News Article: The Players' Tribune; "Not Done" By Scott Gomez

[Wingman77]

Once again some solid stuff from The Players Tribune, this time by one of ours....Scott Gomez. How did he sneak this past Lou?

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/not-done/

Early in my career, I’d hear about guys with long scoreless droughts and just think, How’s that even possible? It made no sense to me.

But then there I was, sitting on the bench for the Montreal Canadiens, watching our home fans in the stands dancing around in sombreros and singing “Happy Birthday†in honor of my one-year goal drought.

By that point, I was fully aware of my poor play. My lack of scoring was the subject of TV reports, newspaper columns and, yes, its own website. But it was at that moment, serving as the butt of a bad joke for 20,000 fans at the Bell Centre, that it hit me hardest.

“Holy ****, I’m that guy now.â€

Life and hockey kind of mirror each other in the sense that when you’re having good times, it’s difficult to imagine how things will ever go wrong. And when you’re having bad times, well, yeah.

By the time I was eligible for the draft, I was considered one of the top prospects in the world. I ended up suffering an injury, which resulted in me falling in the draft. I was devastated at the time, but I realize now that it was one of the best things to ever happen to me because I ended up getting picked by the New Jersey Devils.

Talk about being spoiled. The Devils provided me with an Ivy League education in hockey. Larry Robinson, Slava Fetisov, Scott Stevens, Bobby Holik, Randy McKay, Jay Pandalfo, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko — not to mention the leadership that comes from Lou Lamoriello at the very top of the organization. I can’t think of a better group of guys to show someone the ropes in the NHL, and learning from them flat-out made me a better hockey player and person.

That’s not just lip service. I’ll give you an example.

Once when I was riding a hot streak, I remember being on the team plane reading about how great I was doing. Joe Nieuwendyk walked over, grabbed the paper from me and said, “Gomer, don’t read that ****.†And I was kind of confused and then he told me, “Get in the habit right now of not reading the paper, because one day they’re going to start writing things about you that you won’t want to read.†Joe was one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around in this sport. There’s a certain code amongst hockey players. When a guy like Joe Nieuwendyk tells you not to do something, you listen.

I had no idea at the time just how valuable his advice would turn out to be.

Regardless, when I was presented with the opportunity to sign my first big contract in 2007, I took it. Every player wants to stay in the league long enough to make it to free agency. You’re never going to make this kind of money again. Any vet will tell you that you should take advantage of the opportunity, and be smart with it. Four teams made offers, but the best one came from the New York Rangers, and I decided that I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to play in New York City at Madison Square Garden. To a hockey fan, signing a contract with the Rangers after spending several years with New Jersey probably sounds like treason. But the truth is that most of my teammates were happy for me. They understand as much as anybody that this is a business.

That’s not to say it was an easy decision. I played on the same team with some guys for seven years. We grew up together. We were like family. There’s no question that I felt a certain loyalty to them and the organization. But at the same time, we’ve all seen the other side of it. We’ve watched our friends get cut. We’ve seen guys buy a house and then get traded a couple of months later. When you see those things, you learn very quickly how important it is to take care of yourself when you can.

I began struggling with the Canadiens at the same time when the team as a whole was underperforming. When you’re playing in a city as hockey crazy as Montreal and have a large contract, your bad plays become amplified. As noted poet Biggie Smalls once said, “Mo money, mo problems.†But I know that’s what I signed up for. I’m a sports fan, so I’m familiar with the stigma – guy signs a big contract and then starts taking it easy.

Being mocked I could deal with. But having my closest friends and family feel genuinely sorry for me really got to me. Up to that point I’d had a proud career, and when I began slumping the people around me began acting like I’d contracted a life-threatening disease. Getting made fun of is one thing, but being pitied? That’s a hockey player’s worst nightmare. Teammates wouldn’t let it on, but I could tell that they didn’t want to play on my line. And that really killed me because I’m a guy who passes the puck and tries to set up other players to succeed.

