Will the EGG line go the way of the A Line?

For a short time while it lasted, the EGG line was a worthy successor to our beloved "A Line" of 5 years ago.

Regardless of players having an off-season or not, now with the current injuries to Elias & Gionta and the pending free-agent status of Gomez, there's perhaps most likely a chance we will never see this unit together again and give them a chance to capture their January through April 2006 magic.

That's the bad news.

(The good news is the devolpment of the PZL line and the emergence of Parise as our best forward with the most heart & passion for the game.)

What will Lou do?

Will he pay Gomez & keep this line together next year? Can we afford it even with the Cap going up? Or will address the issue of our small forwards getting knocked around and surprise us and get us the big, strong, physical #1 Center we haven't had since Jason Arnott?

Any way we can get an Eric Staal, Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, Jason Spezza for nothing? :sarcasm:

I honestly see Gomez and/or Rafalski leaving this team. Parise is a RFA at the end of this season and I'm sure he'll be asking for a healthy raise (don't forget that Janssen, Oduya, Greene and Martin are all RFA's as well and looking for raises). This Devils team will have a big time different look next season.... you heard it here first.

I seem to forget when Parise was leading the Devils in scoring.

For a short time while it lasted, the EGG line was a worthy successor to our beloved "A Line" of 5 years ago.

Regardless of players having an off-season or not, now with the current injuries to Elias & Gionta and the pending free-agent status of Gomez, there's perhaps most likely a chance we will never see this unit together again and give them a chance to capture their January through April 2006 magic.

That's the bad news.

(The good news is the devolpment of the PZL line and the emergence of Parise as our best forward with the most heart & passion for the game.)

What will Lou do?

Will he pay Gomez & keep this line together next year? Can we afford it even with the Cap going up? Or will address the issue of our small forwards getting knocked around and surprise us and get us the big, strong, physical #1 Center we haven't had since Jason Arnott?

Any way we can get an Eric Staal, Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, Jason Spezza for nothing? :sarcasm:
I doubt it, Arnott and Sykora had character issues. I don't really see that with any of the players on the EGG line. Gionta was just overated aftera career year, Gomez overachieved scoring wise and Elias always goes into year long slumps offensivly.

Gomez is a pure playmaker, he needs a forward like Ryder on his line to do his best, a pure sniper. Elias or Gionta, while good scorers are not snipers. Maybe Minard is that guy, seems a whole lot like Ryder.

I honestly see Gomez and/or Rafalski leaving this team. Parise is a RFA at the end of this season and I'm sure he'll be asking for a healthy raise (don't forget that Janssen, Oduya, Greene and Martin are all RFA's as well and looking for raises). This Devils team will have a big time different look next season.... you heard it here first.

No they won't.

With the cap going up it's assured that at least one of Gomez and Rafalski will stay. Parise is the only RFA who will be looking at a significant pay raise, likely up to $2M (maybe a bit more if the deal is long-term). Janssen will get like $50k more, Martin will get a $500k raise at max, same for Oduya. Greene is signed at $850k for next season.

Just because RFAs seek healthy pay raises doesn't mean that they'll get them.

For a short time while it lasted, the EGG line was a worthy successor to our beloved "A Line" of 5 years ago.

Regardless of players having an off-season or not, now with the current injuries to Elias & Gionta and the pending free-agent status of Gomez, there's perhaps most likely a chance we will never see this unit together again and give them a chance to capture their January through April 2006 magic.

More like January through olympic break magic. Parise-Gomez-Gionta/Elias-Brylin-Langenbrunner finished up the season and the playoffs. The EGG line never really had prolonged success.

More like January through olympic break magic. Parise-Gomez-Gionta/Elias-Brylin-Langenbrunner finished up the season and the playoffs. The EGG line never really had prolonged success.

The EGG line always had potential for great things. They would string 15 or so great games together and then go silent for the next 8. The only time I remember them being kept together and remaining successful was the latter part of the 2004 season.

I honestly see Gomez and/or Rafalski leaving this team. Parise is a RFA at the end of this season and I'm sure he'll be asking for a healthy raise (don't forget that Janssen, Oduya, Greene and Martin are all RFA's as well and looking for raises). This Devils team will have a big time different look next season.... you heard it here first.

Rafalski isn't going anywere. Lou will sign him for shure and I think that Brian will be loyal to the organisation that gave him a chance to play in the NHL. He's the only offensive defencemen we have and it's still not enough, so letting him go wouldn't be a smart move... and everybody knows that Lou is one of the smartest GM's in the league.

