What is wrong with Gomez?

How do you go from having an all star year one year to an awful year this year? Nothing happened to him.

He needs to start using his shot instead of passing every time. The goalies know now that he will not shoot the puck. He is so predictable.

Back to his old ways of never shooting.

Lack of heart, motivation?
I'd rather him not shoot, it goes wide 90% of the time.

I miss the boring Devils.

Gomez looks like he really does not want to be there anymore.

Lack of confidence maybe?

I swear, this team needs a ****ing shooter tutor. They need to practice their shots alot more, cuz I've seen kids in my roller hockey league put it on net more than some of these millionares can.

Also, NHL level players should never shoot wide on breakaways. NEVER! (Ex: John Madden).

How he is making 5 million is beyond me, he's playing worse than Nik Antropov.

Every team's picked up on his end-to-end rushes and I think he's realized it too. When he does take a shot it's usually a perimeter slap shot or a weak, WEAK wrister.

What's wrong with him is he's overpaid by at least $2 million because of a fluke 33 goal season that he'll never come close to reproducing.

Every team's picked up on his end-to-end rushes and I think he's realized it too. When he does take a shot it's usually a perimeter slap shot or a weak, WEAK wrister.
I don't know if anything is wrong with him so much as he's just not been able to find his place. Without Elias and Gionta he's a disher with no finishers and, for whatever reason, he's stopped shooting.

He's still our most important puck-mover.

I don't know if anything is wrong with him so much as he's just not been able to find his place. Without Elias and Gionta he's a disher with no finishers and, for whatever reason, he's stopped shooting.

He's still our most important puck-mover.

I think he's replaceable, I'd like a cheaper option at C and have Zajac and a guy like Comrie (2.5 mill a season) line up at center, get a puck moving defensman with a laser from the point (4-5 million) and yeah, that's about it. Except, well.........I never get what I want.

I think he's replaceable, I'd like a cheaper option at C and have Zajac and a guy like Comrie (2.5 mill a season) line up at center, get a puck moving defensman with a laser from the point (4-5 million) and yeah, that's about it. Except, well.........I never get what I want.
I actually agree that he is replaceable, but I rather build from within. I'm not going to break the bank to keep him, though.

But I don't want Comrie, I've never liked him.

Edit: My dream? Sign Joe Sakic. :D

He went on an end to end rush one time last year and it worked.
Now all he does is try the same exact play .
You need to catch the other team off guard. Mix it up.

The Devils need more practices to work on their power play and shooting accuracy.

I don't know if anything is wrong with him so much as he's just not been able to find his place. Without Elias and Gionta he's a disher with no finishers and, for whatever reason, he's stopped shooting.

He's still our most important puck-mover.
Even when the EGG line was intact just a month ago they were still under-producing, especially when you compare their numbers to PZL's.

Even when the EGG line was intact just a month ago they were still under-producing, especially when you compare their numbers to PZL's.
No, I agree with that. Elias and Gomez have always had a very fickle chemistry. It either works and they score in bunches or they're completely impotent.

How do you go from having an all star year one year to an awful year this year? Nothing happened to him.

he did suffer a groin injury - and then re-aggravated it by trying to come back too early. very few players that suffer a groin injury are able to play 100% until it completely heals...which likely won't be until next season for Gomer.

I actually agree that he is replaceable, but I rather build from within. I'm not going to break the bank to keep him, though.

But I don't want Comrie, I've never liked him.

Edit: My dream? Sign Joe Sakic. :D

Haha

Elias-Sakic-Gionta oh my!

Sackic is signed to a 1-yr contract for 5.75mil with the Avs... Tempting. But a step in the wrong direction.

You guys are killing Gomez, but most of all he is a playmeker, a setup man. Elias and Gionta are the scorers and they simply have not been putting the puck in the net at the rate they did a year ago. Of course injuries play a small role, but the onus must be placed on those guys as well. The line in general has really just been coasting through the season as Zajacs line has paced the offense.
Gomez is a unique talent and if not with the Devils next year, they should begin to decline any penalties that would give them the man advantage!

Sackic is signed to a 1-yr contract for 5.75mil with the Avs... Tempting. But a step in the wrong direction.

I know it's moot, because Colorado would be stupid to let him go and people would throw a lot to get him, but Sakic at 37-38 is better than Gomez at any point in his career.

I know it's moot, because Colorado would be stupid to let him go and people would throw a lot to get him, but Sakic at 37-38 is better than Gomez at any point in his career.

But Sakic is also one the best players ever.

How come no one considers the system when questioning why a player is performing a certain way?

No one finds it silly that they're paying around $15 million to three offensive players
and then they play a passive game with no forecheck and the "1-4"? They produce very little off the rush, they are always behind the attacking players, therefore they
never get turnovers with numbers, and you expect a player like Gomez to be effective?

He gets the puck in on the rush and plays 1 on 4 with no support. What can you
honest expect? He's not going to pull the "Crosby" play and work his way to a
shooting position, that's not the kind of player he is.

The system is strangling the offensive players. How many times is Elias going to
be playing up near the blueline when the puck is in the offensive zone, because the
pointmen are backing out? And when he does that, how many times is there a crummy rebound or a defensive play that leads to the puck coming out to the high
slot... WHERE HE'D BE HANGING OUT, if he wasn't playing center midfield.

Julien should take Marty out for many dinners in the offseason, because he'd be out
of a job without him, and only because of him will he get a second year.

Replace him and give Bergfors a shot.

How do you go from having an all star year one year to an awful year this year? Nothing happened to him.

