[01:00] - Long history great open ice hitters: Eddie Shore to Jacob Trouba

[02:00] - Perhaps greatest open ice hitter: Scott Stevens joins

[03:00] - Honor: got to know each other 1996 Team Canada, did TV together

[04:00] - Rangers nemesis: Devils great rivalry so many years

[05:00] - Great hit given out today: guy has to fight after clean hit

[06:00] - Delivered lot great hits: caught guys head down, ever have to fight?

[07:00] - No don't remember: hitting big part of game

[08:00] - This day: would just turn cheek if good clean hit

[09:00] - Almost let them take penalty: try to swing game

[10:00] - Get it wanna stand up: good clean hits shouldn't happen

[11:00] - Bothers me too: find it very interesting

[12:00] - Sometimes might be free passes given: when does happen big news

[13:00] - People want retribution on hit: my feeling on it

[14:00] - In my day: used to finish all hits

[15:00] - Guy working get red line dump in: make him pay

[16:00] - So few and far between: especially big ones, everyone gets up in arms

[17:00] - Connor Bedard hurt rookie season: Brendan Smith clean hit

[18:00] - Nick Foligno credit: automatically fought Smith, stepped up on Bedard

[19:00] - Clean hit: happened in New Jersey

[20:00] - Do research: even as well as think you know somebody

[21:00] - Scotty Bowman on: 92 years old, sharp certainly sharper than me

[22:00] - Looking at your life: never realized been with Capitals

[23:00] - Kitchener Ranger: yeah for one year

[24:00] - Numbers retired by Kitchener Rangers: wonderful year, great team

[25:00] - Lot players went on NHL: fortunate win Memorial Cup, very special year

[26:00] - Moved on some stayed back: wanted to fast track as quick as possible

[27:00] - Tremendous year: still keep in touch, reunions, great group

[28:00] - One strongest teams ever seen junior hockey

[29:00] - Wore number three Kitchener: number three Washington

[30:00] - End of number three? Number two St. Louis

[31:00] - Devils couldn't get three: Kenny had that, Lou sort of gave me four

[32:00] - Miles O'Connor might have four: took four, great number

[33:00] - Looked good on Bobby Orr: not Bobby Orr but special number

[34:00] - Fifth overall 1982: first game first goal on first shot

[35:00] - Remember it: only one really remember

[36:00] - Just outside blue line: parents at Madison Square Garden, against Rangers

[37:00] - Won draw: came to me, took slap shot at net

[38:00] - Don't have Al MacInnis slap shot: somehow beat Eddie Mio

[39:00] - Pretty special: parents there, big part of my success getting to NHL

[40:00] - Coming up as rookie: extremely gifted but very emotional also

[41:00] - First 12 seasons: over hundred penalty minutes, 200+ four times

[42:00] - Emotional component: outright scary as rookie

[43:00] - Intensity, ferocity never left: where was point?

[44:00] - Players influential: channel emotion, maintain effectiveness

[45:00] - Couple things: Brian Murray my coach, great coach, late Brian Murray

[46:00] - Pulled me aside: Scott I like way you play, like intensity

[47:00] - But need you on ice more: can't have you in penalty box

[48:00] - Thought about that: yeah makes sense, I'd like to play more

[49:00] - Ice time's fun: started there coming from him

[50:00] - Still found way play on edge: still be effective

[51:00] - Goes with maturity: find way if can, play on line physical nasty mean

[52:00] - Without crossing it: fine art, over years learn as player

[53:00] - Found that: able to walk that line pretty well

[54:00] - Last 10 seasons: eclipsed hundred only twice, 101 and 103

[55:00] - Speaks exactly to what you're saying: no question

[56:00] - If in box five minutes: power play, PK, I'd rather be on ice

[57:00] - Wanna help team: not helping team in box

[58:00] - More important: stayed on ice, liked to be on ice

[59:00] - Play all different situations: definitely factor as grew older

[01:00:00] - Common: most guys sort of mellow bit, get bit of reputation

[01:01:00] - Hopefully can keep: still gotta stand up once in while

[01:02:00] - Young guys coming up: wanna take advantage of you

[01:03:00] - For most part: established yourself bit to certain extent

[01:04:00] - 18 years old Washington: Stevie Yzerman 18 Detroit

[01:05:00] - Similar questions: who was mentor at 18, somebody saying kid do this

