Fellow Devil fans - More Doom & Gloom by Brooks....

It seems like every Sunday, Larry Brooks writes an article about how much trouble the Devils and Lou are in. Get ready for your weekly anti Devil drivel to pop up on this board. I wonder if Brooks reads this board, because we’ve been discussing the affect of the Richard contract for the last several days.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/devils/64338.htm

Well, Richards' contract really is ridiculous. That said, ONE contract can't set the bar if you can have 5 or 6 that are 'normalized'...

It seems like every Sunday, Larry Brooks writes an article about how much trouble the Devils and Lou are in. Get ready for your weekly anti Devil drivel to pop up on this board. I wonder if Brooks reads this board, because we’ve been discussing the affect of the Richard contract for the last several days.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/devils/64338.htm

He doesn't need to read the board. It's an obvious connection.

And Elias is way more talented.

But on the other side, the Tampa Bay fans LOVE Richards. They would revolt if he wasn't re-signed. They love him more than St. Louis.

Oh, and Brooks loves to spread the Gomer doom and gloom in particular. But that is a question. Again it'll be about, what does the guy want to do, not what do the Devils want to do. But at least the Mogilny and Malakhov massacres will be off the books by that point.

The reasn he keeps writing this crap is because you guys keep reading it and reacting to it like you do.

Rangers fans don't post some huge post about every negative article against our team -- and believe me, there are tons.

Brooks is a hack. Sometimes he gets stuff right and he definately DOES have some connections, but the fact remains that he's a hack and he writes whatever gets reaction from readers. Obviously he's succeeding, though, no?

I just read the article and I don't see how he's picking on the Devils in it or how it's a bunch of drivel meant to bash your team.

He's just reporting on the Richards signing and what a bonehead move it really was and how it's going to effect the market come free agency time. Actually, it was a decently written article for a change and he brought up some good points -- most of which have been discussed on the boards before -- to ponder. The bit about Gomez possibly not wanting to sign long term if Elias leaves is something I didn't even think of yet and it's actually a good point. I would much more consider Elias to be THE team rather than Gomez.

If both cannot be fit under the cap with Gionta there as well, who would you guys rather see gone? Gomez, Gionta, or Elias?

If it were me, I would keep both Elias and Gionta or Elias and Gomez. It might be mroe economically viable, though, to let Gomez go since he's going to command a much, much higher contract with the Richards signing (unless it's a 1 year deal) than Gionta will (whom I'd think would sign for around 4 years at 3.5-3.7 per year). But the question is, is Parise ready to step up to be the center between them?

And if HE'S not ready, who in the free agency market would the Devils look towards to replace the loss of Gomez if he in fact would be moved? Marc Savard would obviously be a great choice, but I have a feeling someone is going to throw him a 6M per year contract.

Get ready for your weekly anti Devil drivel to pop up on this board.
No offense, but it's not the Devils being bashed in that column. The stuff about the Devils was tame compared to some of the other hyperbole in there.

And J.Prescription here is right, Brooks is a hack. :)

My $.02, not that any of you should care. I just noticed the topic and was curious as there's been some discussion of this on some Bolts boards this morning.

No offense, but it's not the Devils being bashed in that column. The stuff about the Devils was tame compared to some of the other hyperbole in there.

And J.Prescription here is right, Brooks is a hack. :)

My $.02, not that any of you should care. I just noticed the topic and was curious as there's been some discussion of this on some Bolts boards this morning.

Exactly. It was much, much more of an outright shot at Tampa compared to any form of shot at the Devils.

I don't see why any Devils fan would see this as a shot to their team.

If Brooks wanted to just bash Tampa, he could have left the Devils out of it. But he never does. He writes for a New York paper and just can't seem to report anything positive about the Devils. I don't remember one article about how the Devils won 15 straight and beat the Rangers and Philly for the Division. However, when it comes to the Richard contract, it's about the Devils demise not Tampa's. I'm not making this crap up.

I just read the article and I don't see how he's picking on the Devils in it or how it's a bunch of drivel meant to bash your team.

He's just reporting on the Richards signing and what a bonehead move it really was and how it's going to effect the market come free agency time. Actually, it was a decently written article for a change and he brought up some good points -- most of which have been discussed on the boards before -- to ponder. The bit about Gomez possibly not wanting to sign long term if Elias leaves is something I didn't even think of yet and it's actually a good point. I would much more consider Elias to be THE team rather than Gomez.

If both cannot be fit under the cap with Gionta there as well, who would you guys rather see gone? Gomez, Gionta, or Elias?

