New Jersey Devils Legend: Kenneth Stephen Daneyko
Kenneth Stephen Daneyko is a 3x Stanley Cup Champion with the New Jersey Devils and is currently a Devils color analyst for MSG Network and NHL Network. He has been nicknamed “Mr. Devil” by Devils fans, as he currently holds both the franchise record for games played as a Devil with 1,283 games and in penalty minutes with 2,516. Ken spoke on episode 32 of our Catch The Moment podcast discussing his life journey, his thoughts on the NHL, and so much more.
“We were terrible when I started… I just wanted to be part of the answer, part of the solution… everybody thinks, do you wanna be on a better team?… No, I said, I want you be here. I want to go through the tough times because I know how gratifying the good times will be. I kept telling everybody, trust me, we're gonna be something someday.” - Ken Daneyko
One of his life-changing memories he shared with me was getting drafted. He had been out the night before and was sleeping in a bit. He knew they were doing the draft that morning, but he was not expecting to get drafted in the first round. To his surprise, his mother bursts into his room saying he has a phone call that he needs to take immediately. When he picks up the call, the first thing he hears is “Congratulations Ken, we’ve just drafted you 18th”. Ken was so thrilled he almost forgot to ask the team he was drafted to. “I go, by the way, who is this? They go, it’s New Jersey. They didn’t have a team name yet… hadn’t even picked a team name."
Another one of Daneyko’s favorite memories in life was winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 1995. “First five years, our team was a bottom feeder. We were terrible. So to still be on the team and turn the corner in ’88, that was a huge moment,” says Daneyko, while explaining why it was such a defining moment in his life.
This Ukrainian-Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman played his entire twenty-season career with the New Jersey Devils. The Devils were, and still are, very much a part of Daneyko’s life. Sharing details about how the administration stuck with him even during his worst times, he says “I’m grateful because I had the right people in my organization that believed in me… I care for them because they cared for me.” After struggling with substance abuse throughout his career, Ken was able to resurrect his mental health with the support of many, including the New Jersey Devils.
Ken Daneyko’s journey through life is one we can all admire. He is truly an icon and New Jersey royalty. Give the podcast episode with him a listen to hear his full story.