[01:06:00] - Fortunately when arrived: drafted Capitals made big trade

[01:07:00] - Rod Langway, Brian Engblom, Craig Laughlin, Doug Jarvis

[01:08:00] - Lot people thought: big trade, not lot room for myself

[01:09:00] - Two incredible defensemen: actually helped me slide in, make team

[01:10:00] - Look at those guys: Mike Gartner, Rod really influential

[01:11:00] - Brian Engblom biggest guy: took me under wing

[01:12:00] - Made I believe partner for bit: took me before every game

[01:13:00] - Sat down together in stalls: went over other team's roster

[01:14:00] - Veteran player: told me every guy what to look for, every forward

[01:15:00] - Put lot time in: showed me ropes, helped me lot

[01:16:00] - Along with other veteran players: lot on team when made trade

[01:17:00] - Brian was pretty special: great story, didn't know that

[01:18:00] - Know Brian Engblom: how insightful he is

[01:19:00] - Captain St. Louis one year: didn't remember that

[01:20:00] - Then Devils: not captain first year Bruce Driver is, then become captain

[01:21:00] - How figure out how to lead: being leader something in leader

[01:22:00] - Also have to figure out: obviously great leader for Devils

[01:23:00] - Where influence come from: who watch and try to take after?

[01:24:00] - To be honest: don't really say lot, will speak when feel necessary

[01:25:00] - Always felt: leading by example best way to be leader

[01:26:00] - On and off ice: how carried myself, what did, how prepared

[01:27:00] - How came to practice: how practiced, that's all that counted

[01:28:00] - By far most important thing: words are words, like said there was time

[01:29:00] - For most part: didn't have to say anything, if upset in practice

[01:30:00] - Would look for guy head down: wouldn't be afraid to hit him

[01:31:00] - Same way would hit opponent real game: guys knew that

[01:32:00] - Knew I didn't like to lose: bit of sore loser, about winning

[01:33:00] - That's why we're there: didn't like to lose, guys knew that

[01:34:00] - If wasn't happy in practice: someone could be in trouble

[01:35:00] - Knew that: came ready to play, pretty much how it was

[01:36:00] - Didn't really have lot to say: best way to lead is by example

[01:37:00] - First eight seasons Capitals: signed free agent St. Louis 1990

[01:38:00] - After Brendan Shanahan signed: awarded to Devils as compensation

[01:39:00] - St. Louis city: never wanted to leave, wanted to settle there

[01:40:00] - Held out for bit: how difficult adjustment coming to Jersey?

[01:41:00] - Not desired location: probably tougher than wife and family

[01:42:00] - Just had baby St. Louis: 16-month-old, just bought house, just sold house

[01:43:00] - Lot going on: as player just play, that's all thought about was playing

[01:44:00] - Lou Lamoriello really good: really wanted me and family there

[01:45:00] - Put lot into it: get me, make sure we were settled and happy

[01:46:00] - Means lot: general manager very excited about you coming there

[01:47:00] - St. Louis phenomenal: great team, great city, great place to play and live

[01:48:00] - All wonderful: as hockey player just move on play

[01:49:00] - Lou came airport: picked us up, put car seats in with kids

[01:50:00] - There when first arrived: pretty classy, meant lot

[01:51:00] - Made sure: looked after find place, we were comfortable

[01:52:00] - Goes long ways: on team always starts with ownership

[01:53:00] - Then general manager: trickles down if good ownership, great GM

[01:54:00] - Cares about winning: can do good things, makes everybody feel important

[01:55:00] - Acclimation with new teammates: Kirk Mueller holding out also

[01:56:00] - Seemed bit fragmentation: how easy and quickly able to fit in?

