Quoting: csick
At least the Devils are fun to watch, unlike the Brodeur finals devils.
Some of those teams were really fun to watch.
Devils used "the trap" in the 1995 playoffs and again in the season after, but by 1997 it was gone.
1993-94: 2nd leading scoring team (reached ECF)
1994-98: 18th in GF, 1st in GA (employed trap, won 1 cup)
1998-01: NHL's top scoring team (won 1 cup, 1 conference championship)
2001-03: Middle of pack in scoring (old school Larry Robinson defending team, won 1 cup)
In mid-2000's, Marty had his best years, but Lou lost his marbles. Would fire coaches every year. Team relied by goaltending too much. Once the Parise, Kovalchuk period began in late 2000s/early 2010s, Marty had declined. But the "trap" brand always stuck. People today still bring it up.