He needs to start using his shot instead of passing every time. The goalies know now that he will not shoot the puck. He is so predictable.

first off, i don't think gomez is having a bad year.

but if you want to know why he is not putting up the pts as last year......... it's simple, he is not shooting as much...last year was the first year he starting coming in a shooting the puck from anywhere, he as reverted somewhat to years past where he almost always looks to pass.

my only other complaint with gomez and this is something the devils need to think about when they renegotiate his contract.......I personally think he is not fearless enough, i think he gets slightly intimitated at times and wont get his nose dirty. I watch guys like parise,gio, and langenbrunner and see guys that will take it to the house, gomez plays on the outskirts a bit if u will, granted he mayb be the best stickhandler in the league but i would like to see his game toughen up a bit. he probably never will he has been in the league for about 7 yrs now and i don't think he plays with enought edge to his game. dont get me wrong i like him and hope he re-signs but that is my major complaint about him

I think he's replaceable, I'd like a cheaper option at C and have Zajac and a guy like Comrie (2.5 mill a season) line up at center, get a puck moving defensman with a laser from the point (4-5 million) and yeah, that's about it. Except, well.........I never get what I want.

Gomez is a unique talent, not many in the league can gain the offensive zone like him.

He is not someone that is easily replaced, not saying another center can't bring another element, but I cannot think of but a handful of players that can carry the puck like gomez

What's wrong with him is he's overpaid by at least $2 million because of a fluke 33 goal season that he'll never come close to reproducing.

there are a bunch of teams that will gladly pay him 5-6.5 million next yr.

How he is making 5 million is beyond me, he's playing worse than Nik Antropov.

he is making 5 million because he is our best forward, it's not his fault that he plays with guys who can't finish his passes......... his wingers gio and elias have both had sub par seasons and or been injured

don't you think if he was playing with a premier winger he would average a point a game

without gomez the devils would have no offense at all ie: the past couple games

the truth is he should be on a line with parise and langenbrunner/gio he needs north and south guys on his wing..not elias elias should play with zajac. zajac style of play would force elias to play more basic and he would be more effective

parise/goemr/gionta should be our #1 ...and once in awhile they could switch wingers in a game where they are getting shut down for being too small

As I have said before, I like the guy, but I don't like his $5mil contract. What really upsets me is that with the 3 that are out now, he should be stepping up his game and showing some leadership. He has done neither.

As I have said before, I like the guy, but I don't like his $5mil contract. What really upsets me is that with the 3 that are out now, he should be stepping up his game and showing some leadership. He has done neither.

I couldn't disagree more..Gomez is carrying the puck..he scored in the Carolina game on the road to get things going..he's playing both sides of the ice..but it's tought to rack up points when you have a rookie and Mike Rupp as your wingers..Gomez is stepping up and trying to do everything..

Scotty Gowest.

As in he is going West this offseason.

Unless he takes $5 million or less. But I think teams out West will offer him more money and he would be closer to home.

He is just to lathargic. He is so good at breaking the trap and with puck possesion and his passes are amazing. But he has no heart and does not give 100% every game. In the past few weeks he has become better defensively then what I had observed all season, but I maintain my stance that when he does not have the puck he really is useless.

Does anybody still want to resign Gomez if it means losing Rafalski??

Not me.

Scotty Gowest.

As in he is going West this offseason.

Unless he takes $5 million or less. But I think teams out West will offer him more money and he would be closer to home.

He is just to lathargic. He is so good at breaking the trap and with puck possesion and his passes are amazing. But he has no heart and does not give 100% every game. In the past few weeks he has become better defensively then what I had observed all season, but I maintain my stance that when he does not have the puck he really is useless.

Does anybody still want to resign Gomez if it means losing Rafalski??

Not me.

I do..I'll take them both when the cap goes up to 48 million dollars. You underestimate Gomez value to the team...He's gonna get over 5 million dollar offers from almost every team that wants him...including Lou.

Gomez is not a goal scorer people :teach:

Any Devils fan should know this by now, especially after like the 7 seasons he's played with us. :shakehead

He has never broken the 19 goal plateau, except for last year. And last year's 33 goal high-point was an aberration.

As a matter of fact, I'm beginning to think that last year was a total aberration, making us believe the Devils are better than they really are. Gionta scoring 48 goals? An 8 game winning streak when Elias came back from hepatitis? A mad 11 game winning streak to win the Division in dramatic fashion on the last night of the season, coupled with the 4 game playoff sweep of our historical playoff nemesis?

The entire Elias-Gomez-Gionta played way above their heads last year.

Gomez is only as good as each of his wingers. He's never had a true finisher since a healthy Alex Mogilny back in the the 2000-20001 season. That was a long time ago. And considering he's had to play with a ton of different linemates over the years on a low scoring team, he still has almost 500 points for his career.

He is our best puck moving forward and our only trap breaker, but gets paid a lot in the world of the hard salary cap.

Either get him a true goal scoring winger or let him sign somewhere else where he can make use of his untapped playmaking skills.

I do..I'll take them both when the cap goes up to 48 million dollars. You underestimate Gomez value to the team...He's gonna get over 5 million dollar offers from almost every team that wants him...including Lou.

Again people take what other posters who agree with me and myself put that I do not recognize his value.

I DO SEE HOW IMPORTANT HE IS. GEEZ, HE IS OUR TOP LINE CENTER!!!! Gomez is an above averaged, dynamic center. Tremendous skill. But he does not give 100% and he is not a leader and he is not as well rounded as a hockey player as Rafalski and others. He just insn't.