[01:57:00] - Wasn't too bad: being captain little bit thing for me

[01:58:00] - Bruce Driver great captain: that was little awkward I thought

[01:59:00] - Talked with Bruce: Bruce I still need you lot

[02:00:00] - Very organized individual: scheduling this and that

[02:01:00] - Made him well known: really need your help still in that capacity

[02:02:00] - Wonderful: especially stepping in first year second year being captain

[02:03:00] - Probably biggest adjustment: other than that thought team was good

[02:04:00] - Looked at team on paper: kind of excited about that

[02:05:00] - Not wanna leave somewhere: gotta move forward, look at positives

[02:06:00] - Sort of had to build: find our identity, we did that

[02:07:00] - Became difficult team play against: all worked out

[02:08:00] - Captaincy biggest little adjustment: just coming in here

[02:09:00] - Lot guys been there while: take it from, didn't take it

[02:10:00] - Given C by Lou from Bruce: all worked out

[02:11:00] - Bruce great friend: still, Bruce great guy

[02:12:00] - Played for Rangers while: when I was there, can attest good guy

[02:13:00] - Take back: explain Group Two free agency era

[02:14:00] - Group Two when left Washington: nobody that never happened

[02:15:00] - Got signed: compensation so overwhelming

[02:16:00] - Remember David Volek: decided take compensation, not match offer

[02:17:00] - Stunning: people just didn't do that

[02:18:00] - If ever Group Two signing: very few, team almost always match

[02:19:00] - Get to that era: Blues Group One opportunity

[02:20:00] - Group One meant: if signed player, got him, no matching

[02:21:00] - Brendan Shanahan, Adam Graves: if knew rules you had them

[02:22:00] - What happened: team he came from, had to work out deal

[02:23:00] - Couldn't work out deal: went to arbitrator for equalization

[02:24:00] - Team signed player: put up what felt was equalization

[02:25:00] - Team lost player: put up what thought was equalization

[02:26:00] - Argued in front arbitrator: arbitrator's decision

[02:27:00] - Obviously this case: decided what Lou and Devils put up

[02:28:00] - Player Scott Stevens: more equal, better equalization

[02:29:00] - Than Curtis Joseph and Rod Brind'Amour: Blues had put up

[02:30:00] - At what point: first became aware even part of this?

[02:31:00] - Whole fiasco: going on Brendan Shanahan equalization

[02:32:00] - Believe kind all came down: Canada Cup that year

[02:33:00] - Actually Brendan was there too: interesting, all playing out

[02:34:00] - That was little odd: yeah that's when sort all came down

[02:35:00] - Wasn't expecting: be compensation

[02:36:00] - Package Lou asked for: adamant about having

[02:37:00] - Right: did put up couple pretty good players

[02:38:00] - Curtis Joseph, Rod Brind'Amour: first find out told awarded to Devils?

[02:39:00] - Know that might happen: can't even remember where it was

[02:40:00] - Just remember: training camp I believe Canada Cup

[02:41:00] - Like pins and needles: what was gonna happen

[02:42:00] - Then it came to head: all worked out

[02:43:00] - Explained it perfectly: as hockey player just wanna play hockey

[02:44:00] - Move on: not gonna drag feet, nothing can do

[02:45:00] - Rules are rules: worked once St. Louis, didn't work second time

[02:46:00] - Fortunate: win some Cups New Jersey

[02:47:00] - Sometimes say: everything happens for reason

[02:48:00] - Speaking those Cups: win 1995, 2000, 2003

[02:49:00] - Conn Smythe Trophy winner: overtime Dallas Jason Arnott goal

[02:50:00] - 2003 Anaheim Ducks: always intertwined 1994 Eastern Final

[02:51:00] - Series for ages: fan myself of game

[02:52:00] - Thought Devils team 1994: best club personnel wise I've seen

[02:53:00] - To this date: even though didn't win Cup

[02:54:00] - Maybe just weren't ready: how see 1994 up against three Cup winners?

[02:55:00] - Right: big year for us, put up lot of points

[02:56:00] - Very high all different categories: goals against, even think goals for

[02:57:00] - Really good hockey team: obviously very disappointing

[02:58:00] - Maybe we're little young: I'm not sure, maybe could be it

[02:59:00] - Sometimes learn from mistakes: learn from losing

[03:00:00] - Don't think anything to be embarrassed: felt whoever won that series

[03:01:00] - Probably win Cup: turned out that way Rangers against Vancouver

[03:02:00] - If learn from it: become better, most important thing

[03:03:00] - Think we did as team: able to go on win three Stanley Cups

[03:04:00] - Way I look at it: obviously like to win them all

[03:05:00] - Had chance win back-to-back: believe after maybe 2001

[03:06:00] - Lost to Colorado Game 7: that hurt, we were there

[03:07:00] - Really good team: little mini dynasty could say, maybe not enough

[03:08:00] - Talk about first Cup against Detroit: ended in sweep

[03:09:00] - Regular season wasn't great: truncated season lockout

[03:10:00] - Managed get in: once in everything started roll for club

[03:11:00] - Lot distractions that year: lockout, made very difficult make playoffs