If it were me, I would keep both Elias and Gionta or Elias and Gomez. It might be mroe economically viable, though, to let Gomez go since he's going to command a much, much higher contract with the Richards signing (unless it's a 1 year deal) than Gionta will (whom I'd think would sign for around 4 years at 3.5-3.7 per year). But the question is, is Parise ready to step up to be the center between them?

And if HE'S not ready, who in the free agency market would the Devils look towards to replace the loss of Gomez if he in fact would be moved? Marc Savard would obviously be a great choice, but I have a feeling someone is going to throw him a 6M per year contract.
and there were a host of devil fans on our board when we were discussing this subject. Elias is a fine player, but he does have health issues. Will it reoccur at any time? Because of that concern I think the smart decision is to resign Gomez & Gionta. The devils depend on Gomez transporting th puck up ice. Gionta is more of a blueline in kind of player and I wonder if his production would be effected if he was asked to do more without a center like Gomez.

and there were a host of devil fans on our board when we were discussing this subject. Elias is a fine player, but he does have health issues. Will it reoccur at any time? Because of that concern I think the smart decision is to resign Gomez & Gionta. The devils depend on Gomez transporting th puck up ice. Gionta is more of a blueline in kind of player and I wonder if his production would be effected if he was asked to do more without a center like Gomez.



how does he have healthy issues? he was ill for half the season, yes. but he recovered and did not look back once he was healthy

how does he have healthy issues? he was ill for half the season, yes. but he recovered and did not look back once he was healthy

But can't Hep. flair up at any time?

I'm not sure, but if it's true he definately does have "health issues".

If Brooks wanted to just bash Tampa, he could have left the Devils out of it. But he never does. He writes for a New York paper and just can't seem to report anything positive about the Devils. I don't remember one article about how the Devils won 15 straight and beat the Rangers and Philly for the Division. However, when it comes to the Richard contract, it's about the Devils demise not Tampa's. I'm not making this crap up.

Every article written that mentions the Devils in even the most remotely non positive way is posted on as if the writer is attacking the Devils.

The guy writes for an area newspaper. Why would he just randomly report something that happened nowhere around any of the three teams here if it had nothing to do with any of them?

The Richards signing DIRECTLY effects the Devils ability to re-sign their RFAs and UFAs at a lower cost and everyone knows they are in potential cap trouble. So how is this bashing them or anything? He's reporting on something that people around here who don't hunt message boards might want to know about.

Every article written that mentions the Devils in even the most remotely non positive way is posted on as if the writer is attacking the Devils.

The guy writes for an area newspaper. Why would he just randomly report something that happened nowhere around any of the three teams here if it had nothing to do with any of them?

The Richards signing DIRECTLY effects the Devils ability to re-sign their RFAs and UFAs at a lower cost and everyone knows they are in potential cap trouble. So how is this bashing them or anything? He's reporting on something that people around here who don't hunt message boards might want to know about.

Call me paranoid when it comes to Brooks. I'm sure he don't lose sleep over it, but I believe he would like nothing more then Elias not to sign with the Devils or Gomez to re-sign. It might just be me, but I always sense a bit of animosity when he refers to the Devils in any of his articles.

and there were a host of devil fans on our board when we were discussing this subject. Elias is a fine player, but he does have health issues. Will it reoccur at any time? Because of that concern I think the smart decision is to resign Gomez & Gionta. The devils depend on Gomez transporting th puck up ice. Gionta is more of a blueline in kind of player and I wonder if his production would be effected if he was asked to do more without a center like Gomez.

Gionta was carrying the team in the beginning of the season while Gomez was dogging it. Gio can survive without Gomer.

Call me paranoid when it comes to Brooks. I'm sure he don't lose sleep over it, but I believe he would like nothing more then Elias not to sign with the Devils or Gomez to re-sign. It might just be me, but I always sense a bit of animosity when he refers to the Devils in any of his articles.

I'm sure he dislikes the Devils, but I'm also sure that he's not as unprofessional as you make him out to sound.

I read almost every article, and while isn't the best guy out there, he's actually a decent writer. He does show a bias when he writes on occasion, but this definately isn't an article in which he does.

He blasts the Devils and the Rangers quite often, but you don't hear Rangers fans getting so up in arms over the guy. I think you guys just need to realize the guy is a hack and take it with a grain of salt.

It's funny with Larry though... When he writes a good article, it's usuallY REALLY good. This one was actually fairly well written and had a good point. I was kind of impressed with it, to be honest!!

Gionta was carrying the team in the beginning of the season while Gomez was dogging it. Gio can survive without Gomer.

Who would you like to see replace Gomer if he's let go?

Who would you like to see replace Gomer if he's let go?

I dunno, I don't want to let Gomez go, but I'm just saying Gionta's success isn't contingent on having Gomez on his line.

No UFA could really replace Gomez, but I guess Weight? I really don't know.