All I am saying is I feel Rafalski is MORE valueable then Gomez. A right handed shooting defenseman who plays on the top PP and PK unit and ices 30 mins a game.

Gomez is a good player who had a career year last season and probably won't repeat it, at least on the Devils.

And I'm not going to bash Julien or Lou, but they need to look into this goal scoring problem next season. We're close to the worse in the league. I know a lot has to due with the seasons of Elias, Gio and Gomez, but we can't keep going on like this. At least get the team to being a middle of the pack in scoring and tops in defense, like in past seasons.

Gomez is a good player who had a career year last season and probably won't repeat it, at least on the Devils.

And I'm not going to bash Julien or Lou, but they need to look into this goal scoring problem next season. We're close to the worse in the league. I know a lot has to due with the seasons of Elias, Gio and Gomez, but we can't keep going on like this. At least get the team to being a middle of the pack in scoring and tops in defense, like in past seasons.

Elias and Gionta have proven they can put the puck in the net. This is not like 2002 where I was skeptical about the Davils ability to score heading into the playoffs.

This team is about timely and clutch scoring. I have a lot of confidence as a fan that Elias and Gionta will produce this post season. Even if Gionta cannot duplicate last season ever again, he is still a legit 30-35 goal scorer when there are no health issues. Also this season, we have a 2nd line which is really productive and has allowed for Elias-Gomez-Gionta to play together.

At different times this year the 3 of them have battled minor injuries and been listed as day to day.

I do not think any of them played over their heads last season. Gomez goal totals last season was a fluke but Elias and Gionta are natural snipers just in a dry spell. I am not worried about our offense IMO.

I know a lot has to due with the seasons of Elias, Gio and Gomez, but we can't keep going on like this.

But most people here are satisfied with Elias' performance prior to his injury. :sarcasm:

But most people here are satisfied with Elias' performance prior to his injury. :sarcasm:

As they should be.

As they should be.

Case in point

as much as Gomez is killing Devil fans just think how he feels with having such a statisticly lackluster season heading into UFA status.

You know it's eating him up that he isn't anywhere near last years numbers that got him the 5 million.

But most people here are satisfied with Elias' performance prior to his injury. :sarcasm:

The only reason he hasn't gotten more heat this year was because you guys were comfortably in 1st all yr but now that this isn't the case I'm sure he'll be critisized more frequently if he doesn't pick it up.

If he'd signed anywhere else and had the season he's had thus far after getting his big payday he'd be getting killed.

The only reason he hasn't gotten more heat this year was because you guys were comfortably in 1st all yr but now that this isn't the case I'm sure he'll be critisized more frequently if he doesn't pick it up.

If he'd signed anywhere else and had the season he's had thus far after getting his big payday he'd be getting killed.

So..you read the NY POST..well stolen from Larry Brooks. Plagiarism 101.

So..you read the NY POST..well stolen from Larry Brooks.


Yeah, because Larry Brooks is somebody to steal from.

As a matter of fact I don't think Brooks wrote in the post today so *** are you talking about?

Aside from that did you really need ANYBODY to lay out what is going on as far as Elias' season this year?:shakehead

Not really indepth thought required.

Yeah, because Larry Brooks is somebody to steal from.

As a matter of fact I don't think Brooks wrote in the post today so *** are you talking about?

Aside from that did you really need ANYBODY to lay out what is going on as far as Elias' season this year?:shakehead

Not really indepth thought required.

You got caught..it's awesome..he wrote that almost line for line about 2 weeks ago..Too funny..it's almost exact..When trolling, please come up with your own ideas...Thanks.

You got caught..it's awesome..he wrote that almost line for line about 2 weeks ago..Too funny..it's almost exact..When trolling, please come up with your own ideas...Thanks.


Caught with what?

These views have been thrown about there all season by various people as it doesn't take a rocket-scientist to figure out that Patty has been quite off this year so while you may need others to spark a thought like this for you to realize it I assure you that I do not.

Is it a shocker to you to find out that Elias has had a very subpar year?

Or that he signed a huge contract this summer, his big payday?

Or that the Devils have been in 1st all year which has shielded him from even more finger pointing?

Again not rocketscience, at least for most I guess.

Scotty Gowest.

As in he is going West this offseason.

Unless he takes $5 million or less. But I think teams out West will offer him more money and he would be closer to home.

He is just to lathargic. He is so good at breaking the trap and with puck possesion and his passes are amazing. But he has no heart and does not give 100% every game. In the past few weeks he has become better defensively then what I had observed all season, but I maintain my stance that when he does not have the puck he really is useless.

Does anybody still want to resign Gomez if it means losing Rafalski??

Not me.

So now that he's an impending FA he's characterized as lathargic and lazy. I love how fans turn on their players even before they hit the market.

Caught with what?

These views have been thrown about there all season by various people as it doesn't take a rocket-scientist to figure out that Patty has been quite off this year so while you may need others to spark a thought like this for you to realize it I assure you that I do not.

Is it a shocker to you to find out that Elias has had a very subpar year?

Or that he signed a huge contract this summer, his big payday?

Or that the Devils have been in 1st all year which has shielded him from even more finger pointing?

Again not rocketscience, at least for most I guess.

I'll let you off the hook for the blatant plagiarism...but next time you'll have to appear before the Board of Directors where you will be banned permanently..Plagiarism is frowned upon here at HF boards...