[03:12:00] - Win that year: Mark Messier said that's hard

[03:13:00] - Look and put asterisk: might been one harder years win Cup

[03:14:00] - Didn't have great regular season: shortened season

[03:15:00] - Having experience from year before: playing Rangers and losing

[03:16:00] - Kind of knew: no such thing as switch

[03:17:00] - Think all knew: when had to batten down hatches could do that

[03:18:00] - Because what went through year before: just started to win playoffs

[03:19:00] - Got better and better: as playoffs went on as team

[03:20:00] - Got back to where were year before: played Rangers and lost

[03:21:00] - Felt: never said this but felt invincible as going through playoffs run

[03:22:00] - Watch finals: pretty much dominated very good hockey club Detroit

[03:23:00] - Shows you: knew we were good, kept getting better and stronger

[03:24:00] - Had that great feeling: weren't gonna lose

[03:25:00] - Can't say had feeling: against Rangers, but had feeling that year

[03:26:00] - Weren't gonna lose: ready to move forward and win

[03:27:00] - Because what learned 1994: learn lot, just experience

[03:28:00] - Can't put finger on it: gain experience, learn from mistakes in life

[03:29:00] - Everyday life: not just sports, why not in sports?

[03:30:00] - How it works sometimes: not fun, hurts

[03:31:00] - Maybe that's what you need: pain and hurt to move forward

[03:32:00] - Take next step: as team and as individuals

[03:33:00] - Three Cups New Jersey: three different coaches

[03:34:00] - Most memorable: Jacques Lemaire changed game that era

[03:35:00] - Larry Robinson: came in late season, guided to Stanley Cup

[03:36:00] - Pat Burns: dearly departed, great hockey man

[03:37:00] - All products Montreal Canadiens: talk about three different coaches?

[03:38:00] - Pretty amazing: when Jacques and Larry came, Jacques Caron goalie coach

[03:39:00] - Special guy: great trio, all brought something different

[03:40:00] - Systems: way taught us to play, showed certain things on ice

[03:41:00] - Felt like little kid: man never learned so much in my life

[03:42:00] - From gentlemen: especially Jacques, his footprint, his stamp

[03:43:00] - Foot here two feet there: stick position

[03:44:00] - Don't think means lot: but does, big part of game

[03:45:00] - Positioning: keeping people where wanna keep them

[03:46:00] - Keeping in dangerous area: excited, learned so much

[03:47:00] - Could see how worked: practiced, some failures trying it

[03:48:00] - How play two-on-one: before long kept, honed skills

[03:49:00] - Became really good: system, playing certain way

[03:50:00] - Put into game situations: start winning, like rejuvenate second shot

[03:51:00] - My 13th year: had lot good coaches, learned lot

[03:52:00] - Learned by far most: that year Jacques Lemaire

[03:53:00] - Other guys felt same way: wow we're winning, seems so much fun

[03:54:00] - Things are working: how play two-on-one, come back own zone

[03:55:00] - Positional: take this way, take that away, give goalie this

[03:56:00] - Fun: took little bit, Jacques was good, awesome

[03:57:00] - Learned most: I learned in 13 years

[03:58:00] - Skip forward Larry Robinson: that year Lou fired coach late season

[03:59:00] - Robbie Ftorek: yeah Robbie Ftorek

[04:00:00] - Had Larry take over: guided to Stanley Cup win, unheard of

[04:01:00] - Coach relieved that point: replacement guide team Stanley Cup

[04:02:00] - What think about GM doing that: takes lot doesn't it?

[04:03:00] - Stick neck out: believed need another voice

[04:04:00] - Didn't like way: going towards playoffs

[04:05:00] - Felt Larry was guy: everyone held so high, so much respect

[04:06:00] - Get everyone's attention: get us back where need to be to win again

[04:07:00] - Worked out beautifully: still some ups and downs Flyers

[04:08:00] - Critical position: until Larry came in, had speech

[04:09:00] - Don't know what team: you guys are, what doing, that's not us

[04:10:00] - Not even close: who are