If we were forced to trade Gomez, though, a base deal I would consider would be:
Gomez+Matvichuk for Leopold+Langkow.

brooks always has a hard on for the devils. they fired him from their PR staff way back when. he praises them only within the context of bashing the putrid rangers (before this season).

as for this article, he's not wrong that richards contract causes problems for the devils.

But can't Hep. flair up at any time?

I'm not sure, but if it's true he definately does have "health issues".
No, he doesn't have "health issues". Once you've had hepatitis A you can't get it again.

No, he doesn't have "health issues". Once you've had hepatitis A you can't get it again.

Ah, well I was just asking the question. I wasn't sure if symptoms could flair back up. I know my father has Hep. B or C and it can flair up at any time.

Who would you like to see replace Gomer if he's let go?

there is no real conceivable replacement for gomez should he leave. that doesn't mean that 1st line centers aren't available, but the devils would more likely have to alter their offensive approach than having a guy like gomer carry the play from end to end. right now, the devils have one above average offensive center (gomez), who is great. they could have two or three pretty good ones if they made the right moves and a guy like zajac pans out.

as i see it, the goal would actually be to make madden-pando the 4th line, not the 3rd (like it was circa 2000). that way the devils could truly roll 4 lines instead of having the 3-5 minute energy/grind line.

I dunno, I don't want to let Gomez go, but I'm just saying Gionta's success isn't contingent on having Gomez on his line.

No UFA could really replace Gomez, but I guess Weight? I really don't know.

If we were forced to trade Gomez, though, a base deal I would consider would be:
Gomez+Matvichuk for Leopold+Langkow.

You could probably get a pick back in that trade as well (2nd or so) or a decent prospect. I think that Gomez has quite a bit more value over both Leopold and Langkow.

Elias is a fine player, but he does have health issues. Will it reoccur at any time?
What health issues would those be?

Ah, well I was just asking the question. I wasn't sure if symptoms could flair back up. I know my father has Hep. B or C and it can flair up at any time.
I'm not a doctor or anything but I heard it was the type of thing that once you get past it you're pretty much fine. I think Stan Fischler had it and he said something to that effect.

there is no real conceivable replacement for gomez should he leave. that doesn't mean that 1st line centers aren't available, but the devils would more likely have to alter their offensive approach than having a guy like gomer carry the play from end to end. right now, the devils have one above average offensive center (gomez), who is great. they could have two or three pretty good ones if they made the right moves and a guy like zajac pans out.

as i see it, the goal would actually be to make madden-pando the 4th line, not the 3rd (like it was circa 2000). that way the devils could truly roll 4 lines instead of having the 3-5 minute energy/grind line.
I agree with this assessment. I don't see many players rush the puck up the ice like Gomez, and the players that can are understandably, unavailable. It would be better to take a different approach, than try to do the same offensive scheme with the wrong personel.

When I read the article, it came across as Uncle Larry praising the accomplishments of two Devils players and bashing the Tampa Bay Lightning for setting a market that could in turn put the team in a situation where they might not be able to retain these guys.

Suddenly, Scott Gomez's salary arbitration comparable is $7.8 million
I stopped reading after I saw that.

The reasn he keeps writing this crap is because you guys keep reading it and reacting to it like you do.

Rangers fans don't post some huge post about every negative article against our team -- and believe me, there are tons.

:clap:

Good for you guys Jon!

And yeah I agree, the first thing Brooks does Sunday morning is run to the computer and check out what we here have to say about his articles snickering the whole time "I got to them again!!"

:biglaugh:

The reasn he keeps writing this crap is because you guys keep reading it and reacting to it like you do.

Rangers fans don't post some huge post about every negative article against our team -- and believe me, there are tons.

Brooks is a hack. Sometimes he gets stuff right and he definately DOES have some connections, but the fact remains that he's a hack and he writes whatever gets reaction from readers. Obviously he's succeeding, though, no?

This is true, maybe they all get posted, cause they're the only articles.

With the Rangers, you can still find a yeah-we're-in-an-0-3-hole, but-it-looks-good puff piece somewhere? ;)

But you're right, every single piece is definitely not a Devils demolition. Richards contract means Elias and Gomez have a chance to earn more money. It was completely logical and should not have been the basis of an article in the first place, but dude's gotta eat!

Ah, well I was just asking the question. I wasn't sure if symptoms could flair back up. I know my father has Hep. B or C and it can flair up at any time.
I did hospice care for a friend who died after living with Hepatitis C for 25-30 years.

I looked up this for my own clarity, as I had confused A and B(thought B was contracted from poor food sanitation.)

Bottom line: No recurring symptoms with A.

http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/Youve-got-what/specific-conditions/hepatitis-abc.htm