Giontas Predicament & Lamoriello's Biggest Failure As GM

But then again he’s never been forced to play with so many different centers, as well as non-centers filling in as centers, in so few years, until joining the NHL.       

But make no bones about it, this guy’s a 30 goal scorer in any league.  He’s just not equipped to do it without a playmaking center. 

It is my opinion that his decline has more to do with who he’s playing with, and under, than a lack or loss of skill.   

Patrik Elias, who some members of the New York/New Jersey media would love to have written off, has three to four good 60-plus point seasons ahead of him.  He proved that this past season, racking up 31 goals and 47 assists in only 77 games. 

That’s better than a point a game for a guy the Daily News has called “finished” and referred to as a “waste” when discussing the details of his seven year contract. 

However, both of these players and the money spent on them is, and will continue to be, wasted unless the Devils provide them with a proper center they can play with for an entire 82 game season.   

Dainius Zubrus has some redeeming qualities, but let's face it, boys, this guy's no second line center. 

Put him on the fourth line, get him rooming with Shanny on the road, have Rupp smack him a round a bit in practice until he sprouts a pair, pray for an output of 15 goals and 25 assists, and accept the fact that we’ll be forced to swallow the bulk of his astronomical salary as a loss. 

Putting Zubrus with Gio and Patty is like plopping a slice of processed American cheese on a platter of grilled prime rib-eye and slow matured, dry-aged sirloin steak, and expecting it to work for you. 

Those of you familiar with Zubrus’s game know what I'm saying.  I don’t want to attack Dainius, as he does put in a solid effort from time to time, but the bottom line is simple; his personality and abilities don’t match his physical size nor his inflated salary.      
  
To see just how badly Gio and Patty need a center, look no farther than the 2009 playoffs.

Besides the fact that Elias simply didn’t produce in the playoffs, and Gionta worked his tail off for only two goals, both of which were created on his own; both of these players will fade into obscurity unless Lou does his job and finds them a center. 

If that happens we can forget about future playoff success, and forget about the likes of Parise and Zajac wanting to sign with the Devils once they're UFAs.    

What can we do to bring the chance to play for the Cup back to Jersey?  It’s simple.  Sign a proper center. 

Who should we sign in the off season?  To be honest I’ve not given it much thought until very recently. 

I like to leave these sort of things to the experts in management and write about the more obvious; the teams shortcomings and needs.  It's now up to Mr. Lamoriello to get the job done. 

The only problem I foresee is the fact that Gionta might be more difficult to re-sign than one might think. 

Due to his statistical decline he’s certainly no longer worth his $4 million price tag. But will he sign for less?  Pundits seem to think so.  I’m not so sure. 

There might be a few teams out there wiling to offer him a 5 year, $20 million contract.  I doubt Lou will follow suit.  

If for arguments sake, no one offers him anything in the region of $20 million, my main concern is Gionta’s frame of mind.  Why would he want to return when it’s the Devils, Lou in particular, that are responsible for driving his value down so much in the first place.       

If the Devils don’t sign a top center, Gio walks and they can't secure anyone to strengthen the PP and defensive corps, they’ll certainly have a less productive season to look forward to next season. 

However, I’m still hoping for the best. 

note-sorry for the photo.  its just been on my pc for ages now and i wanted to put it out there.  Gionta was a really great kid.  not much has changed.  how many nhl players would work the till at their folks store in the offseason? 

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