'05-'06 Devils awards

MVP - Brian Gionta: No midseason turnaround would have been possible without his monsterous efforts.

Runners up: Brodeur, Rafalski

Best Defenseman - Brian Rafalski: Shouldered a large load of minutes and ultimately proved to be worth every penny of his contract.

Runners up: White, Martin

Best Forward - Scott Gomez: Cemented himself as an elite 1st line center and proved that he can score to go along with his playmaking.

Runner Up - Patrik Elias: His heroic return from a frightening illness galvanized the team, and spurred them to their amazing 2nd half comeback.

Goal of the year Jamie Langenbrunner: With the score tied at 3, Jamie Langenbrunner carried the puck into Montreal's zone on a 3 v 1 odd man break. Instead of passing, he elected to shoot. Playing the sniper, he calmly leaned over and placed the puck in the upper corner of the net, over the shoulder of until-then red hot Christobal Huet. This goal clinched one of the most unlikely comebacks in Atlantic division history.

Runner up - Brian Gionta: In the first game since the lockout, with the whole hockey community gawking at Sydney Crosby, Gionta gave a hint of the season he was going to have when he skated in on Pittsburghs goalie. His first shot was saved by Pittsburgh goalie Jocelyn Thibault, and the rebound went seemingly harmless behind Gionta. But Gionta wanted one more crack, so he left his skates, contorted his body backwards, got his stick on the puck, and fired a low shot through Thibault's pads.

Assist of the year - Patrik Elias: In the first nationally televised playoff game since the stanly cup finals 2 years earlier, NBC broadcast the Devils - Rangers tilt, no doubt hoping the Rangers would deliver a spanking. Unfortunatly for them, the Devils handled the Rangers with relative ease in a boring penalty filled game. But in the 3rd period, Patrik Elias took it from bad to embarrasing when he used the back of his skate blade to kick a puck onto the stick blade of Jamie Langenbrunner. Jamie made no mistake, firing the puck past a hapless Henriq Lundqvist. Even John Davidson was gushing.

Runner up - Scott Gomez: Dec 27th 2006, Scott Gomez stood behind his own net on the powerplay. The Devils were up 4-2, but in this "new" NHL, that was no longer secure; especially with Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin licking his chops from the opposing bench. Gomez surveyed the scene, and did what has become almost routine for him. He calmly skated out from behind the net, and waxed the first forechecker. The remaining 3 Caps took a defensive posture in the neutral zone, but Gomez would prove far too fast and skilled, he weaved his way through their defense, and skated down the left wing on goalie Olaf Kolzig uncontested. Gomez drove the near post, forcing Kolzig out of position, and dragged the puck back for a streaking Brian Gionta to fire into the wide open net. Game over.

Ugh, I miss Devils hockey. I would agree with you on most of your nominations. That game in Montreal was the best ever.

It's so tough to make choices when there were really two seasons. I wouldn't dump on any of your choices.

Down the stretch, no one was more valuable than Elias. He kept tying up games during that run to the division title (including in that game against Montreal). Talk about a go-to guy.

As for Gionta as runnerup for goal of the year, I remember Parise's a lot more personally. I didn't even remember G scored in that first game, but Zach and the Zach-is-better chant stuck in my memory.

Gotta give all the credit in the world to Gomez for becoming more than a one-trick player. I was really impressed this year. Gomer was a guy I always wanted to love, but didn't really, despite his immense passing talent. This year I loved him for becoming a complete package ... and the best kind of Devil.

The Montrael game couldnt have definately been a season making game if we went deeper in the playoffs / won it all. Down 3-0 late second period and came back to win 4-3 is pretty impressive against a decent Montreal team. Our first goal didnt even make me flinch and I almost turn the game off. Then our second goal I began thinking we have a chance 1 more goal and we are tied. The third goal I was going crazy and was saying we won it and the fourth goal i almost had a heart attack - Would have been a classic game if it was in the playoffs

I think the award for most improved HAS to go to Gomez. Gaining a killer shot this season has made him a humungous asset and threat as well as a complete player.

We NEED to lock Gomez up because like Elias he makes those he plays around MUCH better.

I think the award for most improved HAS to go to Gomez. Gaining a killer shot this season has made him a humungous asset and threat as well as a complete player.
Agreed. Gomez improved an amazing amount this year. He became such a hard player to defend against - he always had the ability to skate the puck up ice and go around defenders, but now that his shooting is almost as good as his passing when he's on his game he's really tough to play against.

As for Gionta as runnerup for goal of the year, I remember Parise's a lot more personally. I didn't even remember G scored in that first game, but Zach and the Zach-is-better chant stuck in my memory.Holy cow, you don't remember Gionta's goal? It it gave the Devils a 3-0 lead at the 16:28 mark of the second period.

What Blackjack didn't mention is that Gionta stole the puck away from one of the Penguins just outside of the Devils offensive-zone.

Here is a video of it courtesy of njdevils.info (http://njdevils.info), Gionta's athletic goal (http://njdevils.info/media/viewer.php?medium=Videos&cy=2005&cid=032&hsp=1).

I will say that Langenbrunner's goal had greater importance. It was almost as magical as John MacLean's OT goal against Chicago in 1988 that put the Devils in the playoffs for the first time. But Gionta's goal is hard to beat when taking any goal out of the context of the game. What I mean is remove a goal from the score or what impact it has in the game or standings.

Here are the NHL highlights of the Devils-Canadiens game (http://www.nhl.com/video/app?page=GameHighlights&service=page&gid=1227&gtid=2&media=/20052006/02/1227/IH_NHL_2005_2006_1227_2_300K_continuous.wmv.com).

I would have to go with Brian Gionta as the Best Forward. He led the team with 48 Goals and 89 Points. He led the team in power-play goals and saw a lot of time on the PK.

I agree with David Puddy. While Gomez is clearly the most improved forward and crucial to NJ's turnaround this season, who else scored all those goals but Brian Gionta? Hell, Gionta even surpassed Pat Verbeek's single season record for goals. That alone should make Gionta the best Devils' forward.

I'd like to go off the board with the MVP pick. I'd give it to Patrik Elias. His return led to the Devils' waking up with a monster winning streak and he was instrumental in the Devils' comeback to take the Atlantic Division. I don't want to think about how the Devils would have done without Elias for the whole season instead of the half he was actually out for.

I would have to go with Brian Gionta as the Best Forward. He led the team with 48 Goals and 89 Points. He led the team in power-play goals and saw a lot of time on the PK.

I agree, Gionta was the best forward, I was just trying to spread the love since I had already given him MVP.

Also, I was kind of hoping that other would post their own lists, not critique mine :help: :)

I agree, Gionta was the best forward, I was just trying to spread the love since I had already given him MVP.

Also, I was kind of hoping that other would post their own lists, not critique mine :help: :)
I can't say I'd change anything - I think you made a damn good list. I might put Elias as MVP or runner up, but that's about it.

I can't say I'd change anything - I think you made a damn good list. I might put Elias as MVP or runner up, but that's about it.

I didn't want to give him MVP because he only played 38 games, no doubt he was our MVP for the second half of the season though.