You got caught..it's awesome..he wrote that almost line for line about 2 weeks ago..Too funny..it's almost exact..When trolling, please come up with your own ideas...Thanks.

I think he substituted Elias with Gomez, but would you be referring to these Brooks & Everson columns? :sarcasm:

"Just wondering, but who is the impostor that's been wearing No. 26 this season for the Devils, because we know it can't possibly be Patrik Elias?
This No. 26 has committed more defensive and neutral-zone turnovers this season than Elias had in the previous five. This No. 26 has missed the net more often this season than Elias has since he first skated with Petr Sykora.
We know this much: If No. 26 was having this kind of a season In New York after signing the six-year, $42 million deal he'd been offered over the summer by the Rangers, he'd be even more unpopular than Marek Malik."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/sports/future_now_for_dealing_teams_sports_larry_brooks.h tm?page=2

"Scott Gomez, who potted 33 last season, has 10 goals this year and none in 10. Elias is the most obvious struggler, going to a now-forelorn backhand move each time he cuts to the net. He seems staggered by the combined weight of his captaincy and his $42 million, seven-year deal. The "C" appears to separate him slightly from his teammates, although taking the job Scott Stevens held was sure to be no picnic."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03062007/sports/devils/devs_top_line_not_in_synch_devils_mark_everson.htm

I'll let you off the hook for the blatant plagiarism...but next time you'll have to appear before the Board of Directors where you will be banned permanently..Plagiarism is frowned upon here at HF boards...

I guess you really need to learn the difference between stealing somebodies original idea versus stating a universaly accepted FACT that has been talked about both here and elsewhere long before Larry Brooks wrote anything.

Are you seriously trying to tell me that YOU needed Larry Brooks to write something 2 weeks ago to spark this train of thought as far as Elias this year?:sarcasm:

I guess you really need to learn the difference between stealing somebodies original idea versus stating a universaly accepted FACT that has been talked about both here and elsewhere long before Larry Brooks wrote anything.

Are you seriously trying to tell me that YOU needed Larry Brooks to write something 2 weeks ago to spark this train of thought as far as Elias this year?:sarcasm:

No..it anoyed me when he wrote it..so it annoyed me more when you stole it and passed it off line for line as yours...It's ok..just don't do it again or you will have to answer to the Board...I find you amusing, I don't want you to get banned

What do you expect from the guy? In his NHL seasons he scored 13 goals once, 14 goals twice, 19 goals once and 33 goals last year. He's got 11 goals now and will possibly end up with 12 or 13 this year. I'm thinking last season was the exception rather than the rule.

Frankly, Gomez needs someone to dish to who can score on the fly. I honestly think Gionta isn't even the right guy to maximize Gomez's abilities, since Gionta gets a lot of garbage rebound goals and deflections. Gomez really needs a pure shooter on his wing. Right now the closest the Devils have to that is Parise, though Elias comes close (he's a bit more finesse than Parise).

Does anybody still want to resign Gomez if it means losing Rafalski??

I still stand by my opinion that someone with Gomez's abilities are more important to the Devils and harder to find than someone with Rafalski's abilities. Playmaking defenseman are more common than playmaking centermen who have a Devils sense of defensive responsibility.

No..it anoyed me when he wrote it..so it annoyed me more when you stole it and passed it off line for line as yours...It's ok..just don't do it again or you will have to answer to the Board...I find you amusing, I don't want you to get banned


Wow, that answering to the board stuff is pretty funny, especially the 3rd time.:propeller

Again, maybe you read the Brooks article and took it as some sort of original thought but pretty much the rest of the hockey world had been saying it for sometime prior to anything Brooks may have written.

So now that he's an impending FA he's characterized as lathargic and lazy. I love how fans turn on their players even before they hit the market.

If he were signed until 2099 I would call Gomez lathargic and lazy. that is one trait that many Devil fans notice about him. Some feel he is our most valuable commidity though up front. I do not even feel that.

I think he substituted Elias with Gomez, but would you be referring to these Brooks & Everson columns? :sarcasm:

"Just wondering, but who is the impostor that's been wearing No. 26 this season for the Devils, because we know it can't possibly be Patrik Elias?
This No. 26 has committed more defensive and neutral-zone turnovers this season than Elias had in the previous five. This No. 26 has missed the net more often this season than Elias has since he first skated with Petr Sykora.
We know this much: If No. 26 was having this kind of a season In New York after signing the six-year, $42 million deal he'd been offered over the summer by the Rangers, he'd be even more unpopular than Marek Malik."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/sports/future_now_for_dealing_teams_sports_larry_brooks.h tm?page=2

"Scott Gomez, who potted 33 last season, has 10 goals this year and none in 10. Elias is the most obvious struggler, going to a now-forelorn backhand move each time he cuts to the net. He seems staggered by the combined weight of his captaincy and his $42 million, seven-year deal. The "C" appears to separate him slightly from his teammates, although taking the job Scott Stevens held was sure to be no picnic."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03062007/sports/devils/devs_top_line_not_in_synch_devils_mark_everson.htm

exactly..thanks Muttley..especially the part of the Brooks column about signing somewhere else (the Rangers) was "eerily similar" to JR #9's post.."If he signed somewhere else, he'd be getting killed" Too funny..and JR tries to pin it back on me..Nice ripoff..

I still stand by my opinion that someone with Gomez's abilities are more important to the Devils and harder to find than someone with Rafalski's abilities. Playmaking defenseman are more common than playmaking centermen who have a Devils sense of defensive responsibility.

