(NEWARK, NJ) -- Twenty years after bringing the third Stanley Cup to New Jersey, and being one of only five players to win three Stanley Cup Championships with the New Jersey Devils, former Devils’ forward and current assistant coach Sergei Brylin will be celebrated by the Devils as the club’s second-ever Ring of Honor inductee.
Brylin was informed of his honor on November 13 when Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald and Head Coach Lindy Ruff surprised him during the club’s team meeting that morning. The Devils will hold a pregame ceremony at Prudential Center on Saturday, January 20 before they take on the Dallas Stars, whom the Devils and Brylin defeated for the second Stanley Cup in team history, in a 7:00 PM contest. All fans in attendance that night will receive a limited-edition Ring of Honor commemorative pin courtesy of Citizens. This kicks off the first induction in a five-year program sponsored by Citizens, which will be highlighted by a Ring of Honor Committee who will help decide future inductees.
“We are proud and privileged to be naming Sergei Brylin as the club’s second-ever inductee into the Ring of Honor,” said David Blitzer, Managing Partner, New Jersey Devils. “Sarge knew what it took to win a championship, what it meant to New Jersey, and how that connects him forever with our amazing fans. Having played his entire 13-year NHL career with the Devils, he has continued to make New Jersey his home. Now a member of the Devils coaching staff, Brylin’s leadership has been an invaluable addition to our current team.”
Brylin will be honored with his wife, Elena, and his children, Anna, Maria and Fyodor by his side. The on-ice ceremony will feature a tribute video showcasing highlights of his career and appearances by Devils guests, with more video storytelling featured throughout the game. Additionally, a wall display containing memorabilia from Brylin’s career will be unveiled. To celebrate the night and honor Brylin, the team and alumni present will wear a limited-edition patch on their jersey.
“We’re excited to recognize Sergei Brylin. His long-standing commitment to the team and community truly represents what it means to be a New Jersey Devil,” says Nuno Dos Santos, Citizens Retail Banking Director. “At Citizens, we are committed to helping the New Jersey community thrive. We are proud to support the return the Ring of Honor program and recognize those making a difference on and off the ice.”
Marking the second inductee into the Ring of Honor, Brylin joins Dr. John J. McMullen, the Devils’ first owner who brought the team to New Jersey from Colorado. McMullen was the club’s inaugural inductee on January 6, 2017. Additionally, the organization will be forming a “Ring of Honor Committee” which will meet to discuss and help decide future honorees. The committee includes all five players who have their number retired by the organization (Stevens, Daneyko, Niedermayer, Brodeur, Elias), the two Ring of Honor inductees (Peter McMullen, on behalf of The McMullen Family and Brylin) and select media/team executives each year.
“There are so many players in the franchise that have made huge impacts on the team, on the community, on the fanbase. It’s good to recognize some of them,” said Martin Brodeur, Executive Vice President, Hockey Operations and Three-Time Stanley Cup Champion. “Some players have their number in the rafters but it is extremely important to acknowledge those individuals who’ve had a different, yet still important influence, whether they be players, coaches or builders.”
Brylin was promoted to Assistant Coach in New Jersey on August 18, 2022. Prior to 2022-23, the 49-year-old served as an assistant and associate coach for the Devils’ AHL affiliates for nine seasons in Albany (2012-13 to 2016-17), Binghamton (2017-18 to 2020-21), and Utica (2021-22). In 2021-22, Brylin helped lead the Comets to a North Division title and the best record in the Eastern Conference. Utica also set an AHL record after it began the 2021-22 campaign with 13 consecutive wins.
Brylin made his NHL debut on February 17, 1995 and spent his entire 13-season NHL career, from 1994-95 through 2007-08, with New Jersey. He totaled 765 regular-season games, which ranks tenth in franchise history. He is one of just five players to win three Stanley Cup Championships (1995, 2000, 2003) with New Jersey, joining Martin Brodeur, Ken Daneyko, Scott Niedermayer, and Scott Stevens in the accomplishment. The forward totaled 129 goals and 179 assists for 308 points over his NHL career, with career highs across the board in goals (23), assists (29) assists and points (52) in the 2000-01 season.
As part of his many achievements, Brylin had an iron-man streak of 328 games, playing in all games from 2003-04 through 2007- 08. This run of games from October 8, 2003 to April 6, 2008 also marks the third-longest consecutive stretch in franchise history. Additionally, he earned 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 109 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. Brylin ended his NHL career after the 2007-08 season and retired following the 2011-12 season, after three years with St. Petersburg and one season with Novokuznetsk in the Kontinental Hockey League. Internationally, he represented Russia at two World Championships and two World Junior Championships. New Jersey’s second choice and 42nd overall selection in the 1992 Entry Draft, Brylin first came to North America in 1993-94 as a member of the IHL’s Russian Penguins.
The New Jersey Devils are part of the 32-team National Hockey League, with teams throughout the United States and Canada. Established in 1982, they recently celebrated their 40th season in the Garden State. During that time, the team has won three Stanley Cup Championships: 1995, 2000 and 2003.
Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007 and recently celebrating its 15th year as a marquee destination, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 210 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 5 nationally by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and hosts over 2 million guests annually.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $225.3 billion in assets as of September 30, 2023. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,300 ATMs and approximately 1,100 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities.
