The NHL Entry Draft is where the Devils have enjoyed their greatest talent success. In the club's 2003-04 training camp guide, 36 of the attending players had been drafted by New Jersey. Only seven had come to the organization via trades, free-agent compensation or the waiver draft. And only 15 were in camp as pro or amateur free agents.

When it comes to developing players, few teams have been better than the Devils. In the 2000 run to the Cup, the Devils used four first-year players extensively -- centers Scott Gomez and John Madden and defensemen Colin White and Brian Rafalski. They not only played, but made significant contributions. Having four rookies playing integral roles on a team competing for the Stanley Cup is testament to the eye for talent Director of Scouting David Conte and his staff have displayed throughout the years.

"The bottom line of success is getting out to games and doing your homework," Conte said of the work that's involved to bring players like Gomez and Rafalski to New Jersey. "I don't know of another secret formula. You have to be just like a player and do the work. For this draft, scouts had to start doing their preparation two years ago. Your efforts have to be consistent day in and day out. Again, just like the players."

"If there's anywhere where this can happen, it's here," said Larry Robinson, who coached the Devils to the 2000 Cup and is a special-assignment coach with the organization, and has repeatedly seen rookies not only step in, but also contribute so heavily. "One of the great things about this team, not unlike when I was in Montreal, is the way they bring rookies along when they feel they're ready and not just because there is an opening. The rookies are here because they can help, not because they have to be."

Scott Niedermayer doesn't get the ink he deserves, but that doesn't stop the Devils homegrown defender from turning away the opposition.

"If you work hard, when your time comes, your time comes," White said. "That's what I've learned about this organization. Other teams rush their players, up and down, but they'll never rush you here."

Largely because there very rarely is a need to rush a youngster. The Devils have built a deep and talented base that not only allows the fans to see a winning team year after year, but it allows the next generation of players to fully develop, further allowing the franchise to flourish.

Obviously, developing outstanding players is a prerequisite for success. If you don't have great players, all else becomes moot. During Lamoriello's stewardship of the franchise, the Devils haven't lacked for top players. From home-grown Devils like Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer and Elias to critical acquisitions like Scott Stevens, Lemieux and Marshall, the Devils have been able to ice a very talented team.

"You've got to have guys who played for the Cup, and you've got to have guys who have never done it," Lemieux said of the mix it takes for success. "You have the experience that the one group brings, and the excitement and enthusiasm that all these young guys bring. And that's a good mixture." "We've got a lot of guys who have won Cups, but we've also got a lot of rookies," Lemieux said in 2000. "That means there are guys who want to taste it again and guys who are just thrilled to be playing for the Cup."

"We have a lot of talented players and skaters," said Niedermayer, who was a huge factor in New Jersey winning the 2003 Cup. "We have a lot of confidence in our ability to play an up-tempo game."

During Lamoriello's stewardship of the franchise, the Devils haven't lacked for top players. The New Jersey GM has brought in great players like Scott Stevens and Claude Lemieux to mesh with his young talent.

How the 2002-03 Devils were built displays the framework of how the organization has been constructed for years. Shrewd drafting, opportunistic signings, timely trades -- all have played a key role in building the current Stanley Cup champions.

Twelve Devils were former draft picks of the franchise -- defensemen Daneyko, now retired, Niedermayer, and White, goalies Martin Brodeur and Corey Schwab, and forwards Sergei Brylin, Jay Pandolfo, Brian Gionta, Jiri Bicek, Mike Rupp, Elias and Gomez. Two more, Madden and Rafalski, have never played for another organization. These two important Devils were unheralded free-agent signings.

The remainder of the playoff roster was acquired in trades or as compensation for the loss of previous free agents. Stevens, for example, came to the Devils from St. Louis as compensation for the Blues' signing of Brendan Shanahan. Jamie Langenbrunner and Joe Nieuwendyk came over in a trade with Dallas, Jeff Friesen and Oleg Tverdovsky were acquired from Anaheim, Marshall and Turner Stevenson were acquired from Columbus, Smehlik and Pascal Rheaume from Atlanta, Tommy Albelin and Jim McKenzie were free-agent signings.