It is not hard to find a point producing forward as it is a solid defenseman. Rafalski is not just a playmaking defenseman. He is on the first PP unit and the first PK unit. He is so good at clearing the puck and getting out of the zone. He ices 30 minutes a game and he is not injury prone. He is also our only legit right handed shooting defenseman and he is worth $4 million a year.

Losing Gomez would impact the Devils. No question about it. But Elias, Gionta, Parise would still produce without him.

as much as Gomez is killing Devil fans just think how he feels with having such a statisticly lackluster season heading into UFA status.

You know it's eating him up that he isn't anywhere near last years numbers that got him the 5 million.

Nonsense. What should be eating him up is the fact that his team is in a tailspin with the playoffs looming, not what level of magnitude he's going to reach on the obscenely wealthy pro athlete scale. I love Gomer and want him on the team, but if he's truly worried about his subpar stats this season costing him $ on his contract, then I will remorselessly bid him adieu next year -- and so will Lou. However, I don't think that this is what's on his mind. Judging from some of his public statements this year about team chemistry I get the feeling that he feels a bit bad about his Dad's shenanigans going into arbitration and the fan backlash it caused and has learned from that experience. I think he stays put.

exactly..thanks Muttley..especially the part of the Brooks column about signing somewhere else (the Rangers) was "eerily similar" to JR #9's post.."If he signed somewhere else, he'd be getting killed" Too funny..and JR tries to pin it back on me..Nice ripoff..


wow, talk about thick!

One of the other Devil posters just posted a thread taking on Elias' lack of production so you better go let him no that he must have ripped it off from Larry Brooks because as you stated Larry is the only guy who came to the conclusion that Elias is underperforming after getting his big payday and he just broke this collasal story just 2 weeks ago!:dunce:

Once again, maybe you need Larry Brooks to state the obvious for you but in case you haven't read these boards at all this year the Elias underperforming topic has been a popular one well before the great Larry Brooks broke the story 2 weeks ago so keep on grasping at straws when trying to show me up because the attempts thus far are comical.:biglaugh:

Nonsense. What should be eating him up is the fact that his team is in a tailspin with the playoffs looming, not what level of magnitude he's going to reach on the obscenely wealthy pro athlete scale. I love Gomer and want him on the team, but if he's truly worried about his subpar stats this season costing him $ on his contract, then I will remorselessly bid him adieu next year -- and so will Lou. However, I don't think that this is what's on his mind. Judging from some of his public statements this year about team chemistry I get the feeling that he feels a bit bad about his Dad's shenanigans going into arbitration and the fan backlash it caused and has learned from that experience. I think he stays put.

Are you naive enough to think that his UFA contract isn't on his mind?

Of course it is as it would be anybodies in the same position.

I love how all these people discount the fact that we're talking about real money here and a real business and if any one of us were in the same spot you bet your a$$ we'd be thinking about our UFA payday as well.

Anybody who says otherwise is either lieing or crazy.

but in case you haven't read these boards at all this year the Elias underperforming topic has been a popular one well before the great Larry Brooks broke the story 2 weeks ago

No, not really.

I was probably the first to mention that Elias was underperforming (and took a lot of heat for it) and I joined this Forum the last week in December. The Post stories were from just last month and they were first, and probably the only, media stories to mention anything about his lack of production.

To say this board was filled with posts complaining about Elias' performance all this year is a complete fabrication. Who was talking about it other than me, and within the last month?

Nice try JR. :sarcasm:

wow, talk about thick!

One of the other Devil posters just posted a thread taking on Elias' lack of production so you better go let him no that he must have ripped it off from Larry Brooks because as you stated Larry is the only guy who came to the conclusion that Elias is underperforming after getting his big payday and he just broke this collasal story just 2 weeks ago!:dunce:

Once again, maybe you need Larry Brooks to state the obvious for you but in case you haven't read these boards at all this year the Elias underperforming topic has been a popular one well before the great Larry Brooks broke the story 2 weeks ago so keep on grasping at straws when trying to show me up because the attempts thus far are comical.:biglaugh:

Lighten up Francis...you can use all the emoticons you want..but when you troll here, we prefer you use your own ideas. It was funny to me that after I read your post, I knew exactly where it had come from..and you know the part of your post I'm talking about....Sorry if I called you out for plagiarizing, but I read Brooks too as do half of the hockey fans in NYC..At least steal it from a little article and not the SlapShots section in the Sunday paper..geez.

Go back to ripping Devils attendance and style of play..your ideas there are also predictable, but at least they are yours.

Are you naive enough to think that his UFA contract isn't on his mind?

Of course it is as it would be anybodies in the same position.

I love how all these people discount the fact that we're talking about real money here and a real business and if any one of us were in the same spot you bet your a$$ we'd be thinking about our UFA payday as well.

Anybody who says otherwise is either lieing or crazy.

His free agent status is probably on his mind, but I can guarantee thats not the issue thats occupying most of his attention. As far as I'm concerned, when Gomez is with the team, he's a great team player. He's also a vital part to the chemistry in the room. If you are suggesting that he will not play at 100% because of his free agent status (who the Rangers are probably going to try and sign), I believe you are extremely mistaken.

Lighten up Francis...you can use all the emoticons you want..but when you troll here, we prefer you use your own ideas. It was funny to me that after I read your post, I knew exactly where it had come from..and you know the part of your post I'm talking about....Sorry if I called you out for plagiarizing, but I read Brooks too as do half of the hockey fans in NYC..At least steal it from a little article and not the SlapShots section in the Sunday paper..geez.

