Jamie Langenbrunner

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

On March 19, 2002, Langenbrunner was traded to the New Jersey Devils alongside Joe Nieuwendyk for Jason Arnott, Randy McKay and a first-round draft pick. In the 2002–03 season, his first full year with the team, he posted a then career-best 22 goals and 33 assists for 55 points in 78 games. He continued his scoring in the playoffs, leading the league in goals (11) and points (18) as the Devils defeated the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4–3 to win the Stanley Cup. After an injury-plagued 2003–04 season (53 games) and the 2004–05 lockout, Langenbrunner bounced back in 2005–06 with 53 points in 80 games, adding 13 points in nine playoff games before the Devils lost to the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes. On July 1, 2006, he signed a five-year, $14 million contract extension with the Devils. In 2006–07, he played all 82 games and scored a career-best 60 points (23 goals, 37 assists). On December 5, 2007, Langenbrunner was named captain of the New Jersey Devils. In January 2009, he scored two goals in each of three consecutive games, including three game-winners (two in overtime), a streak last accomplished by Wayne Gretzky in 1981–82. That season he set career highs in goals (29), assists (40), points (69) and plus-minus (+25). On January 2, 2010, he scored the first hat-trick of his career against the Minnesota Wild. On January 7, 2011, Langenbrunner was traded back to the Dallas Stars for a conditional third-round pick.

In Their Own Story

In January 2009, Langenbrunner scored two goals in each of three consecutive games, including three game winners for the Devils. Two of those game-winning goals were scored in overtime. His streak of three consecutive multi-goal games with a game-winning goal was last accomplished by Wayne Gretzky during the 1981–82 season. Langenbrunner played extremely well in the second half of the season and went on to set career highs in goals (29), assists (40), points (69) and plus-minus rating (+25). Langenbrunner, along with fellow linemates Zach Parise and Travis Zajac, all had remarkable seasons, as the line combined for 94 goals and 131 assists for a total of 225 points as well as having a combined plus-minus of +88.

Reader's Guide

Beginning in the 2007–08 season, Langenbrunner played on a line with teammates Zach Parise and Travis Zajac. The line was dubbed 'ZZ Pops' due to the difference in age between the veteran and the two youngsters who have initials with the letter 'Z.' In the 2007 playoffs, Langenbrunner scored eight points in 11 games before losing to the Stanley Cup Final-bound Ottawa Senators. In the 2008 playoffs, the Devils lost in the conference quarterfinals to the New York Rangers 4–1, though Langenbrunner scored four points in the short series. After both an injury-plagued season in 2003–04 in which Langenbrunner played only 53 games and the NHL's lockout season in 2004–05, Langenbrunner bounced back strongly in 2005–06, scoring 53 points in 80 games. He again had a strong playoff performance, scoring 13 points in nine games before the Devils lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, in the conference semifinals.

Did You Know?

• Langenbrunner was named captain of the New Jersey Devils on December 5, 2007.
• He scored the first hat-trick of his career on January 2, 2010, against the Minnesota Wild.
• In January 2009, he had a streak of three consecutive multi-goal games with a game-winning goal, last accomplished by Wayne Gretzky in 1981–82.
• Langenbrunner led the league in goals (11) and points (18) during the 2003 playoffs en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
• He was traded to the Devils on March 19, 2002, alongside Joe Nieuwendyk for Jason Arnott, Randy McKay and a first-round draft pick.