 

[Offseason Champs]

I was just going to find a place to drop this link. Absolutely awesome article written by Gomer and it's a cool look behind the scenes into the Devils organization and stuff. Highly recommended.

 

[OmNomNom]

Once again some solid stuff from The Players Tribune, this time by one of ours....Scott Gomez. How did he sneak this past Lou?

i'll tell you why... because it's NOT DONE BY SCOTT GOMEZ

tell me you get that terrible joke

 

[Richer's Ghost]

wow.

For his joking personality, that was a pretty deep dive into his soul. Good stuff.

Was surprised at this part;

Lou was the first person I called when I made the decision to go to the Sharks. He tried to talk me out of it. He wanted me back in New Jersey. He said he wasn’t going to let me fail. I should have listened to him, but at that point I was so set on trying something new that I didn’t hear him out. I thought getting a new start would build my confidence, but what I probably needed was some familiarity. At that point my mind was made up and I just wanted to get the hell out of the east coast.

 

[Wingman77]

i'll tell you why... because it's NOT DONE BY SCOTT GOMEZ

tell me you get that terrible joke

I want to say it's bad, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sitting here laughing

The ending about the story with meeting Lou in some tucked away room at the Bell Centre is classic and further speaks about the type of person Lou is and the environment he has built

 

[Offseason Champs]

Was surprised at this part;

I actually chuckled a bit when I read that bit. I think we all knew that Lou was gonna kick the tires on Gomer and were surprised when we didn't get him.

The ending about the story with meeting Lou in some tucked away room at the Bell Centre is classic and further speaks about the type of person Lou is and the environment he has built

This was also a pretty big takeaway I had from the article too. You can kind of tell from his bluntness in the article he didn't care about pulling punches and yet still spoke extremely highly of the organization. I wonder if the current state of the Devils is anything like that where Gomer grew up.

 

[britdevil]

Very refreshing. Good guy.

Hated him for signing with the Rangers, but when you think about their lives, totally understandable.

 

[NJDevs26]

Okay, okay Gomer all's forgiven now

Seriously though that was pretty open and revealing. And that site does put out good, heartfelt stuff - I've read a couple other blogs there...but this was more poignant cause for better and worse we've had a connection to Gomer for nearly 15 years.

 

[Comparison Ford]

Very refreshing. Good guy.

Hated him for signing with the Rangers, but when you think about their lives, totally understandable.

I think I just forgave him for signing with them. What a great read. Because of the secrecy of our organization, I don't think I will ever take an article like this for granted. It's great to get a little deeper into the minds of players in our organization, and I think this is a telling piece about people who come back to NJ after they spend some time away from the team.

 

[DenisSamson3]

Be honest guys. From the heart. Would you give Gomez the same reaction he got in Montreal if he played like Havalat or Ryder. I admit I would and it's understandable.

 

[Wingman77]

Be honest guys. From the heart. Would you give Gomez the same reaction he got in Montreal if he played like Havalat or Ryder. I admit I would and it's understandable.

He understood and said as much in the article that he struggled in Montreal, however a pretty big difference in my reaction deals with how the player handles the situation and I would not give Gomez a similar reaction to that of Ryder and Havlat because they have handled their situations pretty differently.

Ryder and Havlat have complained multiple times and have put forth an attitude that they deserve to be handed their opportunities when they have struggled after being given a number of opportunities.

Gomez (to the farthest of my knowledge) didn't complain about his situation in Montreal and knowing his personality from his first stint here and now in his second stint, he isn't that type of person to complain. He understands what it takes to work for and create your own opportunities.

 

[Colin226]

Excellent read! Sometimes watching games and looking at stats can take the human element out of it, but stories like this remind us their people too.

Lou is just.... so Lou. Really hope he is with this organization in some capacity for many more years.