Go back to ripping Devils attendance and style of play..your ideas there are also predictable, but at least they are yours.

Again, maybe you need a article to get a thought but you guys acting like Elias' disappointing play this year was some sort of big secret until that hockey guru Larry Brooks wrote is is laughable and a reflection upon you.

And the simple fact is he wasn't getting as ripped for it because the team was cruising in 1st place all season..do you really need slapshots to point that out for you are are you savvy enough to figure that one out all on your own?

You can say alot of things about my posting but needing to rip off somebody else's material is not one of them.

Especially when it's as clear as Elais play this season thus far and as to why it has for the most part been able to fly under the radar.

As we saw above, Muttley is/was the only Devil fan who noticed his level of play being off this year and it just became to him just over a month ago.:biglaugh:

His free agent status is probably on his mind, but I can guarantee thats not the issue thats occupying most of his attention. As far as I'm concerned, when Gomez is with the team, he's a great team player. He's also a vital part to the chemistry in the room. If you are suggesting that he will not play at 100% because of his free agent status (who the Rangers are probably going to try and sign), I believe you are extremely mistaken.

I'm saying just the opposite..of course he's giving it 100%, he's playing for his big payday and wants to win another Cup.

The other poster was saying that his subpar stats and how it will affect his UFA contract offers are something that wouldn't/shouldn't enter Scotty's mind which is obvious crazy talk.

It is not hard to find a point producing forward as it is a solid defenseman. Rafalski is not just a playmaking defenseman. He is on the first PP unit and the first PK unit. He is so good at clearing the puck and getting out of the zone. He ices 30 minutes a game and he is not injury prone. He is also our only legit right handed shooting defenseman and he is worth $4 million a year.

Losing Gomez would impact the Devils. No question about it. But Elias, Gionta, Parise would still produce without him.


Completely disagree. The Devils don't have anyone with the talents of Gomez to step in and take his place doing what he is best at. He's more than just a fast-skating, pin-point passing, creative center, he's a fast-skating, pin-point passing, creative center who has been raised in, and is committed to, the Devils system. That's a huge part of the plusses he brings this team.

Finding a defenseman who has skill and can play defense? No problem. Finding a talented, offensive center who is commited to defense-first and team-first? Not as easy.

I wonder how Gomers dad feels about his performance. I do recall hearing from somewhere that he told him that he had better start playing like a 5 million dollar hockey player. (IMO he is not)

Again, maybe you need a article to get a thought but you guys acting like Elias' disappointing play this year was some sort of big secret until that hockey guru Larry Brooks wrote is is laughable and a reflection upon you.

And the simple fact is he wasn't getting as ripped for it because the team was cruising in 1st place all season..do you really need slapshots to point that out for you are are you savvy enough to figure that one out all on your own?

You can say alot of things about my posting but needing to rip off somebody else's material is not one of them.

Especially when it's as clear as Elais play this season thus far and as to why it has for the most part been able to fly under the radar.

As we saw above, Muttley is/was the only Devil fan who noticed his level of play being off this year and it just became to him just over a month ago.:biglaugh:

Good try..keep trying to explain it. And JR, stop. You're embarrassing yourself by trying to pass yourself off as a "more knowledgeable fan" than Devils fans about our own team and players. We know, you are obsessed with the Devils and watch every one of our games..much like people who hate Howard Stern listen more often than people who love him..It's ok..deep down there is some sort of utter jealousy of the team across the river..it's ok..keep following us, we'll take all the fans we can get (good or bad)

Hey guys, obviously over from the Oilers board....I just made a thread talking about how Gomez could be the guy the Oilers covet this offseason. I said 5 years/30 mil, and I know that's a huge overpayment but it might be what it would take to get him here. Anyways that's not what I'm asking about. Some on there say that he's awful defensivly. When I've watched your team play this season I've thought he was very solid defensivly.....what's your take? BTW, watching him last night, I think he's playing hurt.....nobody playing for a huge contract would look that out of it if something wasn't up.

Again, maybe you need a article to get a thought but you guys acting like Elias' disappointing play this year was some sort of big secret until that hockey guru Larry Brooks wrote is is laughable and a reflection upon you.

And the simple fact is he wasn't getting as ripped for it because the team was cruising in 1st place all season..do you really need slapshots to point that out for you are are you savvy enough to figure that one out all on your own?

You can say alot of things about my posting but needing to rip off somebody else's material is not one of them.

Especially when it's as clear as Elais play this season thus far and as to why it has for the most part been able to fly under the radar.

As we saw above, Muttley is/was the only Devil fan who noticed his level of play being off this year and it just became to him just over a month ago.:biglaugh:

But you said Devils fans were criticizing Elias' performance on this forum ALL SEASON long.

Which didn't happen...and isn't really happening to a great extent now either. :sarcasm:

Hey guys, obviously over from the Oilers board....I just made a thread talking about how Gomez could be the guy the Oilers covet this offseason. I said 5 years/30 mil, and I know that's a huge overpayment but it might be what it would take to get him here. Anyways that's not what I'm asking about. Some on there say that he's awful defensivly. When I've watched your team play this season I've thought he was very solid defensivly.....what's your take? BTW, watching him last night, I think he's playing hurt.....nobody playing for a huge contract would look that out of it if something wasn't up.

