The Devils franchise made its name by winning Stanley Cups, but that reputation is starting to fade.
Patience wears thin as time passes, and passes players by.
“I’ve been in the league 15 years and never won,” Devils center Dainius Zubrus said. “Yeah, every year is an opportunity to go full out and see where you end up. But this is my fifth year here and I haven’t been past the first round.”
Devils’ Cup Club membership vanishes after chairman Martin Brodeur, co-chairman Patrik Elias and secretary-treasurer Petr Sykora (Ryan Carter won with Anaheim and Sykora also with Pittsburgh). They start their latest pursuit Friday when they visit the Panthers to open the first round of the NHL playoffs.
One of the major by-products of their Cups was players like Brodeur, Elias, Scott Stevens and now Ilya Kovalchuk remained or came because of the chance to win.
Zach Parise can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He did not connect his thoughts to that situation, but did confess that not winning a Stanley Cup is on his mind.
“Not only not winning, but not even coming close. It goes by fast,” Parise said. “It’s seven years and I haven’t gotten close.”
It’s an entire group that has not won in the Devils’ longest championship drought since they copped their first one in 1994-95.
“The longer you play without a Cup, the more you think about it,” said Bryce Salvador, also an upcoming unrestricted free agent. “But it’s one of those things that take care of itself.”
It’s nine years since the Devils won their last Cup. And that one was a surprise.
“Our Stanley Cup teams are bonded by the Cup,” Brodeur said. “I got a phone call the other day. ‘Hey, it’s coming up on our 10th anniversary. Are you doing something for it, or do I have to do everything?’ It was Turner Stevenson.”
For several years, the aging of Brodeur has been the team’s reason to win now. He turns 40 next month, and chances with him are running out. The Devils can be forgiven if they treat these playoffs as Now or Never.
* Pete DeBoer kept the team off the ice yesterday, training off-ice and doing prep for the Panthers.
“We want our guys fresh, ready and excited to play Friday,” DeBoer said.
mark.everson@nypost.com
Martin Brodeur, Brodeur, Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora, Stanley Cups, Stanley Cup, The Devils, the Devils, Ilya Kovalchuk, Devils, Dainius Zubrus, unrestricted free agent, Ryan Carter, Scott Stevens, Panthers
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