Martin, Greene, Oduya and Janssen should be verry carefull not to piss off Lou with a stupid offer, because they really don't deserve any increase in they're salary's if you ask me.

Lou has had the same team for about 10 years now and he isn't the kind of guy that goes crazy when free agency comes around. The only player i can remenber that left the club while getting a similar offer from Lou is Scott Niedermayer. The rest either retired or left for more $$$ (like Holik) and we all know that are GM won't jeopardise our team by offering stupid contracts.

I'm confident that Lou will make the right decisions when the time is gonna come to resign Gomer and Raffi... IN LOU WE TRUST !!!!!

Even if we keep all three players, I hope the EGG line gets broken up. Elias and Gomez are really reminding me of Elias and Sykora when the A-line went stale. Each one spends more time looking for the other than setting up the best play. They are great together 4 on 4, but at 5 on 5, I wouldn't be sad if they never played together again.

Gomez needs to play with a pure sniper, like Mogilny in his prime, Gagne, Cheechoo, etc. Despite years of trying to force him into the role, Elias is NOT a sniper. He always looks to pass first, and is at his best when playing with goal scorers. His big advantage over Gomez is that when the pass isn't there, he can also score the goals himself (though this year, he has been snakebitten or struggled, however you want to put it). But playing him with Gomez just results in too many passes back and forth before one of them (usually Elias) takes a predictable shot.

I don't know what the solution is though, with the team as currently constituted. I don't want to break up Parise and Zajac, but if you don't break them up, it pretty much forces Elias and Gomez to stay together. For this reason, if the Devils lose early in the playoffs this year, I would prefer them to let Gomez go and get Drury, who is a better goal scorer but worse passer than Gomez. I think that might be the kind of player Elias needs to play with.

Rafalski isn't going anywere. Lou will sign him for shure and I think that Brian will be loyal to the organisation that gave him a chance to play in the NHL. He's the only offensive defencemen we have and it's still not enough, so letting him go wouldn't be a smart move... and everybody knows that Lou is one of the smartest GM's in the league.

Martin, Greene, Oduya and Janssen should be verry carefull not to piss off Lou with a stupid offer, because they really don't deserve any increase in they're salary's if you ask me.

Lou has had the same team for about 10 years now and he isn't the kind of guy that goes crazy when free agency comes around. The only player i can remenber that left the club while getting a similar offer from Lou is Scott Niedermayer. The rest either retired or left for more $$$ (like Holik) and we all know that are GM won't jeopardise our team by offering stupid contracts.

I'm confident that Lou will make the right decisions when the time is gonna come to resign Gomer and Raffi... IN LOU WE TRUST !!!!!

Janssen deserves a raise!

Considering we're a small team thats get pushed around, he's our ONLY physical presence out there.

Players have been taking runs at Brodeur since the end of the lockout and we do nothing to retaliate. I always liked Janssen, but he gained points with me after Avery ran Brodeur and he was yapping at Lundqvist from the bench.

If he can be smart with his hitting, which for all but once he was, perhaps Lou can create another real & authentic Crash Line.

I seem to forget when Parise was leading the Devils in scoring.

Weren't you one of the ones who said that being a great forward was more than "just scoring"? :sarcasm:

Janssen deserves a raise!

Considering we're a small team thats get pushed around, he's our ONLY physical presence out there.

Players have been taking runs at Brodeur since the end of the lockout and we do nothing to retaliate. I always liked Janssen, but he gained points with me after Avery ran Brodeur and he was yapping at Lundqvist from the bench.

If he can be smart with his hitting, which for all but once he was, perhaps Lou can create another real & authentic Crash Line.

There's no way in hell that Janssen will get a increase in his salary. Shure he's tough and he's our inforcer but he has no leverage once the dealing begins. The guy plays a total of 3 minutes a game.

Just imagine he plays the entire season (82 games) with the same average of 3 minutes/game, that comes up to 246 minutes for the whole year. If Lou offers Janssen 500 000$, that would give him a salary of 2 032.52$/minute !!!!!!!

Can't get a better contract then that ;)

There's no way in hell that Janssen will get a increase in his salary. Shure he's tough and he's our inforcer but he has no leverage once the dealing begins. The guy plays a total of 3 minutes a game.

Just imagine he plays the entire season (82 games) with the same average of 3 minutes/game, that comes up to 246 minutes for the whole year. If Lou offers Janssen 500 000$, that would give him a salary of 2 032.52$/minute !!!!!!!