A. Get in line with about half of the NHL
B. He'll get at least 6 million.. not an overpayment

A. Get in line with about half of the NHL
B. He'll get at least 6 million.. not an overpayment

A. I know
B. Good, I didn't think it was to be honest but a lot on both the Oiler board and his hometown Devils board were acting like it was. But, what about defensivly, what's the take? Also something I wanted to ask you guys, if Gomez is gone next year will it be likely that Parise takes over his role? I know Zach's been on the wing but he came up as a centre and has a lot of the same qualities Gomez has.....I more so want to know because I have Parise in my hockey draft and it's a keeper league!

Hey guys, obviously over from the Oilers board....I just made a thread talking about how Gomez could be the guy the Oilers covet this offseason. I said 5 years/30 mil, and I know that's a huge overpayment but it might be what it would take to get him here. Anyways that's not what I'm asking about. Some on there say that he's awful defensivly. When I've watched your team play this season I've thought he was very solid defensivly.....what's your take? BTW, watching him last night, I think he's playing hurt.....nobody playing for a huge contract would look that out of it if something wasn't up.

He's one of the most underrated playmakers in the league and makes going end-to-end look pretty easy. Give him a true NHL-quality sniper (something he's never really had here in NJ) on an offensively-loaded team and he can very well be a 100 point playmaking center.

Hey guys, obviously over from the Oilers board....I just made a thread talking about how Gomez could be the guy the Oilers covet this offseason. I said 5 years/30 mil, and I know that's a huge overpayment but it might be what it would take to get him here. Anyways that's not what I'm asking about. Some on there say that he's awful defensivly. When I've watched your team play this season I've thought he was very solid defensivly.....what's your take? BTW, watching him last night, I think he's playing hurt.....nobody playing for a huge contract would look that out of it if something wasn't up.

He's a Devils player: he's good defensively. If he wasn't, Lou wouldn't have kept him around as long as he has. Now, by other Devils standards he might not be our best defensive forward, but by general NHL standards, he's pretty darn good defensively. He doesn't kill penalties much that I know of, but he certainly spends his share of time covering his opposite center deep in the defensive zone.

He's one of the most underrated playmakers in the league and makes going end-to-end look pretty easy. Give him a true NHL-quality sniper (something he's never really had here in NJ) on an offensively-loaded team and he can very well be a 100 point playmaking center.

I agree completely.

So what some of you are saying is that a guy like Lupul who has the POTENTIAL to be an elite sniper could bring the best out of Gomez and Gomez would bring most of the potential out of Lupul? I'm liking the things I'm hearing, not that I doubted anything any of you were saying, these are the things that I THOUGHT orginally. He would be the 1st line centre we haven't had since Dougie Weight, if he was ever willing to come to Edmonton:cry:

I don't see how anyone can say Gomez's problems are related to not shooting the puck when he had 247 shots on net last year in a full 82 games and 225 in 65 games this year. He just doesn't have a good shot. Last year's season was a fluke, because goaltenders and other teams didn't expect him to shoot the puck as much as he did. He's shot the puck more the last two years than ever.

As far as the whole desire thing, I've been struggling with the rationale of why he would truly be giving less than 100% in a walk year - the answer being he knows enough to know that almost no matter how bad he plays this year he's still going to get paid $5 million plus for a number of years given his history. Plus he's always needed someone with a hard ass to motivate him, whether it's Burns, Lou or his dad.

Completely disagree. The Devils don't have anyone with the talents of Gomez to step in and take his place doing what he is best at. He's more than just a fast-skating, pin-point passing, creative center, he's a fast-skating, pin-point passing, creative center who has been raised in, and is committed to, the Devils system. That's a huge part of the plusses he brings this team.

Finding a defenseman who has skill and can play defense? No problem. Finding a talented, offensive center who is commited to defense-first and team-first? Not as easy.That would be alot easier to do if we still had Neidermeyer. As far as Gomez is concerned the only thing I can thing of is were not getting as many power plays as last year nobody is and the groin injury earlier in the year could be a factor.:shakehead

So what some of you are saying is that a guy like Lupul who has the POTENTIAL to be an elite sniper could bring the best out of Gomez and Gomez would bring most of the potential out of Lupul? I'm liking the things I'm hearing, not that I doubted anything any of you were saying, these are the things that I THOUGHT orginally. He would be the 1st line centre we haven't had since Dougie Weight, if he was ever willing to come to Edmonton:cry:

I personally feel that he doesn't have the type of player playing with him that would take advantage of Gomez's abilities to their highest potential. I said earlier that, while I like Gionta and think he's a goal scorer, he's more of a miniature Tim Kerr type: a guy who has awfully quick hands around the net (I've NEVER seen anyone with the ability to get his stick on rebounds in or just outside the crease like Gionta does). However, Gomez needs a shooter (a John MacLean or Stephane Richer type, to name a couple former Devils) to really maximize his abilities. Gomez'll get that type of guy the puck, threading it through defensement in ways you might not believe are possible. The right type of goal scorer would turn Gomez into a Joe Thornton type of center.

We can't afford to loose Gomez this off-season. He's the backbone of our offense. If Elias and Gionta can't finish Gomez's passes, do you think they'll have a easyer time doing so with anybody else ??? Gomez, Big Joe and Marc Savard are the 3 best playmakers in the NHL and if he resigns elsewere, we'll regret it... MARK MY WORDS !!!!

P.S. I'd like to see Guerin back in the swamp playing with Gomez and Elias while Parise, Zajac and Gionta cover the 2nd unit and Pandolfo, Madden and Langenbrunner can re-unite as our 3rd line and that would leave Rupp, Brylin and Clarkson as our 4th line...

