John J. McMullen to Enter NJ Hall of Fame Posthumously | BLOG

Earlier on Thursday, the New Jersey Hall of Fame announced that Dr. John J. McMullen will be a posthumous 2026 inductee.

McMullen enters the New Jersey Hall of Fame in the sports category, a fitting tribute to the man who played a major role in bringing the Devils to New Jersey in 1982.

McMullen purchased the Colorado Rockies and relocated the franchise to New Jersey, giving the state its first major professional sports team to proudly bear its name. The Devils remain the only professional sports team to bear the state's name and was defining in the New Jersey sports landscape.

Under his leadership, the Devils grew from an expansion-era franchise into Stanley Cup champions, capturing titles in 1995 and 2000, and would later win a third in 2003 under different ownership.

Decades after McMullen brought hockey to New Jersey, his portrait still hangs permanently at Prudential Center, named as the first member of the club’s Ring of Honor. 

His place in the New Jersey Hall of Fame recognizes not just an owner, but someone whose impact continues to be felt and celebrated throughout the state today.