Can't get a better contract then that ;)
I think (emphasis on think) that the league minimum salary is going up to $500,000 next year, which means that Janssen will have to get a raise. I thought I read that somewhere, but my brain could be making that up.

I think (emphasis on think) that the league minimum salary is going up to $500,000 next year, which means that Janssen will have to get a raise. I thought I read that somewhere, but my brain could be making that up.

Players making below a certain amount (not exactly sure what it is, somewhere in the $1-$2M range) have to receive a 10% pay increase on their offers, so Janssen would be receiving a raise anyway.

Players making below a certain amount (not exactly sure what it is, somewhere in the $1-$2M range) have to receive a 10% pay increase on their offers, so Janssen would be receiving a raise anyway.
You're right, but that only counts for RFAs...I know you knew this, but I'm just pointing this out to other people. This is why we can sign someone like Rasmussen and Clemmensen at 450K year after year.

Edit: What scares me about losing Gomez is that Gionta and Elias have absolutely zero chemistry together. I hope Zajac bulks up next year to become a bit more of a physical presence so we can swap the RWs and put Elias with Langenbrunner again.

Weren't you one of the ones who said that being a great forward was more than "just scoring"? :sarcasm:

No I wasn't, and if you want to take the time to look it up, go ahead. Although that is certainly true, it's not in Parise's case. Parise is one of our best forwards, but I can't believe people think that we are better off now with him than we would be with out Elias, or Gomez, or Gionta, or Madden for that fact. He certainly looks like he'll take Elias' place as our #1 scoring threat, but he certainly isn't in the role now. Just wait till he starts struggling, you'll heard "Trade him for a 2nd round pick".

Rafalski isn't going anywere. Lou will sign him for shure and I think that Brian will be loyal to the organisation that gave him a chance to play in the NHL. He's the only offensive defencemen we have and it's still not enough, so letting him go wouldn't be a smart move... and everybody knows that Lou is one of the smartest GM's in the league.

Martin, Greene, Oduya and Janssen should be verry carefull not to piss off Lou with a stupid offer, because they really don't deserve any increase in they're salary's if you ask me.

Lou has had the same team for about 10 years now and he isn't the kind of guy that goes crazy when free agency comes around. The only player i can remenber that left the club while getting a similar offer from Lou is Scott Niedermayer. The rest either retired or left for more $$$ (like Holik) and we all know that our GM won't jeopardize our team by offering stupid contracts.

I'm confident that Lou will make the right decisions when the time is gonna come to resign Gomer and Raffi... IN LOU WE TRUST !!!!!

Make note of the highlighted italicized portion of the quote, I also did you the courtesy of correcting your grammatical errors :teach:

Anyhow..I agree with how intelligent and cunning Lou is but part of the reason we were pressed against the cap ceiling was because of those three rather lucrative, and yet useless contracts of Mogily, McGillis, and Malakhov (sic?)...so I wouldn't go so far as to say that he won't offer stupid contracts because whether or not anyone knew it those ended up being embarrassingly stupid.

I've said it once, and I'll say is again, I'd rather let Gomez go and go for another type of forward to replace him. I'd rather bring up a young guy (Bergfors), and dump salary on older guys to accommodate a "big fish" so to speak that actually earns his 5 million a year (which I still feel Gomez has not at all).

One thing that can be said is, Lou won't spend more than he feels Gomez is worth and after this season he's not worth what he's currently making IMO.

I want SMYTH

There's no way in hell that Janssen will get a increase in his salary. Shure he's tough and he's our inforcer but he has no leverage once the dealing begins. The guy plays a total of 3 minutes a game.

Just imagine he plays the entire season (82 games) with the same average of 3 minutes/game, that comes up to 246 minutes for the whole year. If Lou offers Janssen 500 000$, that would give him a salary of 2 032.52$/minute !!!!!!!

Can't get a better contract then that ;)

Yeah, I know, I'm exxagerating just a bit. :sarcasm:

Hey, I like the guy.

part of the reason we were pressed against the cap ceiling was because of those three rather lucrative, and yet useless contracts of Mogily, McGillis, and Malakhov

Blame Scott Niedermayer for that situation. :sarcasm:

damn the man!

I want SMYTH

I agree. If we lose Gomez, I would like to see a guy like Smyth fill his spot. That first line needs some toughness, and there's not too much intimidating about the EGG line (apart from their scoring potential).

Smyth would change the dynamics of the line. But, he likes to plant himself in front of the net which leaves the question: what would Gionta do?

