Gomez awarded $5 million for 2006-07

[supahdon 0]

Anyone else think this career year just before his contract is up is just a little fishy?

A jump from 19 goals to 33 is a little out of whack if you ask me, new rules or not. IMO, I think Gomez is maybe worth $3-4M. $5M for Gomez is something I expect outta the Leafs, not the Devils...

Assistant coach Jacque Laperriere pulled Gomez aside before the season and basically told him that his shot sucked and teams were playing him to pass and begging him to shoot. So the entire year, the duo worked on Gomez's shot during practice and it paid off.

As a guy who watches the Devils 80+ times a year, there is a noticeble improvement. But I think he's improved from bad to average at this point. If somebody plotted out the location of Gomez's goals last year, I'd imagine a good chunk still are from within 10 feet of the net.

[willc7786 0]

Thats what happens when you're a superior passer. Guys back off or go for an fake pass you make. Just ask Weight at the height of his career. It also helps when you've got a speed demon like gionta or a scorer like elias around. Not an avid devils fan so not sure exactly who he played most of the year with

[supahdon 0]

Thats what happens when you're a superior passer. Guys back off or go for an fake pass you make. Just ask Weight at the height of his career. It also helps when you've got a speed demon like gionta or a scorer like elias around. Not an avid devils fan so not sure exactly who he played most of the year with

Yeah, but basically Gomez had a really bad shot so teams didn't really care if he shot. Now at least teams might give him a little more respect which'll open passing lanes on the PP.

Gomez played the year with Gionta on the right side. Brylin played on the LW for spurts early in the season, Elias played on the LW when he came back, and then Parise finished out the year on the LW.

Devils had an umbrella PP setup with 4 forwards [Elias, Gomez, Gionta, Langenbrunner] and 1 D [Rafalski].

[DarkStar50 679]

Assistant coach Jacque Laperriere pulled Gomez aside before the season and basically told him that his shot sucked and teams were playing him to pass and begging him to shoot.  So the entire year, the duo worked on Gomez's shot during practice and it paid off. 

As a guy who watches the Devils 80+ times a year, there is a noticeble improvement.  But I think he's improved from bad to average at this point.  If somebody plotted out the location of Gomez's goals last year, I'd imagine a good chunk still are from within 10 feet of the net.

Most NHL goals are from in close. Players block shots like never before, passing lanes get shut down quickly, and goalies rarely get fooled on long bombs like the old days. Everybody scores from down low. The only guys scoring from 30+' out are defencemen on one-timers on the power play.

Gomez raised his entire level of play this past season. His ability to go end-to-end with the puck is excellent now. He could never do that before in the old NHL. Sure D-men can't hook'em, hold'em but you still need the skill and confidence to do it. There is a maturation process in the NHL that some guys get to quicker than others. Some guys never get to it and they disappear from the league. Gomez rounded into top form at the same time his contract was up. Good for him, nothing fishy, just the way it goes.

[LkptTiger 1]

Cam is a gamer! He can stay for $450K! We will definitely need you in Buffalo, also. Are you a defenceman or a forward? We are also looking for guys to open the gate on the bench. No job is to small to say you played in the Show!

Forward. I think I'd make Elias look pretty good - or help Brylin to find the back of the net with more consistancy ;) . I'll take bench duty, though. Give me a few games before you get me a regular shift, eh

[Eazy_b97 1]

The Sun was reporting that the NHL has an all or nothing arbitration approach under the new CBA where they either side entirely with the Team or the Player, not in the middle. If that's the case, Gomez had to ask for $5mill at Arb.

[mik3 1]

He asked for 7, they offered 5.

[Eazy_b97 1]

If NJ offered 5, why wasn't he signed immediately after arbitration?

[mik3 1]

It'd put them 3mil over the cap.

[Eazy_b97 1]

It'd put them 3mil over the cap.

and they didn't know it when they said, "Gomez, we'll pay you $5 mill a season?"

If the arbitrators do have to pick the team or players side, and NJ won, I can't see why there was a delay at all.

[jbgordon 0]

They don't have to pick either side...they can pick in the middle somewhere. The devils offered 3.5 mill and Gomez asked for 6.5. So 5 mil is right smack in the middle.

[DarkStar50 679]

Everybody asks for more than they will get!!

[EBondo 233]

Looks like Gomez is staying in the red-and-black.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=172460&hubname=nhl

[Chadd 916]

Everybody asks for more than they will get!!

True statement, however, it is moreso dictated by the NHLPA on what you ask for. Believe me, they employ people to assist the agents in gathering data on other players to make your case stronger.

One agent got his NHLPA certification pulled when one of the people in his office showed a reporter some of the tools the NHLPA used. It's too bad, he's a good guy.

[Chadd 916]

I thought Allison was still with him at the time, I know he was one of the guys who talked him into doing it. I got to have a couple of beverages with Bryant before he got into being an agent, seemed like a pretty decent guy.

It's funny how the PA and agents can share information but the teams have to do it all themselves or the PA runs to court and screams collusion.

I think they arbiters need to take in some of the "special factors" in some contracts. Just because the numbers are similar doesn't mean the players are of equal worth.