We can't afford to loose Gomez this off-season. He's the backbone of our offense. If Elias and Gionta can't finish Gomez's passes, do you think they'll have a easyer time doing so with anybody else ??? Gomez, Big Joe and Marc Savard are the 3 best playmakers in the NHL and if he resigns elsewere, we'll regret it... MARK MY WORDS !!!!




Haven't you heard Briere and/or Drury is the answer you know with their elite playmaking skills and all. I'm just getting sick from reading how Gomez doesn't want to stay in New Jersey because of his play and how he should have taken abour 3-4 million dollars last year. The way I see it is if you want to say it about Gomez you could easily say it about Elias and even Gionta to an extent. For whatever reason the whole team is slumping I think it's because of Julien because he's new and all the injuries we've had we've had 5 groin injuries + rasmussen and White have had injuries. I think that's all the injuries we've had but that's 7 players + Matvichuk if you want to count him. We also have one more goal than the Flyers this year which is extremely sad.

Gomez is suffering from a lack of motivation.
Maybe he had a great year last year because Lou was on the bench and put some pressure on him to perform.

Get Scotty Stevens to give Gomez a call. I wish Scott Stevens was the head coach.

http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Scott-Stevens---NJ-03-St-Cup---Photofile-Photograph-C10102742.jpeg

No one's still willing to consider the system? I mean, how can you call someone
out on effort and say they're dogging it and not consider the system.

I don't see anyone on the team dogging it 95% of the time. You're going to have
your clunkers.

They play hard for Julien but his system makes them look like dogs. If he was someone they disliked, they would throw him under the bus.

No one is willing to consider they play a similiar game to what an expansion team
would. They've gone from being a dynamic team that used the trap to create tons of odd-man chances and a team that dominated with puck control and would forecheck aggressively when given the opportunity (especially under Robinson) and
would keep the shot clock down for the opponents but not for themselves....

...to what they are now. A team that plays like they're killing a penalty in their own
zone, gives team free "in" after free "in", has to play behind the opposition when
they're on the attack and has a hard time manufacturing odd-man chances unless
someone freelances, and depends on Marty and the PP to steal points and win games.

Have you ever seen a Devils team come back so many times late in games? Why is that? If the gameplan they execute is so good and the players are dogs, why does
that keep happening? To me, that shows that the system isn't too good and the
players are putting out an honest effort. Without their stolen points, they'd be
battling it out at the bottom of the playoff race.

Go and watch the youtube videos of the Rangers series. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO
WHEN THEY PRAISE ELIAS. NOTICE WHERE HE IS ON THE ICE, AND WHAT HE'S DOING.

Then watch a shift of his under Julien and see what he has to do. Patty is a system guy that does what you tell him to do. He has brain farts galore at times,
but the game they play has robbed him of 15-20 goals.

Gomez scored his goals because he wore the garbageman hat alot last year. So
did Gio. How can they do that when they don't forecheck, they don't turn it over
and the concept of 3rd man in is treated like a crime and the pointmen are bailing
out to defend on any 50/50.

Did you guys think Rafalski sucked before too? Then mysterious, someone let the
leash go, he got involved in places on the ice he wasn't going to this year (that he
always went to in the past), and he was suddenly productive.

They are better equipped than they play. They're not the expansion Sharks with
Irbe, but that's how Julien plays it.

all this talk about individuals is ridiculous, a player is only as productive as the system they are in

our forwards are at a huge and i mean huge disadvantage when it comes to offensive production, our one or two forwards that are allowed to forecheck are playing at a disadvantage..........the third forward plays near the blue line and are instructed to start backing out the minute it kind of looks like maybe the devils forechecker may not have control of puck

have you guys noticed where colin white is half the game? playing at center ice while the forwards are forechecking, lots of offense in nhl comes from active defenseman helping out the forwards by pinching or keeping the play alive at the blue line our team does not even come close to playing that way, it's amazing to me that any player even has twenty goals.....coach julien system is destined for failure it's why he was fired from montreal and it's why this is his las season in jersey.

If you have to be the worst offensive team in the league to be a good defensive team it ain't worth it. any team with a hall of fame goaltender that 100% commits to defense in leiu of all offensive forechecking should have the best defense and we dont even have that anymore..............julien system is for the birds and i put this one on lou lams for hiring him, because he wont see newak arena

i have no problems with any of the players on this team for most nights they have worked hard.

Haven't you heard Briere and/or Drury is the answer you know with their elite playmaking skills and all. I'm just getting sick from reading how Gomez doesn't want to stay in New Jersey because of his play and how he should have taken abour 3-4 million dollars last year. The way I see it is if you want to say it about Gomez you could easily say it about Elias and even Gionta to an extent. For whatever reason the whole team is slumping I think it's because of Julien because he's new and all the injuries we've had we've had 5 groin injuries + rasmussen and White have had injuries. I think that's all the injuries we've had but that's 7 players + Matvichuk if you want to count him. We also have one more goal than the Flyers this year which is extremely sad.

If i hear one more person talk about injuries i am going to croak..........up until game 65 we were one of the healthiest teams in the league. The devils were winning lots of overtime and one goal games because of timely scoring towards the end of games and the stellar play of martin broduer, case closed. this is not a system that is designed for offense.

If i hear one more person talk about injuries i am going to croak..........up until game 65 we were one of the healthiest teams in the league. The devils were winning lots of overtime and one goal games because of timely scoring towards the end of games and the stellar play of martin broduer, case closed. this is not a system that is designed for offense.



Our offense is anemic anyway so when you lose 3 players that's not going to help at all.