Make note of the highlighted italicized portion of the quote, I also did you the courtesy of correcting your grammatical errors :teach:

Anyhow..I agree with how intelligent and cunning Lou is but part of the reason we were pressed against the cap ceiling was because of those three rather lucrative, and yet useless contracts of Mogily, McGillis, and Malakhov (sic?)...so I wouldn't go so far as to say that he won't offer stupid contracts because whether or not anyone knew it those ended up being embarrassingly stupid.

I've said it once, and I'll say is again, I'd rather let Gomez go and go for another type of forward to replace him. I'd rather bring up a young guy (Bergfors), and dump salary on older guys to accommodate a "big fish" so to speak that actually earns his 5 million a year (which I still feel Gomez has not at all).

One thing that can be said is, Lou won't spend more than he feels Gomez is worth and after this season he's not worth what he's currently making IMO.

I want SMYTH


Being french Canadian, it's just normal that my spelling isn't as good as yours. Do you know how to write... en français ??? :teach:

And your Gomez analyses is complete bull crap. The guy is a P L A Y M A K E R and playmakers are only as good as they're linemates. Gionta had a career year last year and what do you know.... Gomez had his best season also !!!Elias and Gionta aren't having that great of year stat wise and what do you know..... Gomez isn't either !!!

No one on are team deserves his full salary this year, with the exception of Marty of course, so is that a reason to give up on certain players (Elias, Gionta, Gomez, Langenbrunner) like a couple of people have suggested ??? Gomez is the life of our top line, he carry's the puck like no other, he has amazing vision and controls the pace of the game when he's on the ice.

Do you really think that Smyth would fit with Elias and Gionta more then Gomez would ???

C'mon silentisolation666 :shakehead

The guy is a P L A Y M A K E R and playmakers are only as good as they're linemates.

You know, I still can't for the life of me believe that people still don't know this.

Put Gomez in Ottawa or Atlanta on a line with Heatley or Hossa and he becomes a 100 point center & they become 60 goal scorers.

I'd hate to so Gomez go, but I really wish Lou will get us that sniper that he really, really, really needs.

One more early-round playoff loss and that might just happen :sarcasm:

I honestly see Gomez and/or Rafalski leaving this team. Parise is a RFA at the end of this season and I'm sure he'll be asking for a healthy raise (don't forget that Janssen, Oduya, Greene and Martin are all RFA's as well and looking for raises). This Devils team will have a big time different look next season.... you heard it here first.

Yeah different look, but it wont necesarily be bad.

You know, I still can't for the life of me believe that people still don't know this.

Put Gomez in Ottawa or Atlanta on a line with Heatley or Hossa and he becomes a 100 point center & they become 60 goal scorers.

I'd hate to so Gomez go, but I really wish Lou will get us that sniper that he really, really, really needs.

One more early-round playoff loss and that might just happen :sarcasm:

Gomez could easily replace Spezza in Ottawa if needed.

Does Tanguay make the same or more than Gomez?

Being french Canadian, it's just normal that my spelling isn't as good as yours. Do you know how to write... en français ??? :teach:

And your Gomez analyses is complete bull crap. The guy is a P L A Y M A K E R and playmakers are only as good as they're linemates. Gionta had a career year last year and what do you know.... Gomez had his best season also !!!Elias and Gionta aren't having that great of year stat wise and what do you know..... Gomez isn't either !!!

No one on are team deserves his full salary this year, with the exception of Marty of course, so is that a reason to give up on certain players (Elias, Gionta, Gomez, Langenbrunner) like a couple of people have suggested ??? Gomez is the life of our top line, he carry's the puck like no other, he has amazing vision and controls the pace of the game when he's on the ice.

Do you really think that Smyth would fit with Elias and Gionta more then Gomez would ???

C'mon silentisolation666 :shakehead



you hit the nail on the head about Gomez. There so many Gomez haters out there because he doesnt score 30 goals a year. Hes never been a goal scorer and never will be. Like you said he is only as good as his linemates!..... GOMEZ IS GOING NO WHERE!

The EGG line will never be the A line. the PLZ line has a better chance at that! our #1 line is the PLZ line. I absolutely love Parise and Zajac playing together what a great pair!

You know, I still can't for the life of me believe that people still don't know this.

Put Gomez in Ottawa or Atlanta on a line with Heatley or Hossa and he becomes a 100 point center & they become 60 goal scorers.

I'd hate to so Gomez go, but I really wish Lou will get us that sniper that he really, really, really needs.

One more early-round playoff loss and that might just happen :sarcasm:

100 point center? I think thats a bit of a reach. I can see Gomez peaking at 90 someday, but I doubt he'll ever be a 100 point center regardless of his linemates.

