411mania’s NHL Conference Call Coverage: Scott Gomez
Posted by Neil Borenstein on 01.19.2008
Over the offseason, the Rangers needed to bring in two top-name centers. One of those positions was filled by former New Jersey Devil Scott Gomez, who was inked to a seven-year, $51.5 million contract. In the latest NHL Media Conference Call, Gomez discusses adjusting to New York, playing alongside Jaromir Jagr and comparisons between Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur!
One of the biggest splashes in free agency came from The Big Apple when the New York Rangers lured center Scott Gomez across the Hudson and into Madison Square Garden. On July 1, along with signing fellow center Chris Drury, the Rangers locked the then 27-year old Gomez up for the next seven years at a price tag of $51.5 million – or $7.357 million per season.
Gomez, now 28, came to the Rangers with great expectations. Being a playmaker for Jaromir Jagr was one of them. The big picture, however, was to be a vital piece in a Rangers championship puzzle. Gomez came to New York with two Stanley Cup championships already under his belt with the Devils.
Despite leading the Rangers in points (42) and assists (32), the team sits in last place in the very competitive Atlantic Division with 49 points. New York is in a tie with the Boston Bruins for the eight seed in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers and Bruins square off in a home-and-home series this weekend, including the kickoff of NBC's Game of the Week on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Gomez was selected to the Eastern Conference All Star team, and will make his second such appearance over the course of All Star weekend on Jan. 26-27 in Atlanta. Gomez took some time to speak with the press on Friday as the latest player to partake in an NHL Media Conference Call. 411mania was on hand, and here are some highlights from the call:
Scott Gomez
Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports/Getty Images
On Coming From The Devils To The Rangers
Adjusting to living and playing in Manhattan
Gomez: Well, I think, first, I wasn't in my place. I'm not using it as an excuse, but it was a little different, just kind of being in the hotel or whatever you want to call it.
That, and then being a new guy on the team. It's been a while getting to know guys, getting to know what it's like. But I think one thing about the Rangers is, since day one, they make you feel like you've been a Ranger your whole career. And that was the easy part. And I think once I got comfortable off the ice, it definitely helped on the ice.
Following the Devils
Gomez: They're doing great. They're in the same division. I still keep up with how the guys are doing and stuff. But I have other things to worry about. And it's not something where I wake up and go see how they're doing. I'm glad to see they're doing well and I'm glad to see certain guys that are doing well.
The big things in adjusting from New Jersey to New York, where things are hit or miss for a lot of players
Gomez: It was an adjustment to the fact that I did my homework coming in. It was the place I wanted to go to. Obviously coming in with Chris Drury, it helped. I mean you knew what to expect, being across the river, you knew that the media hype. Let's face it; it's New York City.
Yeah, the pressure maybe was a little different. But also playing for the Devils with Mr. Lamoriello, there was a lot of pressure also day in, day out. So I think I kind of, like I said, I kind of did my homework and I knew what to expect. And now hopefully things will just get a little bit better because we definitely have the team to do it.
On The Rangers
Playing against Brian Leetch
Gomez: First of all, when I was growing up in the U.S., he was one of my favorite players ever. The Canadian guys always had Coffey, Bourque, all those guys. We had players like Leetch. With Brian Leetch, playing against him, just every night when you go against him, you knew you had to be at your best because he's one of those players who can control a game. I think that's the ultimate compliment in our league, if you're one of those guys who can control a hockey game. I think Brian Leetch, at his best, was like that. I think what most people don't realize is I was fortunate enough to meet him at the World Cup. How great he is on the ice, he's a million times better off the ice. He's a great guy, a great human being. His family, everything, it's one of the coolest things to meet one of your idols then meet him off the ice and he's 10 times the person you think he was.
Playing with Jaromir Jagr
Gomez: It's been great. It's one of those things, we started off in the beginning, just you couldn't have put two guys together because we were so off page or off mark. But I've gone through that before with [Alexander] Mogilny and others. So we separated for a while and then we got put back together. And I think the key to that has been Marty Straka, the way he plays and what he brings to the line. I think that's helped me and Jagr get back on track a little bit.
Playing along with Jagr's style of play
Gomez: He's one of the special ones. He's one of the best ever, probably. So you really don't try to change it. I think what I was doing earlier on in the year was trying to get him the puck too much. Guys on the other teams knew what I was trying to do, give him the puck, where if I played my game a little bit, I think that's how our game has meshed together. I don't want to change Jaromir Jagr. He has success. He's still one of the best players in the league. And when he's on, I mean it's fun to watch night in, night out.
Henrik Lundqvist's play lately
Gomez: He's going good. When he's on top of his game, he carries this team. And it's one of those things. We need to play better in front of him. Hank's one of the best goaltenders in the league. But I think he's not getting the credit because we definitely haven't been playing that well in front of him.
So he's doing fine. And we need him to continue.
Comparing Lundqvist's play now to the beginning of the season
Gomez: Well, I think as a team we kind of got on a bad patch there where we relied on Hank and it wasn't fair to him. Yeah, he's focused. And the last couple of games, he's made the key saves that we need. And we just need that from him every night, that he brings that every night.
Reaction to Martin Brodeur calling Lundqvist's style of goaltending "weird" in a recent Sports Illustrated story
Gomez: Well, first of all, maybe you don't know if he was misquoted or we don't know that. Playing with both of them, they're both great guys. I think Marty, you know what you're going to get. But Henrik Lundqvist, what a great competitor, what a great guy. Off the ice he takes time for his teammates. He's a goaltender, aren't they all weird? To be a goaltender, you gotta be a little off. But I think Marty was probably misquoted. I don't know if a guy just comes out and says that. So I mean you'd have to hear Marty's take again because just to call someone weird when you don't know them, I don't think Marty would do that.
Comparing Lundqvist to Brodeur
Gomez: They're both great goaltenders. Marty is a little different. He's been around longer. He deserves it. But at the same time, to go into a hockey game knowing you have Henrik Lundqvist in your net, it provides an advantage most nights, if not every night.
Sean Avery sparking the Rangers' lineup
Gomez: I think when he's in the lineup, for one, if we're on the road, everyone in the building hates him. The other team probably dislikes him. So we've got to be a little more on our toes.
No, he's a great teammate. He brings it every night. He expects guys to do the same. When he's in the lineup he has spark. He is the guy we feed off of. And I know playing against him you hate the guy. But definitely when you're a teammate of his, he's one of those guys, he's a beauty. He's one of those guys you need in the locker room and he's a great teammate.
Gomez: Well, he's got alligator arms, for one. I don't know if he can ever reach his wallet. He's a fashion consultant. I mean a guy can't walk by without him critiquing your outfit. You hear about every crappy album that's out, the kind of music he listens to.
He keeps it interesting. He's definitely fun to be around. You gotta be on your toes when you're around him because he has a comment for everything.
On All Star Weekend
Preparation for the SuperSkills competition
Gomez: I haven't really given it much thought. I'm sure next week [I'll] think about it more. Hopefully there's a couple of passing events, I'll be off to the side just passing the puck. I'd rather do that.
On Playing Boston This Weekend
Thoughts on the home-and-home series against Boston, which will be shown in Europe
Gomez: Now that we know it's in Europe, we're all probably going to go definitely a million times harder. It's going to be a good series.
When Boston/New York get together, it's always nice. And at the same time, I mean we need the points. We have to start building off of it. They're in the same position we are right now. So we definitely need these. We definitely need these points and it's going to be like a playoff game.
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