TheMan

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello vowed to do everything possible to keep the playmaking center, Scott Gomez. It will be an extremely difficult task since the Devils are already over the $44 million salary cap and still need to re-sign Brian Gionta, Paul Martin and David Hale.


While waiting for the long overdue arbitration decision on Gomez, Lamoriello yesterday signed four free agents who could fight for jobs in training camp.

Among the four players the Devils signed was former Rangers defenseman Mike Mottau, who agreed to a two-year deal at the $450,000 minimum. Mottau, 28, was the Rangers' 10th pick (182nd overall) in the 1997 entry draft and played in 19 NHL games for the club. He also appeared in four games with the Calgary Flames, but has spent the last three seasons in the AHL.

Also signed were defensemen Johnny Oduya and Tomas Harant, along with forward Rod Pelley.

PaullyInNYC

I dont want to make any promises but I definitly think Lou will do his best to keep Scott Gomez. First off Lou offered him 4 million and now he just has to dish out an extra million. So look for the Devils to release or trade players. For example, Lamoriello may be looking to shed salaries by trading some veterans such as Sergei Brylin ($1.52 million), Richard Matvichuk ($1.368 million), Brad Lukowich ($1 million) or Jason Wiemer ($950,000). He may also explore a trade involving Gomez if the return is acceptable. But he will only get rid of Gomez if he knows he gets a good deal. Lou is not stupid!!!

bigapple

I agree, Lou aint stupid! Talent is talent and scott gomez is clearly gifted. He stays out of the spot light because of Patrick Elias but Gomer is probably the next best player on that team, hands down! Lou will do what he can to keep him but unless the nj devils get something solid in return, Gomez aint going anywhere.

bigapple

So the new jersey devils opened their season tonite against the Stanley Cup champs, the carolina hurricanes. The Devils won 4-0 scoring 26 seconds into the game, setting the tone. All NJ Devils players from last season returned with a few exceptions. The New Jersey Devils probably made the least amount of moves over the offseason. So with a new coach and everyone pretty much returning (for the exception of injured players) the Devils felt good beating up on the team that took them out of the playoffs last spring.

TheMan

The Devils faced off against the Dallas Stars tonite but were not able to come up with the win. The new jersey devils just did not look like they were at all in sync. The passes were off and not at all crisp. They did not play a complete new jersey devils game. Dallas meanwhile looked fairly good and just outplayed new jersey physically.

The up side for the new jersey devils was that rookie Zajac scored his first NHL goal. It was a very pretty one as well, a feed from sergy brylin right to the net were Zajac had to make a quick play to score the goal to bring the Devils to within 1 goal. The devils will have a few days off until there next game.

TheMan

Brian Gionta again came up big late in the game for the New Jersey Devils.

Gionta broke a tie early in the third period and Martin Brodeur made 25 saves to lead the Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.

Late-game heroics have become the norm for the diminutive forward. He scored all the goals as the Devils overcame a three-goal, third-period deficit Thursday night in a 7-6 shootout victory over Toronto.

"It's just one of those things," Gionta said. "I just try to get to the net when it counts. We have to create traffic and try to get some tips and rebounds."

Devils coach Claude Julien has come to admire Gionta's persistence around the net.

"This guy really gets his nose dirty in the front of the net," Julien said. "He's so good at picking up pucks with his stick. They have been timely goals, important goals."

Gionta put the Devils ahead at 3:33 of the final period. Positioned at the top of the crease, Gionta deflected Rafalski's shot between the pads of Antero Nittymaki.

Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner also scored for the Devils and Brian Rafalski had three assists.

It was a solid night for Brodeur who rebounded with a strong game after surrendering five second-period goals against the Maple Leafs.

CityGuy

The New Jersey Devils beat the Penguins 2 - 1 yesterday. Marty Brodeur played an outstanding game making great saves. The new jersey devils flexed some muscle of losing 4 - 2 to the New York Rangers. Jay Pandolpho and Jaimie Langenbrunner both scored the 2 goals against the Penguins.

TheMan

Well now the New Jersey Devils just lost to the Pengiuns 4-2 leading to a three game slump. There are rumors that even Lou Lamorello might be coming back to coach again if the new jersey devils dont get out of this slump and start winning games.

PaullyInNYC

The new jersey devils host the florida panthers tonite. They desperatley need to win this game to avoid a 4 game losing streak. Meanwhile Florida beat the New york rangers yesterday and for a team that has struggled in the past is looking really good. Good luck to those new jersey devils!

CityGuy

The NJ Devils won yesterday beating the Florida Panthers and stopping a 3 game losing streak. Marty Brodeur recorded another win.
Zach Parise and Patrik Elias scored power-play goals to support Brodeur's 29-save effort in a game in which the Devils reverted to their defensive style of play.

"It was definitely nice to get the goals when we got them," Brodeur said. "It was definitely what we are used to. There is no sense panicking. We know when we play like this we'll be all right."