100 point center? I think thats a bit of a reach. I can see Gomez peaking at 90 someday, but I doubt he'll ever be a 100 point center regardless of his linemates.

He's broken the 50+ assist mark 3 times in his career and and he only played with a true sniper (Mogilny) for a season and a half during his rookie season.

He can be a 25 goal/75 assist player, kind of like what Savard is doing this season.

He's broken the 50+ assist mark 3 times in his career and and he only played with a true sniper (Mogilny) for a season and a half during his rookie season.

He can be a 25 goal/75 assist player, kind of like what Savard is doing this season.

Yup. That's the last true sniper we had on this team, with the exception of Gionta who is probably a career 35 goal man. Nothing to balk at though.

Hopefully Minard gets a shot with the big club next year.

I honestly hope we can get Gomez back i love the way he brings the puck up during the rush he just breaks down defenses in the open ice and creates chances for this team. Even though his stats are down this year i still would take him back and i pray that no team offers him a really high contract b/c then he's almost guaranteed to leave but i hope he stays.

Being french Canadian, it's just normal that my spelling isn't as good as yours. Do you know how to write... en français ??? :teach:

And your Gomez analyses is complete bull crap. The guy is a P L A Y M A K E R and playmakers are only as good as they're linemates. Gionta had a career year last year and what do you know.... Gomez had his best season also !!!Elias and Gionta aren't having that great of year stat wise and what do you know..... Gomez isn't either !!!

No one on are team deserves his full salary this year, with the exception of Marty of course, so is that a reason to give up on certain players (Elias, Gionta, Gomez, Langenbrunner) like a couple of people have suggested ??? Gomez is the life of our top line, he carry's the puck like no other, he has amazing vision and controls the pace of the game when he's on the ice.

Do you really think that Smyth would fit with Elias and Gionta more then Gomez would ???

C'mon silentisolation666 :shakehead

Hmm...well understandable with the french I didn't look, or think of that.

But regardless all I really did was address your statement about Lou, and I never ever once said that I wanted Smyth with Elias and Gionta, all I said was that I wanted Smyth.

Gomez is supposed to be a P L A Y M A K E R, but playmakers are supposed to make plays, and he doesn't always do so. I don't care if he carries the puck from behind the net to the blue-line and dumps it in, thats not even half the battle.

He had a career year last year because he shot the ****ing puck, plain and simple. There was always all that talk about "Gomez has been working on his shot in practice" and for a while it was looking great. Then the off-season comes, he gets more money and he becomes complacent.

I'd rather take Ryan Smyth over Gomez because you know Smyth will have to get both of his legs broken for him to not come out and give you 120% every single night. I don't feel that way about Gomez, your whole "linemate" theory or not. I watch every game, and I see complacency, and quite frankly what's to say its not frustration for not getting the 6 million or whatever he was looking for?:sarcasm:

Hmm...well understandable with the french I didn't look, or think of that.

But regardless all I really did was address your statement about Lou, and I never ever once said that I wanted Smyth with Elias and Gionta, all I said was that I wanted Smyth.

Gomez is supposed to be a P L A Y M A K E R, but playmakers are supposed to make plays, and he doesn't always do so. I don't care if he carries the puck from behind the net to the blue-line and dumps it in, thats not even half the battle.

He had a career year last year because he shot the ****ing puck, plain and simple. There was always all that talk about "Gomez has been working on his shot in practice" and for a while it was looking great. Then the off-season comes, he gets more money and he becomes complacent.

I'd rather take Ryan Smyth over Gomez because you know Smyth will have to get both of his legs broken for him to not come out and give you 120% every single night. I don't feel that way about Gomez, your whole "linemate" theory or not. I watch every game, and I see complacency, and quite frankly what's to say its not frustration for not getting the 6 million or whatever he was looking for?:sarcasm:

We get rid of Gomez, and we have NOBODY who can rush the puck through the neutral zone with regularity. When teams shut us down , we needs at least 1 guy who can do that.

Gomez brings something to this team that we don't have. Elite speed

Yeah and apparently greed too. Something we haven't often experienced. Unless he plays better he's never going to get the money he thinks hes worth from us. That's something that needs to be faced.

What's up with all the bashing anyways ?!?!?!?!?

Would you still be going crazy about Gomez if we'd be on a 4 game winning streak and he'd still put up the same kind of stats he's having up until now ???

We're in a slump, but that doesn't mean we got to ***** about everything and anything ;)