Professional. That’s the word of the night. You couldn’t escape it.
Saturday night, the Devils not only hosted the Dallas Stars, but they also hosted a very special ceremony. Saturday night was the night the Devils enshrined Sergei Brylin in the team’s Ring of Honor; joining the late Dr. John J. McMullen as its only member.
Between the pre-game ceremony and the game against the Stars, there was a lot going on inside Prudential Center. The result of the game was a 6-2 Devils’ loss as their young defense was torched on multiple occasions. In addition to the hardships endured by the young Dmen, the Devils’ struggles in the second half of back-to-back sets continued, as did their futility against their former goalie, Scott Wedgewood, who improved to 3-0 in three career games against New Jersey. Overall, as Devil’s Head Coach Lindy Ruff explained after the game, this is a game to move on from quickly.
That’s enough about the game. Let’s talk about Sergei Brylin. After all, it’s important to “look to the past, as we head for the future.”
As I mentioned in the opening of this article, you couldn’t escape the word “professional.” Many words were shared about Sergei Brylin, but none more so than “professional.” That’s just the type of player he was. Brylin was never a star, never the best player on the team, but he was easily one of the hardest workers.
“He wasn’t a leader screaming in the locker room and doing all that stuff,” Petr Sýkora said. “He was a leader, who, every single day, gave 100%. He was an all-around professional.”
I told you, you can’t escape that word. As one of only five players in Devils history to win three Stanley Cups with the franchise, Brylin is appreciated not just for what he did on the ice, but for what he’s done off it.
After his NHL career ended, Brylin went to the KHL for a handful of seasons before returning to The States and becoming a coach in the Devils’ minor league system. As much as he made an impact as a player and deserves as much praise as any, it’s his work as a coach that has really made him a beloved figure.
“Being a player for such a long time and now being on the coaching staff for, I don’t know how many years, he’s basically a life-long New Jersey guy,” Petr Sýkora quipped. “I’m very proud that it’s not only the Hall of Fame guys who get this kind of attention. I’m very proud of him that he gets a night like this because he deserves it.”
“All the credit goes to ‘Sarge,’” Travis Zajac weighed in. “What he’s accomplished throughout his career, both as a player in this organization and now as a coach, is remarkable. He definitely deserves to get recognized for it. This fan base appreciates winners, guys who play the right way and for New Jersey. If there’s one thing I learned from playing with Sergei, the team always came first. He was always a guy you could rely on — in any situation.”
Brylin started his coaching career in 2012 when he took a job as an Assistant Coach with the Devils’ AHL affiliate in Albany. It was there that his long journey back to the NHL began. And it was a journey Brylin loved.
“It helps, absolutely,” Brylin explained. “I have known these guys for a long time. We made those connections back in minors and it makes it easier to communicate. I know their strong sides and things they have to work on. It makes my job a little easier. I love what I do. I love hockey. That was the job I had. I was trying to help the young guys improve and develop into everyday NHL players.”
As Travis Zajac recalls, Brylin was very focused on his day-to-day preparation as a player and that’s something he imparted to the young players he coached. It’s also something he imparted to his young teammates, like Zajac before his own playing days ended.
“He was a consummate pro,” Zajac explained. “It was all business. He was there when we got there. He was there to work, get better, work on his game, and he took care of himself off the ice. Those are things I learned from him. I played a few years with him. I’ll always have a big memory in my head because he assisted on my first NHL goal; so I remember that play. It’s kind of cool to share that with him.”
With all the praise being heaped on Brylin, let’s check out what the man of the night thinks about being honored by the only NHL team he’s ever known.
“Special night for me and my family,” Brylin said. “I’m a little nervous but also very excited. I was fortunate to play with a lot of great players; that’s what makes this night so special. To see all those guys, from those teams, we went through a lot together. Looking up and seeing those banners up there, that makes it even more special.”
It wasn’t just his former teammates though who were in attendance. Brylin’s family was also at Prudential Center for his big night.
“Obviously, without them, I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing,” Brylin continued. “What I did when I was playing, the credit goes to my parents. They did everything for me. My dad and my mom sacrificed everything. I’m very grateful for what they did for me and gave me a chance to become a professional hockey player. The rest is history.”
It was Petr Sýkora who summed up the night and Brylin as a player, best.
“I’m very proud of him,” Sýkora said. “We had some great years together. When I look back at those years, from like ’95 till like 2001, those were the best times for us. Sergei was always a huge part of it. He could play on the top line, he could play on the checking line, he could play on the third line. He always came in, always on time, always a professional. It’s a big honor for him tonight. We are all very proud of him.
“He’s always been a hardworking guy. He always gave it his all. It doesn’t matter how old we get, it’s something that never leaves us. We’re always competitive. It doesn’t matter how old we get, when my daughter beats me in tennis, I can’t stand it. I’m very upset. Sergei, he’s out there (coaching) for a reason and he’s always ready. That’s Sergei.”
Yes, that’s Sergei. A consummate professional from Day One and to this very day.
photo by Drew King.