 

[NJDevils17]

It's funny that Gomer almost considered himself to be a "Devil" regardless of where he was playing. New York, Montrael, San Jose and Florida. He always said he would uphold the value system ingrained when he joined the team. We don't hear about the team's internal actions very often but Gomez opening up about meetings with Lou just goes to show the amount of respect he has and how important the value of this organization are.

There's a reason Lou is one of the most respected individuals in the league and the type of organization he has built is testament to that.

 

[Missionhockey]

He understood and said as much in the article that he struggled in Montreal, however a pretty big difference in my reaction deals with how the player handles the situation and I would not give Gomez a similar reaction to that of Ryder and Havlat because they have handled their situations pretty differently.

Ryder and Havlat have complained multiple times and have put forth an attitude that they deserve to be handed their opportunities when they have struggled after being given a number of opportunities.

Gomez (to the farthest of my knowledge) didn't complain about his situation in Montreal and knowing his personality from his first stint here and now in his second stint, he isn't that type of person to complain. He understands what it takes to work for and create your own opportunities.

True, you can't say the Devils didn't try to put either of those players in positions to succeed. With Gomez, they never asked him to play the fourth line or grind it out.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I forgive you Gomer. I'm glad to have you back.

And you're right, you're not done.

 

[glenwo2]

Very refreshing. Good guy.

Hated him for signing with the Rangers, but when you think about their lives, totally understandable.

In retrospect, he cashed-in when he could which is something I can't fault him for. I just wished he cashed-in with a team that was NOT the Rangers.


Glad to have him back, though.

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Great article by Gomez.

We complain about what Lou's put on the ice, but off the ice we really underestimate the impact he makes on others.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Very honest article that definitely lets the reader experience what Gomez was thinking and feeling as he wandered from team to team in the hockey wilderness. From a Devils fan perspective, I love to hear how much he respects the organization, Lou, and the culture Lou has tried to create here. So glad Gomez didn't give up and came back here.

 

[GhostofKenKlee]

I love how Howard Stern inspired him at his lowest point.

Pretty good article, also loved the LL knowing a room under the Bell Centre existed.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Great read, always nice to see these things from the player's perspective. Nearly spit out my coffee reading this gem though (in regards to the current Devils roster), "The roster was stacked at the forward position."

 

[Colin226]

Great read, always nice to see these things from the player's perspective. Nearly spit out my coffee reading this gem though (in regards to the current Devils roster), "The roster was stacked at the forward position."

I think everyone else was just letting that part go He doesn't mean we had a Cup contending roster, just that it was full of other NHL-level talent so he'd have to beat people out to earn a spot.

 

[SeidoN]

I love how Howard Stern inspired him at his lowest point.

Pretty good article, also loved the LL knowing a room under the Bell Centre existed.

Lou has an "arena blueprints" drawer in his desk

 

[njdevil26]

The part that made me laugh the most

I remember when I was with Canadiens and things weren’t going well, we had a game in Montreal against the Devils. We lost and I had a terrible game, but afterwards I asked a trainer if I could speak with Lou – we hadn’t talked since I left the Devils. In natural form, Lou had me meet him in some private room that he somehow knew about in the depths of the Bell Centre. When we were alone, I told him that I wasn’t sure what he might have heard about me or what had been said since I left, but that I wanted him to know that I still live by his standard every day I come to the rink.

Not even in our building... Lou can be Lou.

 

[Belizarius]

Great read.
We often forget the human being behind the player.

 

[Brick City]

Thanks for the link, great article. Obviously did not like that he went to the Rangers but any animosity subsided as he continued to ply his trade elsewhere. Glad he is back and making a contribution.

MSG+ ran an intermission segment on Sal awhile back that left me with the same impression. The viewer saw a stand up guy who is a great father to his children going about and doing his thing. Performance issues on the ice aside, some fans (thankfully a small minority) need to remember that most of these players are good people and should be treated as such.