The Devils defeated the defending champion Stars four games to two to win their second Stanley Cup in franchise history. This was the first of two Stanley Cup Finals where two relocated teams faced each other; the other being in 2001.
Despite New Jersey being a lower seed in conference play (4) than Dallas (2), New Jersey's 103 points were one more than Dallas, giving them home-ice advantage in the series. The Devils won the Cup in game six on a one-timer goal by Jason Arnott in double overtime. It was their second Stanley Cup overall and first since 1995.
For the Stars, this was the first time since the New York Islanders lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 Finals that a defending Stanley Cup champion lost in the Finals. This happened to the Devils themselves the following year when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche. This would be the last appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals for the Stars until 2020.
This was the first Finals that featured two relocated teams competing for the Stanley Cup, as well as the first Finals in which both teams had won the Stanley Cup previously after relocation.
The 2000 Stanley Cup was presented to Devils captain Scott Stevens by NHL CommissionerGary Bettman following the Devils 2–1 double overtime win over the Stars in game six.
The following Devils players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup
Taran Singelton (Video Coordinator), Marie Carnevale (Hockey Operations-Ass't to President-General Manager), Callie Smith (Scouting Staff Asst.), Bill Murray (Medical Trainer), Michael Vasalani (Strength-Conditioning Coordinator)
Dana McGuane (Equipment Manager), Juergen Merz (Message Therapist), Harry Bricker (Asst. Equipment Manager), Lou Centanni (Asst. Equipment Manager)
Stanley Cup engraving
Three players who did not automatically qualify for their names to be engraved on the Stanley Cup were engraved at the Devils' request:
Steve Kelly† – Played ten playoff games, four in Eastern Conference Finals.
Steve Brule† – Played one game in the Conference Finals.
Ken Sutton† – Joined the team at the NHL trade deadline from the minors. He played six regular season games, but was a healthy scratch for the playoffs.
Larry Robinson was promoted from assistant coach to head coach with only eight games left in the regular season to replace Robbie Ftorek. Ftorek stayed on as a scout for the rest of season and the NHL allowed his name to be included on the Stanley Cup. Robinson became the first interim head coach in NHL history to guide a team to a Stanley Cup championship.
Krzysztof Oliwa became the first Polish born and trained player to win the Stanley Cup. He played 69 regular season for the Devils, but missed the whole playoffs due to injury. Oliwa qualified for playing more than half of the regular season games.
14 members were engraved with an initial and two full names.
Left off the Stanley Cup
Rob McLean (Consultant) – Still awarded a Stanley Cup Ring, and on the team picture.
#24 Willie Mitchell (D) – Played in two regular season games. He was recalled for the playoffs, but did not make any playoff appearances. He won the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014.[1]
#2 Deron Quint (D) – Played 50 regular season games for Phoenix, and four games for New Jersey (joined in a March 7 trade for Lyle Odelein) was not engraved on the Stanley Cup because New Jersey suspended him for failing to report to the minors for conditioning purposes.
Broadcasting
In Canada, the series was televised on CBC. In the United States, this was the first year under the new joint American TV contract with the Disney-owned networks ESPN and ABC, with ESPN airing the first two games of the Cup Finals and ABC broadcasting the rest of the series. Devils team broadcasters Mike Miller and Randy Velischek called the series on local radio on WABC–AM 770 in New York City. In Dallas, Stars broadcasters Ralph Strangis and Daryl Reaugh called the series on WBAP 820 AM.
Quotes
Shot it right through the top of the crease. Elias centered shot…SCORE! THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS! HAVE WON THE STANLEY CUP! JASON ARNOTT! WITH THE GAME WINNING OVERTIME GOAL!
Stevens winds up, the shot - just wide! Kept in, though. Shot to the line, Stevens kept it in, Hull, flipped it, it hit Stevens. He put it in wide of the net for Elias to dig it out, RIGHT IN FRONT, THEY SCORE! The Stanley Cup goal is scored by Arnott! The New Jersey Devils are celebrating; Ed Belfour is in shock! Just now getting up. Two to one! The Devils win game six! The Devils of New Jersey have won the Stanley Cup!
— CBC's Bob Cole calling Arnott's Cup-winning goal in Game 6
Now Stevens for New Jersey held it in at the left point. Flipped it, right through the goal mouth area. Elias is going to chase it now, out front to Arnott, HE SCORES! Jason Arnott has scored, and the Devils have won the Cup! Jason Arnott! Jason Arnott has scored, and the Devils win it two to one, and the Stanley Cup has fallen from the Stars! The new millenium has its first Stanley Cup champion, and it's the New Jersey Devils! And for the second time in six years, the New Jersey Devils are the Stanley Cup champions!
— Devils radio play-by-play announcer Mike Miller calling Arnott's cup-winning goal on WABC-AM 770